QUEEN'S ROAD: We know we are working in a patriarchal society when the word ‘feminism’ has a weird connotation. Feminists are considered to be man-hating lesbians who burn bras and wake up every morning with the determination to destroy mankind, while in reality, equality of the sexes is all they demand. They simply mean to say that women are people and not property, and often, they are seriously misunderstood.
Turns out even platinum-selling pop stars and Hollywood actors who play warrior princesses haven’t managed to rise above this conundrum.
Summertime Sadness singer Lana Del Ray once said, “Whenever people bring up feminism, I’m like, god. I’m just not really that interested... My idea of a true feminist is a woman who feels free enough to do whatever she wants.”
And when asked if she was a feminist, Divergent-star Shailene Woodley said, “No, because I love men, and I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, take the men away from power’ is never going to work out because you need balance.”
And the list goes on to include Lady Gaga (“I’m not a feminist. I hail men, I love men, I celebrate American male culture - beer, bars, and muscle cars.”), Beyoncé (“That word can be very extreme... I do believe in equality... but I’m happily married. I love my husband.”) and Kelly Clarkson (“I love that I’m being taken care of, and I have a man that’s an actual leader.”).
Most recently, The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, in an interview, said that, “she loves serving her husband” and “feeling like a housewife,” while being in control of her career. “I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that’s because I’ve never really faced inequality,” she explained.
We don’t know who taught these women feminism. While actually believing in the core values of the movement, they are refusing to flaunt the label. Privilege seems to be at play here. Scores of young girls across the globe idolise these celebrities, and it would certainly help if they took an intelligent stand in this regard. But, hey, feminism grants people the freedom of choice. If they choose not to participate in the movement that has made it possible for them to earn millions of dollars
with every film or album, then maybe we should shrug and move on. Bullying them into apologising and saying that they are indeed feminists is of no use.
Fortunately, our little girls also have stars like Emma Watson to look up to.