A word is a word is a word

In "Bad Feminist: Take One," Gay opens up about her inner quarrels regarding her identification as a feminist. This is something I, too struggled with. At the time, the term was gaining a less than popular connotation, with a minority of the movement taking it upon themselves to spread their isolated belief that women rise above the equilibrium of society; they are superior to men and all men are inherently awful. It is easy to understand, then, why a young girl that does not share these extreme views and stereotypes may not want to be a placed beneath a spot light during such a tense situation, and would subsequently ditch the term. Ditching the term, for me at least, did not mean that I lost my way and would slowly evolve into the submissive, modest, and good woman deemed to be the ideal. Although, ditching the term is controversial and some may see it as a betrayal to the movement executed by a ‘bad’ woman.

If the individuals remains true to their beliefs and continues to fight for women’s rights, what is issue with ditching the term? It speaks volumes that women today still manage to be judgmental and cold to one another. It should not be expected that in such a time as now, where women are stepping forward and speaking out more than ever before, that a woman and proclaimed feminist would be capable of turning on a fellow woman. The angry nature of this minority’s voice and their hateful language geared to demean men has left a poor taste regarding feminism in the mouths of men: Gay hit the nail on the head we she discussed the night from hell she spent with a man she had been dating.


There is no real importance in a word, but rather what the word implies about one’s character and value. I started calling myself an ‘activist’ instead, leaving my views unaltered, and merely kept the controversy off of my own plate.

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