ady Gaga: she’s the
24-year-old pop icon
who burst on to the
L music scene with a
totally unique sound
while simultaneously challenging
stereotypes and pushing the
boundaries in fashion, music and
performance. This much you know.
But did you know that in May 2010
she also announced that she’s
a feminist, saying, “I believe in
women’s rights, and protecting
who we are, to the core.”
The truth is for many, Lady Gaga
jars with the image of a feminist.
They see feminism as a concept
that’s become outdated in modern
society. In fact, it was a lively (read:
heated) debate in the Stylist office
over an essentially innocuous
question – “Is Katie Price a
feminist?” – which made us admit
that there is little unity about what
it means to be a feminist today.
And it seems society in general
is having a hard time summing it
up, too. Recently, Labour MP Harriet
Harman, championing her view of
feminist ideals, declared war on lap
dancing clubs, saying they’re “part of
a larger industry of exploitation of
women”. However, her comments
caused some ex-lap dancers and
social commentators to argue that
on the contrary, these clubs are
actually a way for women to exploit
men’s urges for their own financial
benefit. And whilst Sex And The
City’s Samantha Jones has been
applauded by some as the ultimate
feminist icon for promoting sexual
liberation for women, others see her
as a character who gratifies men’s
fantasies and slows down the
progress of feminism. In addition,
when Samantha Cameron gave up
her job to support her husband,
debate struck up on whether she
was turning her back on feminism.
What it means to be a feminist
today is confusing. As we find our
way in the 21st century and a whole
number of political, social and
economic issues weave into our lives,
does the definition need rewriting?
It’s tricky. Rather than battle it out
with our peers we thought it was
time to get the experts in.
So we invited four modern, young
feminists (see box, right), who are all
working hard to change the face of
modern feminism, to debate a series
of relevant questions which affect
women like us. From being financially
independent to the representation
of women in the media, we wanted
to uncover what they think makes
a feminist 130 years after the
phrase was first coined. Read on,
we think you’ll find their answers
pretty surprising.
1
AS A SUCCESSFUL WORKING
MOTHER WHO SUPPORTS
HERSELF AND SPEAKS
HER MIND, SOME PEOPLE
SUGGEST THAT KATIE PRICE IS
A FEMINIST ICON. DISCUSS.
Cath: For my book I asked 1,000
feminists who most inspires them
and no one named Katie Price! They
mentioned activists, their mothers,
bloggers – real women, trying
to change things.
Finn: She’s not a politician, a
campaigner or an activist. She’s a
glamour model, she’s very business
savvy, she’s made a lot of money, but
that doesn’t make you a feminist icon.
Anna: She is held up as an icon, and
while I’ve got nothing against her
personally I think it’s worrying – it
sends out the message that the only
way you can succeed is if you buy
into this ‘sex object’ culture.
Sabrina: To me a feminist icon is
someone who is trying to make the
world a better place. The thing about
Katie is that women do relate to her,
but although she may have success,
she has got it through what I would
consider a form of violence against
women, through exploiting her body.
2
TO BE A FEMINIST
DO YOU HAVE TO
BE FINANCIALLY
INDEPENDENT, OR IS
IT OK TO RELY ON
YOUR HUSBAND FOR
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BE
A STAY-AT-HOME MUM?
Sabrina: If you believe in fairness and
FINN�MACKAY��
Founder of The London Feminist
Network – a women-only networking
and campaigning organisation formed
to unite groups and individuals in
action (ldnfeministnetwork.ik.com).
CATH�REDFERN��
Founder of the F-Word feminist
website – an online magazine
dedicated to talking about and
sharing ideas on contemporary UK
feminism (thefword.org.uk).
a right to a common humanity then
you are a feminist – it’s that simple.
Anna: The idea that you can’t be a
feminist if you are a stay-at-home
mum is ludicrous. Anybody who
wants justice between women and
men is a feminist, it doesn’t matter
what your job is.
Cath: I think it’s sad how much
emphasis we place on money in our
society that a woman who is working
hard looking after her children would
feel she can’t call herself a feminist
because she is not earning money.
Finn: Anyone can be a feminist if
they make the choice; feminism is
a political movement, you are not
excluded from it because you’ve
chosen to raise your children.
3
IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO USE
YOUR SEXUALITY TO GET
AHEAD AT WORK? IS
FLIRTING A USEFUL TOOL
TO GIVE YOU A LEG UP THE
CAREER LADDER OR IS USING
YOUR SEXUALITY ANTI-FEMINIST?
Sabrina: What is unacceptable to me
is that this is what is expected from
women in order for them to get on.
Anna: I agree, there are so many
barriers for women who are trying
to succeed to overcome, such as the
unequal pay gap and sexist attitudes.
These are the things that are
anti-feminist, not the behaviour
of women who are trying to get by in
this sexist set-up. The fact they have
to do it is what is unfair.
Finn: Don’t blame women for playing
the game when they never wrote the
NEW-WAVE FEMINISTS
INTRODUCING THE NEW FEMINISTS
ANNA�VAN�HEESWIJK��
Campaigns Coordinator OBJECT –
a human rights organisation which
challenges the sexual objectification
of women in the media and popular
culture (object.org.uk).
SABRINA�QURESHI��
One of the main organisers behind the
Million Women Rise march – a diverse
group of women who are united by
outrage at male violence against
women (millionwomenrise.com).
rules. We shouldn’t be turning on
other women and saying their
behaviour is anti-feminist. Society
would rather have us bitching and
competing amongst ourselves instead
of talking about misogyny. Let’s look
at the male boss who feels so weak
he has to hire some pretty young
thing that flatters him – let’s talk
about the anti-feminism of that
rather than blaming women for
doing what they can to get on.
4 THERE’S
A REAL TREND
IN SOME WOMEN’S
MEDIA TO CRITICISE
WOMEN’S BODY SHAPE
OR APPEARANCE TO
SELL ISSUES. WHAT EFFECT DOES
THIS HAVE ON FEMINISM?
“KATIE PRICE IS BUSINESS SAVVY, SHE’S
MADE A LOT OF MONEY BUT THAT
DOESN’T MAKE YOU A FEMINIST ICON”
Sabrina: I think we sometimes
suffer from an internalised sexism,
we keep going back to the things that
oppress us – looking to the things
that criticise our bodies.
Cath: It is very difficult because
to ignore these self-hating messages
takes a lot of inner strength, this
focus on body size is everywhere,
and it’s not just a matter of closing
the magazines or newspaper. Which
is why a lot of feminists work on
questioning it, it’s the wallpaper
of our lives and its vital to question
the messages we get.
Anna: It’s not only really damaging
but it’s really trivialised, so when you
say you are upset by the focus on the
body beautiful you are seen as stupid
for being affected by it.
Finn: I think the focus on the
WWW�STYLIST�CO�UK����
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