Feminism is undone by two major misconceptions: the idea that feminism dictates and changes who women are, and the lie that feminism is inherently “anti-male.”
These myths are spread through social media’s influence on the impressionable youth, producing the next generation of misinformed critics.
We think the only way to handle the misinformation and lies spread through social media is through education.
According to UN Women, “Feminism is the belief that everyone, regardless of gender, should have equal rights and opportunities.”
Yet, as simple as that definition may sound, it is a heavily debated topic in this country because of an influx of misinformation.
A 2020 survey conducted by Pew Research Center (PRC) shows that the nation is polarized on the subject of the feminist movement.
Feminism began in July of 1848, with the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Many of its principles were adopted from author Mary Wollstonecraft in her 1792 work, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”
“It is time to effect a revolution in female manners—time to restore to them their lost dignity—and make them, as a part of the human species, labour by reforming themselves to reform the world. It is time to separate unchangeable morals from local manners,” Wollstonecraft said.
Wollstonecraft’s words still lay the groundwork for many feminist beliefs, by working to restore women to being an individual equal to men.
One of the most common misjudgements of the feminist movement is that feminists are forcing women into a radical, modern lifestyle.
This is often seen in debates over gender roles. According to Forbes.com, “Many people fear that feminism will overturn time-honored traditions, religious beliefs and established gender roles.”
However, the feminist movement’s purpose is not to take away from anyone who wants to continue honoring traditional gender roles, but rather to allow individuals to choose what type of lifestyle they want to follow, regardless of how it fits into traditional ideals.
A woman’s lack of a say in her lifestyle was best addressed by social activist Gloria Steinem in 2015.
“On the fight for equality today: ‘It’s not so good when we say to kids, you can be anything you want,’ because it’s not true. Much better to say, ‘You should be able to be anything you want.’”
Steinem’s words best echo how women should have the right to choose their lifestyle as opposed to society pushing them into predetermined ways of living while providing the illusion of choice.
Furthermore, women today do not even have the freedom to make their own decisions about their own bodies.
On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court by its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
This is an example of how we are still far from achieving true liberation of women’s rights, as the Supreme Court has now allowed the government to walk back its decision to secure women’s bodily autonomy.
Women should have the right to control their own reproductive autonomy, however they feel is best for them.
Women should have the same bodily autonomy as men do.
Another misconception about feminism is that it promotes misandry.
Psychology Today writer Joe Kort defines misandry as “hatred of men.”
According to Kort, “[Misandry] corresponds to misogyny, hatred of women.”
The idea that feminists hate men, a common and age-old misconception, is not only exaggerated but also empirically false.
According to a 2024 study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly (POWQ), researchers examined attitudes toward men across nearly 10,000 participants across different countries.
“The present findings indicate that people are grossly inaccurate in their understanding of feminists’ attitudes toward men,” POWQ said.
In fact, the data shows that feminists have about the same view as men, compared to women who didn’t identify as feminists. “In line with our key prediction, feminists and nonfeminists were, in largely equal measure, positive toward men,” POWQ said.
These findings show that not only do feminists not hate men, but they see men equally as non-feminists, proving the misandry myth false.
Now, the question remains: how did misconceptions, like feminism pushing women to specific roles and the misandry myth, become so popular?
The answer is social media.
Social media acts as a forum for discourse and allows anyone to say what they want, right or wrong, and gain a following.
Social media also amplifies echo chambers and simplistic narratives, “dumbing down” viewpoints of any belief to quick words rather than complex arguments.
According to BruinPoliticalReview.org, social media’s algorithms push people into echo chambers while also pushing content that it believes users will like the most.
“The suggestive algorithms that govern the content a user sees on social media exacerbate the problem. Facebook, X and Instagram all utilize programs that promote content that it predicts a given user will engage with, to maximize minutes spent,” according to BruinPolitical Review.org.
In recent years, we have seen online influencers and hyper-masculine personalities gain a large following spouting anti-feminist and misogynistic rhetoric.
The issues raised by anti-feminist speakers, particularly Andrew Tate, attribute many real-world problems to feminism, according to Monash University writers Steven Roberts and Stephanie Wescott.
“Rather than being a simple reaction to unfair societal accusations, Tate’s appeal lies in his skillful manipulation of genuine issues, such as economic hardships, and his ability to frame these issues as consequences of feminist efforts towards gender equality,” Roberts and Wescott said.
Ultimately, we see that the spread of these major misconceptions about feminism highlights a broader issue with how we consume information online. Social media rewards outrage and oversimplifies narratives, making it easier for misinformation to spread among discussions.
Addressing these misconceptions requires more than just arguments on social media; it requires education, media literacy and a willingness for people to seek out credible information online.
We believe that when people understand that feminists advocate equal rights and opportunities, they are better equipped to move beyond the myths that dominate social media and many movements, including feminism.