What is Feminism?


Don’t worry, no history lessons here…let’s get right to it!

Feminism is

“the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.”

Dictionary Merriam-Webster.

“To be ‘feminist’ in any authentic sense of the term is to want for all people, female and male, liberation from sexist role patterns, domination, and oppression.”

bell hooks

Whilst there are different strands within Feminism, the above definitions illustrate what is at the core of Feminism. Here at MenTalkFeminism we are focusing on the most prevalent version that pretty much all feminists nowadays agree on: intersectional feminism.

“ […] a prism for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other.”

Kimberlé Crenshaw

The term was coined by American law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and it is the most inclusive form of feminism, as it recognises that people of the same gender experience different realities and levels of discrimination depending on other parts of their identity like age, race, ethnicity, class, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

For example, a black woman is likely to experience discrimination on two fronts (race and gender) and a gay man is likely to experience more discrimination than a heterosexual man.

“All inequality is not created equal.” Kimberlé Crenshaw

Check out the other Resources specifically curated for men! There are some great book, talks, organisations and more by other men on Feminism out there!