Feminist Stereotypes Need to Go: Stop Illogical Mischaracterization

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Feminist Stereotypes Need to Go
I. Introduction
These days, feminists get a bad rap; however, opposition to this movement is nothing new. From the initial wave of feminism which occurred in the 1800s until now, people have maintained certain myths regarding feminism in efforts to discredit the movement itself and activists associated with it. Although these stereotypes do not apply to all feminists, they are still prevalent in contemporary society and cause many individuals to oppose the doctrines of this incredibly essential movement.
II. Discussion
The first stereotype that is still plaguing the movement – thousands of years later, is that feminists hate men. This is completely false. Kayla Platoff from Maryville University makes an assertion stating that, “as a group, feminists do not hate men. Sure, some feminists are misandrists; however, they do not speak on behalf of the majority.” Platoff further adds that “feminism’s goals have nothing to do with misandry and individuals who do not fully understand what feminism entails are willfully disregarding any explanations offered” (Platoff, np). Secondly, a stereotype exists that feminists simply want power over men. Kayla Platoff completely disagrees with this stereotype claiming that “This stereotype is probably the product of narrow-minded individuals who cannot conceive of an equal world. At some point, almost every society has been under male domination, thus, it might seem unfathomable to exist in a world without one group that prevails while the other suffers” (Platoff, np).
The third stereotype is that feminists are ugly. Once again, as asserted by Kayla Platoff, “The fact that certain individuals are calling into question the legitimacy of a women’s movement by insulting their appearance totally justifies establishing the movement to begin with (Platoff, np). In her essay titled Bad Feminist: Take Two, Roxane Gay confesses how her behavior conflicts with the concept of the idealized feminist. Roxane Gay states that, “I have an opinion on maxi dresses! I shave my legs! Again this mortifies me. If I take issue with the unrealistic standards of beauty women are held to, I should not have a secret fondness for fashion and smooth calves, right” (Gay, 2014, pg 315). As seen from Gay’s statement, feminists are not ugly, unkempt individuals. Feminists are ordinary individuals, with a normal liking to appealing materials.
The fourth stereotype which I find rather absurd is that feminists torch bras and indulge in other “crazy” stuff. In her article titled Feminism Has a Bra-Burning Myth Problem, Jennifer Lee explains that “The bra-burning myth started in the late 1960s when feminists protested the Miss America pageant. Activists dumped various objects that represented female oppression into tras...