The Top 6 Myths About Feminism

Have you bought into any of these?

The word "feminist" is a bit of a mouthful; it certainly offers a lot to chew on. Perhaps, it's because there are so many myths that muddy the waters. So, in full-on Ghost Busting style (read: Myth Busting), we teamed up with our friends at Ms. Magazine to set the record straight on a few of feminism's lingering falsities.

1. Myth: Feminists are a group of radical bra-burners

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Nah, feminists never actually burned their bras. It was just a nasty rumor that started after women decided to protest against the 1968 Miss America Pageant. (If anything, let this be a lesson for the ridiculously long life of rumors).

2. Myth: None of the cool kids are doing it

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The cool kids ARE doing it (and you can sit at our table!). As it turns out, feminism is popular, in a recent poll 68% of women are said that they are feminists when given the definition. Beyond this, check out the pop culture space: from Lena Dunham, to Zooey Deschannel to Joseph Gordon Levitt, to Angel Haze to Ryan’s Gosling feminist tumblr, to Queen Bey – the coolest kids are down with feminism and that packs a powerful punch when it comes to collecting a cultural read on what’s relevant.

3. Myth: Feminism is a Western idea

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Hardly … feminism translates to every language and there is an indigenous feminist movement in every country of the world. BOOM.

4. Myth: Men can’t be feminists

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That’s just silly. Feminism is about equality of BOTH sexes – for real, just check out what Merriam-Webster has to say about it. (And, when men were asked in the same poll whether they consider themselves to be feminists, roughly one-third said yes).

5. Myth: We took care of the wage gap a long time ago

@BarackObama / Via Twitter: @barackobama

Not even close. Take it from POTUS: “It’s time to do away with work place policies that belong in a Mad Men episode.”

6. Myth: Feminism is over

NY Magazine / Via nymag.com

Nope. In the words of Gloria Steinem herself: “The Feminist Revolution is the longest revolution in history. I'm not sure we're halfway through this process. Maybe only a third. That's why I say to take it in 100-year stretches.” So… in other words: it’s time to hustle.