Toxic Feminism

1999 movie The Matrix, in which protagonist Neo is presented with a choice between two pills: one red, one blue. If he takes the blue pill, he continues to live in an illusory world in a state of blissful ignorance. If he takes the red pill, however, he will shed this mantle of ignorance and the truth will be revealed to him.

'feminism' 'radical feminism'

Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define, establish, and achieve the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. ... Changes in dress and acceptable physical activity have often been part of feminist movements.

Recently, I was browsing through the comment threads on my twitter feed and began to see a string of comments which bore all of the hallmark characteristics of the usual Toxic Masculinity that feminists are accustomed to. Angry, aggressive, hostile, confused, selfish, emotionally repressed to the point where every interaction is inflammatory and the slightest touch of the proverbial nerve set off a firestorm of vehemence unmatched by the more emotionally balanced members of our society. But this version of 'Toxic Masculinity' was different in one way — it was being espoused by a woman.

What is toxic feminism? What does it sound like? What does it look like? It is a tool some feminists have begun to use as a way to beat down others because what they are wearing, saying, doing, or sometimes even thinking is offensive to them and marginalizes women in these particular feminists eyes.

Matt Taylor wearing the infamous shirt

Matt Taylor, an astrophysicist that works for the European Space Agency, was once doing a televised talk about an update for the Rosetta space craft. However, most people do not remember what he was talking about at this event. But, rather, what he was wearing. A few of the women in the audience felt that his shirt, depicted in the image to the right, was sexist and portrayed women as objects. So they began to make a scene about his shirt to make their feelings known to him and everyone present.

These are role models to young men and women who openly claim to not be feminists due to negative connotations surrounding the political movement. I personally look up to Kelly Clarkson from this photo.

Taylor was made to feel so upset by the news surrounding his shirt and the fact that he may have offended someone that he gave a tearful apology at a later briefing. Even though he apologized, admitting a wrong, there was nothing wrong with his shirt. The women who made a scene were just offended and rather than hold their opinions to themselves or dealt with it in a classier way they caused a grown man to cry over a shirt.

This is toxic feminism.

I believe feminism is separate from this toxic feminism. Feminism is a theory of political, social, and economic equality of the sexes. Feminism is not a tool, a handicap, or a road block. Toxic feminism is embodied in the internet’s Social Justice Warriors (SJWs). These SJWs are professionally offended and fighting for the cause. This attitude allows for the toxicity to spread.

Many of the role models my female counterparts look up to want gender equality, but avoid being called a feminist due to the toxicity infecting feminism. Some of these role models include older cousins and some of my Aunts. Some of these role models come from the internet and the circle of the rich and the famous.

When I first heard feminist I did not really know what a feminist was and what a feminist does to encourage gender equality. All I knew is that equality was what was right and it needed to be encouraged.

Most females are nervous to call themselves feminists. When they think of feminism they think rage, man-hating, and bra burning. They don’t think of freedom, liberation, and equality which are a part of modern feminism.

We can not fight fire with fire,so a cool approach to a delicate subject like this is appreciable. I hope we decide to always pick the red pill.