If you’re a woman in India – or literally anywhere – you are likely to have heard the phrase “too feminist” at some point. It’s this weird world we live in now, where people want you to be an empowered woman and will campaign for your empowerment – but only until a certain point. After that, it gets uncomfortable and “too feminist,” because how dare a woman push beyond certain boundaries, right? Like, we’ll allow you this much empowerment, but please stay within your limits or you’ll make men uncomfortable and no one will like you.
It’s absolutely frustrating to keep explaining to people that feminism doesn’t mean male bashing, it’s even more frustrating to speak to men who say they believe in women empowerment but will mansplain like their lives depend on it, and it’s downright ridiculous that brands use feminism where convenient to them – viral video! Shares! – but won’t actually take any real stand.
Aditi Mittal, who feels this frustration, put our thoughts into words far better than we could. Here’s what she said:
This sale of feminism is the most uncomfortable thing I have experienced. Be empowered but not too empowered that sponsors will shy away.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
All the big corp. want IN on empowering the female for the corporate social responsibility quota but no one actually wants empowered women.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
The mainstream has hijacked whatever is convenient to it about feminism. All the nuances get over simplified in “viral” videos and ads.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
It blows my MIND how anti-feminism has caught on faster than actual feminism in Indian mainstream media.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
When it comes to talking about feminism in the mainstream there will always be 1 person who will say to you “listen don’t say you hate men”
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
Then instead of just giving that person 1 tapli on head that feminism is not abt hating men-a fact that is common sense-u have to bear it
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
If you’re literally holding a talk abt women empowerment then, FEMINISM IS NOT ABOUT HATING MEN, is a fact you should be aware AS FUCK of.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
Also GENUINE ques: WHY IN AN EVENT ABOUT EMPOWERING WOMEN ARE WE TIP TOE-ING AROUND FOR THE MEN?
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
Can we PLZ talk about the women (& let the women talk oh god)
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
Can we PLZ not have conversations abt empowerment become abt mollycoddling men into MAYBE letting us have a voice thank you*eyelash flutter*
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
But we HAVE to, coz guess who’s signing the cheque for this event?A man, who doesn’t care what you ladies do par zyada empower matt ho jaana
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
Which brings us back to sale of empowerment for corporate social responsibility quota. So no one gives a shit abt actually empowering women.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016
This is all a freaking joke. ALL of it. One of the biggest punchlines of this wave of feminism is the amount of money being pumped into it.
— hot takes 4 koolkidz (@awryaditi) July 18, 2016