Source: Shutterstock

The book description explains, “With dozens of ways to take action, Sexy Feminism explains how feminism helps women get what they want (and does not, contrary to many reports, ruin anyone’s chances at love, success, sex, beauty, or style). It guides young women toward finding their own brand of feminism and using it to improve their lives and the world.”

That all sounds fine and dandy, but Bitch Magazine seems to have a different opinion: “The concept of “sexy” remains ill-defined and questionably applied throughout the book.”

Bitch Magazine also points out, “In chapter one, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and acclaimed journalist Christiane Amanpour are featured on a list of sexy feminists. Not a regular list of feminists. Not a list of strong or powerful or admirable women. A list of sexy feminists.”

I get that this book is trying to make sexy an empowering identifier, but putting women on a list and labeling them as “Sexy _____” it just feels off. It seems that using sexy to describe a successful and admirable woman automatically takes the focus off her achievements and puts it on her looks.

The book also says things like this: “Sexy doesn’t have to be slutty….Don’t forget that fashion is a way to show the world who you feel you really are, but you don’t necessarily have to show all of you.” FACEPALM. Ugh. You can wear whatever you want, whenever you want. Showing skin does not make you slutty. Hooking up with people does not make you slutty. Let’s just stop using the word slutty, okay?

I think the big picture of this book makes sense. I also want women to stop being afraid of feminism. I don’t want women to think that being a feminist means you have to stop wearing makeup and heels because that is so not the case. The book is really asking can you be sexy AND a feminist?

Yes! Of course! You can be anything AND a feminist. You can want guys to open doors for you AND be a feminist. You can wear all pink AND be a feminist. The point of being a feminist is to support equal rights. And if you want to be sexy while doing so, then by all means, go ahead!
 
What do you think? Can you be sexy and a feminist? Are you a feminist? Tell us in the comments!
 

You can still say “bitch” if you’re a feminist

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Masculism…really?! Source: Shutterstock

You hear that? If woman. Because it’s just one woman that wants equal rights. Oh, excuse me, I mean special treatment.

Some of the “rights” that were listed as suggestions include:

“I need Masculism because I should not automatically have to pay for a dinner because of my gender”

“I need Masculism because I should be treated equally to a woman who slaps a man, when I hit a woman”

“I need Masculism because you should not be allowed to use sex to get your way, unless I am too”

What’s the point behind this movement? An anonymous user said,

“It is time we put a stop to discrimination against men, and the feminist’s relentless fight for what has gotten to be for free handouts, or extras. Women today do have rights, which was the point of feminism that has been achieved, and at this point it is getting out of hand because it is going beyond that.”

I’m pretty sure the point of feminism is not to get “free handouts, or extras.” I’m also pretty sure that while yes, women today do have rights, we still are not totally equal to our male counterparts. Feminism never set out with the intent to say, “Ladies, we achieved some sense of equality! Time to go home and bake a cake!”

The definition of feminism is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” while a masculinist is defined as “an advocate of male superiority or dominance.” So really this “Masculism Movement” by definition is the movement to assert male superiority and dominance, not equality.

Well, feminists took notice of this masculism hashtag and gave a hilarious response:

#INeedMasculismBecause maybe one day there will be a male president.

— Jamie Kilstein (@jamiekilstein) February 8, 2013

#INeedMasculismBecause i have no idea what feminism actually is but it terrifies me and i feel a primal need to oppose it

— Southern Cumfart (@dropkickpikachu) February 8, 2013

#INeedMasculismBecause I am a reactionary idiot who is terrified of anything that isn’t entirely about me

— Jersey Grrrl (@AtlasSmugged) February 8, 2013

#INeedMasculismBecause no one gender should have special privileges and someone needs to put these feminists in their place. #EqualityAlways

— J. Science Tundra (@LtTundra) February 8, 2013

#INeedMasculismBecause rapes happen to men too. although like, 0.01% as much. BUT IT HAPPENS!!!

— Amanda Hugankiss (@a_girl_irl) February 8, 2013

This prank totally backfired, and feminism prevailed. A lot of the tweets in response were made by men, which proves that 4chan’s “brilliant” idea was in fact, stupid.

What do you think about “masculism”? Do you think men are being treated unfairly? Tell me in the comments!
 

I think the creators of this movement should see The Vagina Monologues

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Credit: Dan Jackman./WENN.com

Just this week The Daily Beast asked Taylor Swift if she is a feminist and she said, “I don’t really think about things as guys versus girls. I never have. I was raised by parents who brought me up to think if you work as hard as guys, you can go far in life.” Because feminism means guys versus girls? (Um, it doesn’t.) Because feminism doesn’t believe that women who work as hard as men deserve the same rewards? (It does. Yet women are still not paid equally.)

Fine, don’t be a feminist. At the very least you can understand what it actually is and not poop on the people who are. My outrage can only be described in GIF form.

So you just said, “I’m not a feminist. I believe [insert definition of feminism, goal of feminism, feminist idea].” Mhmm. Yah, OK.

ReactionGifs.com

I don’t understand. I don’t understand. You are a smart, strong, successful woman, but you are not a feminist?

ReactionGifCollection.Tumblr.com

Dude, you’re bumming me out.

ReactionGifs.com

You’re bumming me out, dude.

ReactionGifs.com

Oh, I get it. You think feminism is militant, man hating, and means women want “special treatment.”

FYeahReactions.Tumblr.com

Like when some guys say, “Women have it so easy they get free drinks at clubs! Guys always pay for dinner. You can have sex any time you want” And I am like:

FYeahReactions.Tumblr.com

Yeah, feeling unsafe whenever I am alone, getting paid 77% of what men make, having politicians tell me what to do with my body, having magazines tell me I am ugly no matter what, living in fear of rape, date rape, sexual assault, and being told I am a bitch, man hater or annoying when I bring up these points is so fun. I am just having so much fun!

ReactionGifCollection.Tumblr.com

It is icing on the cake when celebs completely shut feminism down. It’s almost as if they think that because they are so successful, all women can be as successful as they are without ever having to run into the obstacles of sexism.

FYeahReactions.Tumblr.com

Like female pop stars aren’t pressured to be thin and overtly sexual. Like it wasn’t big news that Marissa Mayer was named CEO of Yahoo because she is a woman and there are basically NO women CEOs. Like every other President we’ve had has been a woman, right?! I’m sorry are we living in the same dimension?

FYeahReactions.Tumblr.com

I really think that people just don’t understand what feminism is. It’s not wanting special treatment, it’s wanting fair treatment. It would be nice if we stopped criticizing women about how they look so that we can provide them with more helpful criticisms about how they lead, what they stand for, and the things they do. I don’t want people to be nice or reward me just for being a girl, but I don’t want them to be vain or unnecessarily harsh either. I want to be judged by the same standards as men.

FYeahReactions.Tumblr.com

If celebrities and powerful women supported feminism more than it would make regular girls feel more comfortable in acknowledging the ways they are mistreated because of their gender.

FYeahReactions.com

When we do have equality it won’t just be women who feel awesome. Men and women will be like:

FYeahReactions.com

How do you define feminism? Let us know in the comments!

Rosie The Riveter is an icon for girls who get things done! | catwalker / Shutterstock.com

Here is an excerpt from their awesome mission statement:

“Identify yourself as a feminist today and many people will immediately assume you are man-hating, bra-burning, whiny liberal. Perhaps a certain charming radio talk show host will label you as a “Feminazi” or “slut.” Even among more moderate crowds, feminism is still seen as too radical, too uncomfortable, or simply unnecessary. Feminism is both misunderstood and denigrated regularly right here on Duke’s campus. We, the 16 women of Professor Rachel Seidman’s course on Women in the Public Sphere, have decided to fight back against these popular misconceptions surrounding the feminist movement.”

I love this Tumblr and it’s amazing to see young women who really understand that feminism isn’t about walking around pissed at dudes all day. It’s about acknowledging the common struggles women and men are subjected to because “society” thinks girls must be one way and boys another. It’s about recognizing the shame we senselessly feel for wanting to be “thinner” because girls are supposed to be or for being a boy who likes to cry because crying is a girl thing. That’s why I need feminism.

Here are 25 other good reasons from Who Needs Feminism?.

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Are you a feminist? Do you think feminism is about man-hating and complaining? Let us know in the comments!

Photo Credit: Wenn.com

It’s a little odd to me that someone is making speculations about someone else’s life philosophy. Marilyn is dead and we won’t really know anything new about her aside from the things she said in interviews and her body of work.

Think of it this way, how much do you know about Britney Spears? You know some things (she likes Cheetos!), but you don’t know what she is really like, her politics or her perspective on her own career.

Now, decades after Marilyn’s death, this author is grasping at straws trying to come up with “proof” that Marilyn was a feminist.

The way I feel about this is the way I feel about CEO Marissa Mayer saying she is not feminist.

Neither of these women identify as feminist, but their lives are definitely shaped by feminism. Marilyn Monroe did wonders for women’s sexuality by suggesting that it even existed. She owned her own production company. She made huge statements about race in a time when people of color were not accepted. (Ella Fitzgerald said the only reason she was allowed to play at a popular night club in the ’50s, that didn’t allow people of color, was because Marilyn personally called the owner and demanded Ella sing.)

Marilyn was a great entertainer and had a wonderful career–she will forever be remembered for that. Marissa Mayer is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company–that’s an amazing step forward for women. Yeah, it sort of bugs me that Marissa doesn’t acknowledge that she wouldn’t be able to be CEO of a company without the feminists who fought for the right to vote, work, and receive equal pay, but it’s her choice to identify as a feminist or not.

Nevertheless, what Marissa and Marilyn do and did, respectively, is feminist. Being independent, speaking your mind, and taking charge of your own career-path is certainly a feminist approach to life–but it doesn’t mean we should go around labeling people as feminists just because it helps our cause.

As much as I would like to believe Marilyn is a feminist, as much as I would like to believe that all women are, that’s just not the case. At the end of the day, any woman who shapes her life the way she chooses, who is thoughtful, who is compassionate and intelligent is making the world a better place for women (and men) anyway. I couldn’t really ask for much more than that?

(Just don’t diss feminists. That’s not cool, bro.)

What do you think? Does living like a feminist mean that you are one? Let us know in the comments!

Get a clue, Dona! | credit: WENN.com

Donatella Versace told the Telegraph U.K., “Feminism is dead in the world. It comes from another time. I’m a feminist. I want to fight, but I don’t see many people with this desire to fight for something. Women don’t help each other, especially in fashion. I know Miuccia [Prada] … but that’s it. Nobody else.”

Maybe she is just misinformed (or blind)? When I read the My.Gurl Boards, the thoughtful comments, and the articles here on Gurl–it’s plainly clear to me that feminism is alive and well.

Older women often think feminism is dead. I’m not sure why.

Are we not marching in the streets? Yes we are. Remember the Slutwalks all over the world, Canada, U.S., Israel, London?

Are we not in politics? Yes we are. Women like Sandra Fluke, Hilary Clinton, and Sonia Sotomayor continue to break ground for women and women’s rights.

Are we conforming? Nope. No matter how hard the media industries want to impose standards, we resist. Whether that means breaking blond stereotypes, becoming engineers and athletes, or just being exactly who we want to be.

Slutwalk London | Credit: Chris Saxon/WENN.com

Women don’t help each other? I recently wrote about a study that debunked the myth that women sabotage either to get ahead. Women are actually more likely to help each other than men.

Women don’t help each other in fashion? That’s a bit peculiar coming from her. Donatella refused to allow Versace’s line for H&M to be worn by “real women” in an ad campaign and demanded models instead. Doesn’t sound like Donatella is doing much for women in fashion either.

We are young, 21st century feminists! So why would Donatella declare something so random, generalized, and kind of insulting to women?

It sounds like Donatella may have bought into female stereotypes herself or maybe she defines feminism in a completely different way? Having hairy legs and burning bras isn’t the only way we define feminism today. Feminism just means women have (and should have) the right to behave, look, and live anyway they want without unjust interference or shame.

Maybe there aren’t any quick and easy identifiers for feminism anymore? Maybe you don’t even define yourself as a feminist, but you live a very feminist life–free from social pressures, gender roles, and other unfair expectations? Maybe feminism succeeded in allowing feminists, like you and me, to come in all shapes, sizes, outfits, subcultures, religions, races and political backgrounds?

Maybe Donatella can’t see what’s right in front of her? Feminists everywhere. Feminists in their thirties, twenties, teens, and tweens with views that oppose, agree, and challenge each other. Perhaps, we all have different reasons why or ideas of what makes us feminist? After all, if feminism tried to unify us and turn us all into the same cookie cutter feminists–that would be so un-feminist!

Not sure what Donatella’s reasoning was, but I think she needs to rethink her position.

Are you a feminist? Let us know in the comments!

The "F" in Feminism stands for FREAKING AWESOME. | Source: Shutterstock

Feminism is actually super-awesome: it’s sex-positive (woohoo!), kind of bad ass (think Buffy Summers, ladies!), and it’s got the power to save the world.

Not quite convinced yet? Keep reading with me to find out what makes feminism so awesome–and why YOU will be calling yourself a feminist before you know it!

D's shirt!

Okay, it’s not what you think — unless you think like we do: That gURLs are awesome.

Teen.com reports that  Dianna Agron wore a shirt that said “Likes Girls” to a Glee concert on Sunday. When people starting freaking out about her being gay, the gURL cleared up what her shirt really meant.

|Do you like other gURLs in that way? What a coincidence! So do lots of other gURLs on the Shout Out Boards!|

Said D, “Yesterday, during our second show, Instead of wearing my usual shirt during ‘Born This Way’ I decided to wear one that said ‘Likes Girls’. It should actually have read, ‘Loves Girls,’ because I do. The women in my life give me things that the men in my life can’t. And vice-versa.” [sic]

Dianna continued, “No, I am not a lesbian, yet if I were, I hope that the people in my life could embrace it whole-heartedly. And let me tell you, I can easily spill (quite comfortable) what I admire, respect and think is beautiful about any of the women in my life. Piece of cake!” [sic]

|Wondering if could you be bi? Take the quiz and find out!|

Amazing message, right? What do you think of Dianna wearing a “Likes Girls” shirt? Do you think it was to get a rise out of people, maybe just a little bit? Would you ever wear a shirt like that? Discuss!

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