In the last year, second wave feminism has taken over social media and the minds of millennials. This is a positive movement because millennials are the up and coming generation. We are the people who will soon be eligible to lead the country politically, not just socially. Though in many ways, millennials already have the ability to make changes politically, as our generation has surpassed baby boomers in size.
If more millennials begin taking a stand and showing up at the polls, we would have an unobtainable influence on our country. With the help of the generation before us encouraging the wide scale changes we are capable of, we can significantly fix our world. It is with the help of powerhouse influences such as Beyonce, Emma Watson and Malala that this is possible. Women taking a stand against injustices and human rights violations is exactly what the world needs to see, if we want to be taken seriously as people and gain women the same rights as men. Here aresome of the movers and shakers.
1. Beyonce
Many will remember Beyonce's epic performance at the 2014 VMAs. She shared Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie's words paraphrasing the definition of feminism while standing in front of a giant screen proclaiming "Feminist" during her performance of "Flawless."
While Beyonce's very public proclamation set her apart from her previous labels of Jay-Z, Blue Ivy, and Destiny's Child, it was not her start with feminism. In fact, Beyonce is one of the few modern day famous feminists who can claim the title post second wave popularity. Beyonce has been speaking out on the topic of power and autonomy for women and girls for years, from her published article in The Shriver Report titled "Gender Equality is a Myth" and her lyrics to Destiny's Child songs such as "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Independent Woman Part 1" or "Bootylicious" which support bodily pride and economic autonomy as keys to empowerment.
In fact, Beyonce is arguably the powerhouse feminist of modern celebrity culture. After her VMAs performance, Beyonce was the topic of over two thirds of feminist tweets, arguably reclaiming the word "feminist" as popular and cool, and leaving the "f-word" connotations in the past.
2. Emma Watson
Emma Watson's "He for She" speech is one recognized and remembered throughout not only popular culture, but politics as well. Arguably, the speech separated her from the constraints of "Hermione Granger" and jump started her new life as Emma Watson, UN Women's Ambassador, women's rights activist and person. Watson truly embodied feminism by bringing in issues of LGBTQ+ and speaking out about the movement being inclusive to every person.
"Don't ever hear in your own head, Who am I to say something? You are human. You are a person. You can 100% change the world."
Watson's above statement kickstarted many young minds to begin to believe in themselves and the power they yield as people.
Though one of the best parts of Watson's call for equality is that she addressed how an anti-feminist world also negatively affects men. This is an important stipulation because men are also put into negative gender roles, those of which prevent them from being able to express their emotions as freely, or shame them for choosing to be homemakers while their partners provide monetary support. It is important in our society that we equalize men and women, for everyone to have a fighting chance at the life they choose, without having to undergo ridicule or shaming because they have rebelled against societal expectation.
No matter how influential Watson's speech was, even she was almost censored on the word "feminist" and advised to leave it out of her speech, proof that powerful statements, and celebrity feminist embodiment are not enough in regards to our fight for equality.
3. Malala Yousafzai
Malala began her rise to fame when she gave a talk in September 2008 titled, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?" She also blogged for BBC and continued her activism until the Taliban issued a death threat under her name in 2012. After she was shot and saved, she published "I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban," which was released in October 2013. Proving that people of all ages have the ability to change the world.
4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
One of the most positive influences on the millennial generation is the second woman to holding a position on the Supreme Court. She stands in support of a court now holding three women and believes in the ability to change the world via millennials, a generation most believe to be self centered.
She has stood up for equality encompassing men on multiple occasions, including a male clerk who she allowed to work flexible hours so he could still care for his family, and has employed using male plaintiffs in sex discrimination cases to prove such treatment harms everyone.
Bader Ginsburg has stood up against racist policies and continues to stand in support of the younger generation -- support millennials need because it is difficult to fight for change when the entirety of the older generation works against you.
Bader Ginsburg is the true inter-generational feminist, and that is what makes her notorious and supported among millennials.
