Many celebrities claim to be feminists either to gain fans or because they truly believe that they are feminists, but do not use their fame to further the feminist movement like these eight women do.
The following celebrities are intersectional feminists who fight for the equality of all women, regardless of race, class, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
1. Emma Watson
Emma Watson spoke at the UN (yeah, the UN) about the HeForShe campaign that was launched by UN Women and about the true definition of feminism and its modern-day goals, clarifying it from the “man-hating” some people think it is. She called upon men and boys to play an active role in the feminist movement.
2. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy in 2016 was a major event in the feminist movement, and her loss may have fueled the fire that is feminism even more. In 2017, Clinton was the guest editor for a volume of Teen Vogue where she wrote about the oppression women face across the globe. In writing about these serious issues in a magazine primarily written for teenagers, Clinton played an active role in involving younger generations even more in the feminist movement.
3. Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is an outspoken trailblazer for black, trans, and LGBT feminism. Her outlook and perspective are very important among feminists in Hollywood, as most of them are cisgender and white. Recently, Cox spoke in an interview addressing the difference between feminism and intersectional feminism in response to a comment made by a famous author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, about how trans women have a much different experience than biological women.
4. Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys made the decision to stop wearing makeup to events back in 2016. Ever since then she has attended most events completely makeup free. In doing so, Keys is challenging the social norm that women must wear makeup to look formal and beautiful. She said she is not anti-makeup, though, because she recognizes that some women feel very empowered by makeup. Keys’ bold decision is important because it may influence girls in the future to understand that makeup is not necessary to be pretty, and that they should value their own opinions on their beauty above other people’s.
5. Scarlett Johannson
Scarlett Johannson spoke at the Women’s March in Los Angeles, California, where she addressed the hypocrisy that is prevalent in Hollywood about supporting feminist causes. In her speech, she called out James Franco, though not by name, for wearing a Time’s Up pin to the Golden Globes despite allegations by several women that Franco had sexually harassed them. Johannson, by giving this speech, reaffirmed the idea that men need to be active supporters of the feminist movement. Wearing a pin doesn’t cut it, and it certainly doesn’t wipe away your sins.
6. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is the modern symbol that is defense against body-shaming. Body-shaming is very prevalent in today’s culture, and Gaga herself has been the subject of some of it. In response to rude comments about her body, Gaga said, “I heard my body is a topic of conversation, so I wanted to say I am proud of my body, and you should be proud of yours too. No matter who you are or what you do.” Gaga’s stage outfits and spunky taste in clothing are not reflective of Gaga as a sexual object, but rather a symbol of the idea that one should be able to do whatever they want with their own body.
7. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is an avid supporter of the “Free the Nipple” campaign which she has proved by posting several topless photos on her social media. This campaign draws attention to the way that female nipples have been sexualized in a way that male nipples are not. In supporting this campaign, Cyrus is addressing the more physical side of feminism: the objectification and sexualization of the female body compared to the male body, and this is an important part of feminism.
8. P!nk
P!nk, in a similar manner as Miley Cyrus, is actively calling attention to the inappropriate sexualization of the female body through a specific maternal act: breastfeeding. Recently there has been much stigma surrounding women who breastfeed in public as some deem it inappropriate, but P!nk has challenged this by posting several photos of her breastfeeding her second child Jameson on her Instagram page. In doing this, P!nk is playing an active role in normalizing breastfeeding.
