The subject of my latest Netflix binge is an American telenovela called “Jane the Virgin.” As a telenovela, the show is full of crazy scenarios and unbelievable twists that only a telenovela could pull off. Among all the crazy, however there's a character named Marlene Donaldson.

Donaldson is Jane’s advisor in her graduate writing program. Jane’s goal in life is to become a published romance novelist; Donaldson thinks romance novels or any ounce of real life romance strengthens the patriarchy and is a plague for women everywhere. Donaldson also happens to be the author of a book titled “Gendered Politics and the Politics of Gender, a Memoir.” Though she serves to strengthen the depth of Jane’s writing, Donaldson represents everything that is wrong with the view many people have of feminism.

Donaldson wears pantsuits, claims she does not want to ever get married, and thinks less of Jane because of her idealistic view of love. Though this is the stereotype, this is not what true feminism looks like.

A common misconception is this idea that love, romance and focusing on a significant other somehow makes a person less of a feminist. I think this stems from traditional gender roles of women being seen as a man’s property with the sole purpose of raising a family and keeping a house. To challenge that stereotype, some women decided to do the exact opposite and guess what? That’s totally fine. If a woman wants to raise a family and be a housewife, that is up to her. If a woman wants to focus on a career, that is up to her.

The problem lies when someone else tries to dictate what women can and cannot do. Trying to force the idea that a woman should not like “feminine” things is just as bad as trying to force the idea that a woman should like only “feminine” things. That is not feminism.

The feminism I believe in is simple: women should be equal to men. Women can be mothers, wives, workers, CEOs or anything else they want. Feminism is not hating men and it is not hating anything stereotypically “feminine.”

Donaldson is a problematic representation of feminism. By having her as the author of a book specifically on gender, the show caricatures a movement whose sole purpose is to advocate for equality. It is because of shows like this, and other similar representations, that feminism is known as “the F word.” No one wants to identify as something if an unlikeable character does. This stereotype needs to end; feminism is not bad.

In response to the naysayers, I give myself as an example. I am a feminist. I am a feminist who dreams about my wedding and who will also have a career to go along with my family. No part of that makes me less of a feminist, and no part of my feminist identity makes me less of a human.