Apt Description of a Pseudo Feminist

Urban Dictionary defines a Pseudo Feminist as “a person who claims to be a feminist yet ignores the main point of feminism- equality”.

Feminism means acknowledging the differences between the multiple genders that exist around us today. Taking into account the differences that cannot be reconciled, and, seeing them as compatible equals.

Don’t squint your eyes to find the fine line between “Real and Fake”.

Here’s your Feminism litmus test to help you understand what definitely not to do.

Feminism has become the other cool “F word” these days.

The term began as a movement for equality of rights, back in the early 20th century. 

It’s not a very “complex” phenomenon, or rocket science, as much as some would like to make it sound.

Appropriate Definition of a Pseudo Feminist

The circulated word for this kind is “Pseudo Feminists” or Fake Feminists. Those who use feminism as a tool to put others down, and bash the other genders.

These pseudos’ are exactly opposite to the idea of feminism but are just people who’ve got the basics wrong. 
And through 13 years of schooling, if there’s one thing all us millennials know, it’s to get your basic concepts clear.  

Now take this as one of the Planet Earth episodes where David Attenborough is narrating how to identify a certain species of being- a Pseudo Feminist.

Also Read: How Feminism Doesn’t Mean Acknowledging Men Less

1. I’d like to call these, the Intellectuals.

Their vocabulary overflows with jargon, and they’re very unlikely to come down to a simple conclusion during a debate.

Let’s just say they’re very similar to a certain TV Journalist who won’t let others speak even though he was going for the idea of a healthy debate.

2. The Smasher of Patriarchy.

“All men are trash except my dad and my brother and my uncle”. That’s how you identify these. They come with this quote like Mutual Funds comes with subject to market risk.

They’re OBSESSED with “Doing everything a man can do”.

“If she dresses up so much to work, she’s obviously doing it because she’s a man-pleaser, and I’m not, so I’m going to dress up like a man”, indirectly, putting him on a pedestal, again.

Man Hating is not what this incredible wave of feminism has come to; and those who believe that we can only bring ourselves up by pulling the other genders down, are wrong.

Feminism is not smashing the patriarchy. It’s raising your voice against injustice when you have to.

If a woman likes to cook, that doesn’t make her any less of a feminist, or a slave to the patriarchy. It just makes her an individual whose choices need to be respected.

3. The Virtual Feminist.

We’ve come to that point where feminism, which actually began as an ideology has now evolved into a skill.

Who can do it better, and show it?

And may I say, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD FROM YOUR INSTAGRAM STORIES.

Yes, you can spread awareness, you can start a petition and ask people to join but make sure you’re doing something of substance.

Facebook posts, tweets, Instagram Stories, only let your followers know what they already know- that you’re a stark feminist.

In my opinion, Feminism is not as abstract as one makes it. As you read it in books. As you see it on all women panel discussions. Or in “Women Empowerment” movies.

Think about this for a minute- why do we have special awards for women like “Female business leader of the year” or “Woman of the decade” while for men, they’re just general awards?

Because somewhere, the pseudo-feminist in all of us doesn’t want this discussion to end, we created a separate award to celebrate women, a unique category, and what are we saying – “Oh look, she’s a woman AND despite THAT she’s a business leader”.

Quotes like “Teach your daughter to dream about breaking glass ceilings rather than having a glass slipper”, divide women into molds.

Why can’t my daughter do both? She’s a normal being.

And that’s what the virtue of true feminism is, normalizing the gender gap. Coming to terms with the genetic disparities and encouraging a level playing field, WITHOUT putting anyone on a pedestal for that.

Should men, women, and people of other genders be paid equally for the same job? Yes, of course, they should. It’s a normal discussion. There’s nothing more to add or subtract here. 

So the next time, you’re convinced of media stories like “Mission Mangal: Akshay Kumar on Women Empowerment” or “Sanjay Leela Bhansali pays Deepika Padukone more than the Male Actors in Padmavat”, ask yourself, should I really be putting Akshay Kumar or Sanjay Bhansali on a pedestal for doing something normal?