Why feminists should cheer the feminism backlash

It's time for the movement to get back to business

Senate Equale Rights Amendment, 1978
(Image credit: (Bettmann/CORBIS))

Turns out feminism is not immune to the perils of popularity. The movement has become a media darling, rivaling Kim Kardashian for references in headlines and celebrity gossip. Fly that high and a backlash is inevitable.

The most recent example of this was a poll from Time magazine that included "feminist" along with "bossy" and "kale" on a list of words that should be banned in 2015. The whole thing screamed of a publicity stunt, but nevertheless the protests from feminists came pouring in. (Many were spot-on). What interests me however isn't how Time misstepped, but what, beyond misogyny, is fueling this backlash. Think of it as a teachable moment.

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Elissa Strauss

Elissa Strauss writes about the intersection of gender and culture for TheWeek.com. She also writes regularly for Elle.com and the Jewish Daily Forward, where she is a weekly columnist.