#HowToSpotAFeminist and Reclaim Your Narrative

This post originally appeared on May 6, 2015 written by Shannon Miller.

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On May 5, 2015, feminists managed to learn something new from Conservative radio host Doc Thompson: We are quite easy to spot.

Thompson encouraged his listeners to share their methods of identifying The Feminist under the hashtag #HowToSpotAFeminist. Unsurprisingly, the space was initially occupied by vitriol, false equivalencies, and your basic misogyny.

While sweeping generalizations like these are hurtful, they’re not new. This issue of the distorted narrative is a common problem for the oppressed and stereotyping is simply inevitable. The goals of this particular tag, like any distorted narrative, were clear from the start: to express hatred for the movement, derail productive conversation, and distract from the validity of the cause. In presenting a group as a monolith, you are able to reduce a complex, multi-layered effort to an image that can be easily criticized and dismissed. Nearly anyone who has been pejoratively called a “Social Justice Warrior” of any kind can share an instance dealing with this phenomenon. The problem this time, however, was that the tag gained steamed quickly after Thompson’s request and trended with a vengeance with the help of listeners and non-listeners alike. Feminists were then left with two options: silently process their frustration with this attack or speak up and reclaim their narrative.

Many feminists chose the latter, and the result was astounding.

Some took the opportunity to proudly identify themselves:

Others chose to clarify what feminism was for the benefit of the confused:

#HowToSpotAFeminist when you see someone treating a female as an equal.

— Erica Bettencourt (@RickRockRickie) May 5, 2015

It was clear that abusive misinformation was not going to be accepted quietly.

#HowToSpotAFeminist You don't. They're busy living their lives while you're railing against the "friendzone" w/your MRA buddies on reddit

— Young Gifted & Black (@OHTheMaryD) May 5, 2015

One of the highlights of yesterday’s incredible pushback was the resounding presence of men who made a point to firmly stand on the side of equality, which was especially notable against the barrage of hateful speech that was seemingly towards women only.

The rally of feminist support continued as the tag trended into the evening. While the initial misogyny could not be entirely suffocated, the concept of “spotting” a feminist became a touch more accurate. To see feminists in all forms actively take back their identity was utterly fortifying. The lesson here can be applied to any instance involving the degradation of your narrative, whichever narrative that may be.

It’s important to note that honest, constructive criticism of a movement is a different matter entirely. Some choose to receive it while others would rather soldier on without it. That is simply another choice that we have, and it should be wholly respected.

However, when that criticism becomes acidic and manifests in the form of hatred, we should see it as an opportunity to stand up and tell our stories a little louder.

And while we may not operate as a monolith, we can safely assume that most Feminists had one thing in common, per this fantastic tweet.

Why All of Our Girls Needed #ToTheGirls

This post originally appeared on April 30, 2015 written by Shannon Miller. This was Shannon’s first post for Hashtag Feminism.

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For those of us who had to navigate our preteen/teenage years without today’s wealth of social media, it might be difficult for us to imagine thousands of women from all over the world reaching out to us to show their support. On Tuesday, April 14, author Courtney Summers launched a campaign to achieve that very idea.

Summers published a call-to-action via a blog post, urging her followers to pass along words of encouragement, wisdom and positivity under the hashtag #ToTheGirls. “Take the opportunity to tell the girls you know—and the ones you don’t—that they are seen, heard and loved,” she writes. “Share advice. Be encouraging. Tell us about or thank the girls in your life who have made a difference in yours.” Her request garnered over 70,000 tweets last Tuesday as women (and a few men) offered helpful advice on confidence, body image, sex, friendship or to simply provide words of love and kindness.

This campaign comes at a critical time for the girls of today. In terms of body image, statistics released in December 2013 showed that an alarming 42% of girls between the first and third grade wanted to be thinner. Eighty-one percent of girls ten years of age feared being overweight and more than half of teenage girls were either on diets or thought they should be dieting. Thankfully there was no shortage of wise words for those who needed a quick reminder that they are worth so much more.

As of February 2015, the murders of seven transgender women have been reported in the US alone, nearly doubling the total recorded last year (a disturbing phenomenon that has not been widely covered). As the number continues to climb – and especially in the wake of Leelah Alcorn and other trans girls we’ve lost to suicide – it’s vital that the visibility of the trans/non-binary community is not only encouraged, but emphatically welcomed.

While women of color strive for basic representation in our government (only 33 women of color currently serve in Congress), educational system (see #BlackGirlsMatter), and even our entertainment, we should take the time to uplift our girls of color and assure them that we will continue to honor their significance, beauty, and agency.

And while our journey in the fight against the continued stigmatization of mental illness and disability is a long one, our unwavering advocacy is essential.

#tothegirls with social anxiety & mental illness: you are still strong, have strong beliefs, and are still able to take up space

— YA FAVE MIXED GIRL (@IDontTextBack) April 14, 2015

Courtney Summers’ effort is an example of why the continued cultivation of safe spaces for girls is necessary. As theirs (and ours) livelihoods continue to be challenged and undermined, our love and support need to be not only heard, but amplified. More importantly, that very solidarity should continue to be as inclusive as possible; for all of our girls need and deserve a thriving sisterhood.