If you’re a woman in India – or literally anywhere – you are likely to have heard the phrase “too feminist” at some point. It’s this weird world we live in now, where people want you to be an empowered woman and will campaign for your empowerment – but only until a certain point. After that, it gets uncomfortable and “too feminist,” because how dare a woman push beyond certain boundaries, right? Like, we’ll allow you this much empowerment, but please stay within your limits or you’ll make men uncomfortable and no one will like you.
It’s absolutely frustrating to keep explaining to people that feminism doesn’t mean male bashing, it’s even more frustrating to speak to men who say they believe in women empowerment but will mansplain like their lives depend on it, and it’s downright ridiculous that brands use feminism where convenient to them – viral video! Shares! – but won’t actually take any real stand.
Aditi Mittal, who feels this frustration, put our thoughts into words far better than we could. Here’s what she said: