Time magazine has decided we should ban the word feminist.
In its fourth annual “word banishment poll” the magazine has released a list of words and phrases from 2014 that should be never be uttered again.
Alongside phrases “said no one ever”, “om nom nom nom” and “I can’t even”, sits the word feminist.
“You have nothing against feminism itself, but when did it become a thing that every celebrity had to state their position on whether this word applies to them, like some politician declaring a party? Let’s stick to the issues and quit throwing this label around like ticker tape at a Susan B. Anthony parade,” the magazine reads.
At best, Time is graciously allowing us to be feminists, as long as we don’t talk about it. Or say the word out loud. We can only be feminists in our alone time, where our feminist thoughts will not inconvenience anyone.
At worst, Time is saying it truly believes that feminist is just a word, with no real meaning at all – much like the other ‘words’ on the list, such as “bae” and “turnt”.
It’s saying ‘feminist’ is just a label we throw around to get attention, when we don’t want to “stick to the issues”.
It effectively denies the existence of a generations-long movement of men and women fighting for gender equality: the right to vote, the right to work, the right to freedom from violence and fear.
So I’d like to remind Time that the word feminist was not invented in 2014. It is not an expression that popped up on peoples’ Instagrams when Beyonce started using it and it will not disappear as soon as it is replaced by some other whimsical craze, like YOLO.
Time has a problem with the word feminist because they consider it an annoying and inconvenient phrase. It makes them “cringe”. They are sick of hearing it.
There are some words that I am sick of hearing too. Words like “slut”, “pay gap” and “whore” jump to mind.
If the people at Time want to live in a world where we don’t talk about feminism all the time, banning the use of those words would be a great place to start.
The fact that Time thinks feminist is a label that should be “voted off the island” proves that we need to be talking about feminism more than ever.
I can’t even.
What words would you like banned in 2015? We’re thinking “Redfoo” and “professional pick up artist” for a start.