Famous singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has a weird quote about “feminism” (and space exploration, I think) in the latest Fader cover story. Digest it here:
For me, the issue of feminism is just not an interesting concept. I’m more interested in, you know, SpaceX and Tesla, what’s going to happen with our intergalactic possibilities. Whenever people bring up feminism, I’m like, god. I’m just not really that interested…My idea of a true feminist is a woman who feels free enough to do whatever she wants.
Okay.
The 27-year-old singer joins a chorus of female celebrities, including actress Shailene Woodley, who distance themselves from feminism, or from describing themselves as feminists. This is strange to hear (whether the famous person is female or male), simply because your average dictionary is very straightforward about the definition of the term “feminism.” It is as follows:
The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.
It’s really that simple: Words have meanings. Maybe too many of us have, over the years, conflated the word “feminist” with “extreme, radical, militant, War-On-Men-waging individual?” I dunno. Anyway, Ann Friedman explains this general topic better than I ever could, and you should read her piece here.