By Emily Thompson

When we think of “feminists,” who do we think of? The first names that come to my mind are Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Olympe de Gouges, Emily Dickinson… Sadly, none of which are men.
This past week, Donald Trump stated that he was not a feminist, stating in an interview with Piers Morgan, “I’m for women. I’m for men. I’m for everyone.” I don’t disagree. All people deserve to be treated equally and have their rights fought for, but it is obvious to me that he is missing what is at the root of the feminist movement: social equality.

When I saw the headline of Donald Trump claiming to not be a “beacon of light” in the patriarchy, I was not at all surprised. He did not even need to come out and say it. I do not care if you are the President of the United States or a business owner or whatever profession: treating people correctly is necessary and respectful. Sadly, he gets more attention due to his status as our President.

His past comments about women have been objectifying and misogynistic. According to Time, in an interview to Billy Bush in 2005 he included that “ …when you’re a star, they let you do it, you can do anything…” We feminists knew what we were in for when he entered office. But what I think is more alarming is that he is just one person, a well-known one, who at his core believes that women are not to be taken seriously; and I think that this stems not only from a more conservative point of view, but also a misinterpretation of feminism.

To take a quote from Malala Yousafzai, “…there’s nothing wrong with calling yourself a feminist. I am a feminist and you’re truly feminist, because feminism is another word for equality.” Donald Trump made it clear in his interview that calling himself a feminist was “going too far.”

Too far towards what exactly? I would say that the beauty of the feminist movement is fighting for the social justice that women have craved for centuries, despite the fact that they did not have an outlet to express their frustration. So, when I hear that supporting feminism is going “too far” for Donald, I get the sense that he and many others fear the “Modern Woman.”

To me, the best way to define feminism is to look at the women who inspire me. I think most girls have a point in their life where someone talks to them in a degrading way or makes hints to how their gender may limit their abilities. I have always found books very helpful in this area. I grew up reading Harry Potter, and had Hermione as a role model.

She was brave, confident and not afraid to be a warrior. It just so happens that Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione in the Harry Potter film franchise, is the U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador. She is a graduate of Brown University. She started the organization HeForShe, which aims to get men to support the feminist movement. She is the perfect definition of a role model for girls of all ages, whether as a fictional heroine or a real one.

Feminism is not about women trying to be superior to men. This is not some sort of dystopian-overhaul. Feminism is allowing women to flourish and bloom in a world that has always told them to be inferior. It embraces women who are strong, who will no longer be pushed aside and who want more from life than traditional expectations.

It is a new chapter of stories and opinions that have historically been hushed. It’s about changing people’s minds, so, for our President to come out explicitly against this concept is frankly insulting. He is missing the point. I believe Donald Trump represents a demographic of Americans, many of which are men, who cannot accept that a category of people they have always thought inferior to them are capable.

Somehow in the fight for justice, it seems that the movement for women’s equality has been skewed, probably by the minds who want the movement to disintegrate altogether. Emma Watson states that “…I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating.”

It seems to be a common misconception that in order to be a feminist, one must be female. But there have been many important figureheads who have come out in support of women’s rights, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former U.S. President Barack Obama. A New York Times piece reacting to Obama’s article addressing feminism in Glamour Magazine states “The President said that it was important to his daughters that he be a feminist, ‘because now that’s what they expect of all men.’”

President Trump wants to argue that his inability to support the feminist movement is because he wants equality for everyone. Fine. So support the Black Lives Matter Movement, the Gay Rights Movement AND the Feminist: Movement: and whichever others aim to better the lives of the people he represents. Embracing feminism isn’t leaving people out, it is acknowledgment that women are a cause worth fighting for.

In a political climate oozing with scandal, the #MeToo movement and the recent atrocities committed by Larry Nassar, it is time for everyone to stand up for women’s rights. So, Donald Trump is not a feminist. In a time when we need to hear women’s voices more than ever, I feel invigorated by his ignorance and hope that others do as well. Sorry President Trump, but you are doing feminism a favor.

Emily Thompson, FCRH ‘21, is an art history major from Norwalk, Connecticut.