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Feminism: chat

Feminism: sex and gender

Original poster

Is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex really a feminist?

158 replies

polkadotdalmation · 20/05/2023 08:58

I'm asking here because this is the feminist section and it's nothing to do with her title or husbands royalty.
She accepted a feminism award from a feminist icon (Gloria steinberg) for her feminist work.

I'm not interested in her stand against racism or any of her other projects, and don't want to muddy the waters with these questions.

So is she a feminist icon?

OP posts:
StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/05/2023 09:01

Icon? Dunno. Feminist? Yes. I can't remember what she said that made me think that.

FloofCloud · 20/05/2023 09:04

Not to me, she's married to elevate herself

YouAreNotBatman · 20/05/2023 10:40

Does it really matter?
I mean feminism as a movement and feminist themselves are so over the place that no one knows what it means or stands for these days?
I don’t think the label or the award actually mean anything.

CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease · 20/05/2023 10:47

Apart from her podcast, I can’t think of anything she has actually done that could be seen as feminist since she got married (I would’ve said her blog - The Tig was about woman’s empowerment). The was a documentary (and interview) about how difficult life can be in the public eye, a children’s book about dads, and that’s it? Have I missed something? I don’t see her shining a light on feminist issues and campaigning etc.
just her podcast which would come close but even then I wouldn’t say “feminist icon” at all.

TimesRwo · 20/05/2023 10:51

But it really depends on what you mean by a feminist. As everyone has a different interpretation of it.

For me, whether you are a stay at home mum or have a high flying career, as long as you personally have made that choice rather than being influenced by others and society, then that is feminism. It’s giving women the freedom to do what they want rather than what society things women should do.

I think Meghan’s actions since she got married are definitely in that sphere. She tried to conform to the role of the Royal wife and she couldn’t do it, and she broke away from that, whilst being subject to much criticism for her choice.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 20/05/2023 10:51

She’s a Meghanist.

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 20/05/2023 11:12

Dear god, make it stop

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 20/05/2023 11:12

I think it depends what flavour of feminism you mean. She probably fits into the 'girl power' variety adopted by the Spice Girls. But other women with royal associations - Queen Elizabeth or Princess Anne - would exemplify a different, perhaps less self-conscious, version of feminism.

THisbackwithavengeance · 20/05/2023 11:13

I can't see that she has done anything much at all to warrant getting actual awards. Do people actually listen to her podcasts?

I'm sure she considers herself to be a feminist though.

DysonSpheres · 20/05/2023 11:14

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 20/05/2023 11:12

Dear god, make it stop

😂😂😂

DysonSpheres · 20/05/2023 11:23

My two pence is that until I started to frequent the feminist threads here...the 'feminism' I mostly saw reflected to me was the flavour of Meghan's, very soundbity and lacking in substance and critical thought, which left me cold and uninspired. It's to my mind based on privilege. And based around the ideal of working in a man's world and how much one 'achieves'. It's not embracing of all women from every class (ime).

Until fairly recently, I'd never call myself a feminist. I didn't like the shallow image that I thought it stood for. I don't really think I ever radical feminism. But being exposed to the range and depth of views here (some that I disagree with) has put me in the position of questioning that stance. It's uncomfortable as I'm quite conservative.

I will say any woman that champions 'diversity and inclusion' to the detriment of her own sex cannot be a feminist, and I recall Meghan featuring a trans person on the cover of her special magazine feature supposedly celebrating the advances and contributions of women (I may have that wrong. Someone correct me if so)

DysonSpheres · 20/05/2023 11:24

*I ever saw

Brumbrumbrumbrummie · 20/05/2023 18:41

This seems very harsh - she wrote an advertising company when she was a child to protest against gender roles
think it’s fair to say she has been a feminist for a long time

TheCrystalPalace · 20/05/2023 18:51

@Brumbrumbrumbrummie Wasn't that letter actually part of a school assignment that the whole class participated in?

TheCrystalPalace · 20/05/2023 18:52

And, whilst not relevant to the OP's question, sending the letter was facilitated by the father she has now ghosted.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 21/05/2023 09:52

Feminist, yes. Feminist icon, no.
From what she has said about her values and the fact that no matter what we might think about her charity work it does seem to be directed towards empowering women, I think she is sincere. However it’s not the source of her fame, which comes more from marrying a prince.

wheresmymojo · 21/05/2023 09:55

Yes, she's a feminist. And yes, she does a fair amount of feminist speaking and such.

people.com/royals/meghan-markle-trailblazing-feminism-through-the-years/

wheresmymojo · 21/05/2023 09:57

I think there are a lot of people on this thread tearing down another woman without having actually looked into what she has, or hasn't done.

Which isn't feminist at all.

wheresmymojo · 21/05/2023 10:02

IMO a lot of comments and media issues she's had are quite misogynistic - god forbid that a woman marry into the royal family and still have her own opinions.

The whole positioning of Meghan as the 'evil woman' who is 'poisoning' Harry against others.

A misogynistic trope as old as time.

Sad to see people considering themselves 'feminists' not only buying into it, but repeating it.

I'm not particularly a Meghan 'fan' but the whole thing drips with misogyny and to see women gleefully participating is saddening.

wheresmymojo · 21/05/2023 10:05

TheCrystalPalace · 20/05/2023 18:52

And, whilst not relevant to the OP's question, sending the letter was facilitated by the father she has now ghosted.

Why does that matter so much to you?

My father facilitated some positive things. He was also an abusive arsehole, am I supposed to ignore the abusive behaviour because of that?

I have 'ghosted' my father if that's what you want to call walking away from an abusive paternal relationship.

Her father was selling stories about her to the media and was caught setting up 'candid' photos for $ to paps ahead of their wedding. It's a huge betrayal, imagine how that would have felt.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 21/05/2023 10:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

amyneedssleep · 21/05/2023 12:31

Hey ladies, is it feminist to start an insubstantial, baity thread on the most scrutinised woman in the Western world? Asking for a friend.

SheilaFentiman · 21/05/2023 12:37

Yes she is a feminist.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel she’s more famous for marrying Harry, sure, but she was fairly famous in the US for her role in Suits before they got together.

She did some work with the women of Grenfell Tower and nothing she has done strikes me as anti feminist. Is she an icon of feminism? I wouldn’t go that far, but championing women’s rights and needs is one of the things she uses her platform for

Spottymushroom · 21/05/2023 12:39

I think she is a feminist and has used her platform for good. The 40th birthday idea of women helping women to get back into the workforce. Promoting women getting back into education. The cookbook. And so on.

I don’t know what it’s like to be royal or the rules you have to abide by but she was a breath of fresh air.

Badgeringabout · 21/05/2023 20:04

Pretty sure she is of the TWAW crew so is not a feminist in any meaningful sense of the word.