While Theresa May remains propped up only by a deal with the devil and the DUP, it seems unlikely that abortion is where she’ll make her stand
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More than half of millennial women don’t identify as feminist, poll finds
Some feel that the movement has been ‘taken over by far left-wing activists’
In 2018, the word feminism is so commonplace, we might be forgiven for thinking everyone around us believes in the idea of gender equality.
Since 2012, a resurgence in popularity of the political movement began gaining traction, bringing us to what is now described as fourth-wave feminism, which places issues such as sexual harassment, intersectionality and casual sexism at the forefront.
However, we might think feminism, from its dictionary definition, is a simple concept - the social, political and economic equality of the sexes - but it seems that some people disagree, as a new survey has revealed that a surprisingly high number of millennial women are now boycotting the term altogether.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
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The survey, carried out by Refinery29 and CBS News, saw 2,093 women asked about their sociopolitical views in a bid to uncover how young women might vote in the impending US midterm elections, which will take place in November.
A staggering 54 per cent of young women in the US responded they they do not consider themselves proponents of the movement for gender equality whereas 46 per cent said they did identify as “feminist”.
Despite the high number of women saying they do not call themselves feminists, 53 per cent of respondents said that they felt the Trump administration's policies had mostly hurt women while 70 per cent felt their individual rights and liberties were currently under threat.
The poll also investigated views towards abortion and found that it was a fairly even split in terms of legal advocation, with just 28 per cent of women saying they thought it should be legal in all cases and 25 per cent saying it should be illegal in most cases.
Commenting on the survey results to The Independent,Dr Katherine Twamley, senior lecturer in sociology at University College London, says that while feminism does mean equality, many people may "affiliate the term feminist with ‘man-hating'.”
Some people, she continues, "typify feminists as ‘shouty’ and ‘aggressive’, and do not see themselves nor want to be seen in that way.
"Such stereotypes are part of a concerted backlash against feminism, which has unfortunately taken hold in many people’s minds."
This may be the case for 22-year-old Leah, who tells Refinery29 that she feels feminism has been “largely taken over by far-left wing activists” who make it impossible for her to identify with the movement, despite her advocation of gender equality.
She also told the website that she disagrees with what she describes as “the aggressive push for abortion”.
Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures
Show all 35
Women's March 2018 across the world: in pictures
1/35 London
Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London.
Getty
2/35 London
The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
AFP/Getty
3/35 Berlin
Women's March in Berlin.
EPA
4/35 London
The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse.
Getty
5/35 Paris
Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris.
AFP/Getty
6/35 London
Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London.
Rex
7/35 Paris
A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests.
AFP/Getty
8/35 London
Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London.
Rex
9/35 New York
Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West.
EPA
10/35 New York
Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
11/35 Chicago
A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago
AFP/Getty
12/35 New York
People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York
Getty
13/35 Washington
Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington
AFP/Getty
14/35 New York
The crowd lines up near Central Park
Getty
15/35 Chicago
Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago
AFP/Getty
16/35 New York
Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Women’s March in New York
Getty
17/35 New York
People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York
Getty
18/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
19/35 New York
People hold signs up during the women's march
Getty
20/35 Philadelphia
Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia
Reuters
21/35 Philadelphia
Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia
Reuters
22/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
23/35 New York
Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City
AFP/Getty
24/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
25/35 New York
People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City
AFP/Getty
26/35 New York
People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
27/35 New York
People gather the second annual National Womens March
AFP/Getty
28/35 Washington
People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
29/35 Rome
A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown.
AFP/Getty
30/35 Rome
Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome.
AFP/Getty
31/35 Rome
The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
AFP/Getty
32/35 Zurich
A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend.
EPA
33/35 New York
People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
34/35 Rome
A woman holds a banner reading "The rising of the women means rising of us all" during Rome Resists demonstration.
AFP/Getty Images
35/35 Rome
A woman lifts her fist while holding a banner reading "Hear our voice" during Rome Resists demonstration.
AFP/Getty
1/35 London
Women's rights demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during the Time's Up rally at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street in London.
Getty
2/35 London
The Time's Up initiative was launched at the start of January 2018 as a response to the #MeToo movement and the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
AFP/Getty
3/35 Berlin
Women's March in Berlin.
EPA
4/35 London
The Time's Up Women's March marks the one year anniversary of the first Women's March in London and in 2018 it is inspired by the Time's Up movement against sexual abuse.
Getty
5/35 Paris
Women hold a banner reading "still feminist" with the Eiffel tower in background on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris.
AFP/Getty
6/35 London
Protesters hold up placards at the Women's March in central London.
Rex
7/35 Paris
A demonstator hold signs on the Trocadero esplanade in Paris during a women's march organised as part of global protests.
AFP/Getty
8/35 London
Chanting Times Up in the cold rain - On the anniversary of the Women's March on London.
Rex
9/35 New York
Thousands of people gather holding protest signs on Central Park West.
EPA
10/35 New York
Demonstrators take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
11/35 Chicago
A woman holds a sign during the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago
AFP/Getty
12/35 New York
People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York
Getty
13/35 Washington
Supporters gather during the Women's March in Washington
AFP/Getty
14/35 New York
The crowd lines up near Central Park
Getty
15/35 Chicago
Demostrators attend the Second Annual Womens March in Chicago
AFP/Getty
16/35 New York
Thousands hold signs and rally while attending the Women’s March in New York
Getty
17/35 New York
People gather near Central Park before the beginning of the Women's March in New York
Getty
18/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
19/35 New York
People hold signs up during the women's march
Getty
20/35 Philadelphia
Oscar Janicki, 6, participates in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia
Reuters
21/35 Philadelphia
Crowds gather to participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Philadelphia
Reuters
22/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
23/35 New York
Women pose as they attend the second annual National Womens March in New York City
AFP/Getty
24/35 Washington
People participate in the second annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
25/35 New York
People gather prior to the second annual National Womens March in New York City
AFP/Getty
26/35 New York
People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
27/35 New York
People gather the second annual National Womens March
AFP/Getty
28/35 Washington
People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington
Reuters
29/35 Rome
A woman holds a banner reading "Womwn united will never be defeated" during Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown.
AFP/Getty
30/35 Rome
Italian actress Asia Argento (3rdL) attends the Rome Resists demonstration part of the Women's March in downtown Rome.
AFP/Getty
31/35 Rome
The Women's March Rome, designed to show solidarity for the protection of civil and social rights, women's rights and the environment included Italian actress Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse US film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
AFP/Getty
32/35 Zurich
A US citizen holds a poster on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Trump apologising to the world on behalf of her country, in Zurich, Switzerland. A year after millions of people took to the streets across the US and countries around the world, women's marches are being held in lots of cities this weekend.
EPA
33/35 New York
People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan
Reuters
34/35 Rome
A woman holds a banner reading "The rising of the women means rising of us all" during Rome Resists demonstration.
AFP/Getty Images
35/35 Rome
A woman lifts her fist while holding a banner reading "Hear our voice" during Rome Resists demonstration.
AFP/Getty
Leah's views were echoed by a 25-year-old Republican named Stephanie, who told Refinery29 that she doesn’t see the need for a feminist movement at all: "Women are doing just fine. I think modern feminists try to create a boogeyman out of what they call the patriarchy and hunt it down, but it's not necessary."
Distancing oneself from the term “feminist” is not uncommon amongst female celebrities either.
Despite Beyoncé and Emma Watson promoting the cause, several celebrities - such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry - have distanced themselves from the term in past interviews, with Madonna and Susan Sarandon expressing a preference towards use of the term "humanist".
However, humanism is a different thing entirely, used to denote a philosophical stance that favours rational human agency over supernatural or divine matters and has nothing whatsoever to do with gender equality.
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