Ellie Mae O’Hagan, The Guardian (Feb 25, 2013)

If you have the word feminist written anywhere about you (Twitter bio, blog header, curriculum vitae or just your broad forehead), it’s tough then having people believe that you are in reality not a bra-burning, man-hating, venom spewing, l3sbian. Much of feminism has till now been defined by anger. Then, the Tina Feys and Caitlin Morans happened to feminism. The (self-deprecating) sense of humour, far from idealist view about feminism and the ability to take a joke happened.

If we are thinking that’s great PR for feminism to have these funny, witty women, this is what O’Hagan thinks!

In my mind, if being sexy and funny are the two cornerstones of a new feminist movement, we may as well all pack up and go home now. At its core, feminism should be angry. It should be angry because women are still being taken for a ride. Like the women in The Feminine Mystique, we are being sold a lie of equality in a society where the odds are politically, socially and economically stacked against us.

Feminism’s most basic function should be to emphasise that sexism is not an accident, but an inevitable consequence of a society structured to favour men. Jokes about vaginas and reassurances that we won’t have to give up lipstick are not enough. To put it bluntly, a new feminism should not be afraid to piss people off.

Full article here.