“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay is what I want to call a “naked truth.” It is an article full of honesty from different perspectives that nobody talks about, which is because it’s about women and the meaning of a “good feminist” in our society. If I did not know that this article was issued in 2012, I would have believed it was published recently. It appalls me how much I can relate to this article, fearing the label because of the “necessities” to be a good feminist, having to follow several “rules,” such as not shaving, not fearing the “sisterhood” that I find quite fake. If you are fearful of what is supposed to be a sisterhood, is it actually one? Sisterhoods are supposed to be accepting, comforting, supportive, and the “requirements” put in place for women to be a “good feminist” make it none of those things. The inexorable pressures women have to face just to always be denied of their true selves is detrimental to our health, both physically and mentally. It is exhausting because the expectations are unattainable yet we are supposed to reach them to be labeled as a “good feminist.”
Beth Nguyen and Roxane Gay make connections with their articles in a way that you can only see if you really absorb the words. Although Gay’s article is focused on a broader topic, it talks about not being able to embrace being a feminist which can correlate with how Nguyen could not embrace her name, who she was, because of the society she was surrounded by. Roxane Gay rather be a “bad feminist” because “bad feminism seems like the only way [she] can both embrace [herself] as a feminist and be [herself].” This is similar to why Beth Nguyen changes her name. Changing her name was the only way she could “embrace” herself and live her life knowing that the judgement she faces was going to be endless. Both authors have been waiting for this permission, for this acceptance from those around them only to realize that only they can accept themselves for who they are. The judgement, stereotypes, categories are continuous and both readings are prime examples to how our society runs.
Both authors give examples on category negotiation that can be compared where the same factors are involved. Feminism is a broad topic while Beth Nguyen’s story is individual yet in a way you could also say it is a broad topic where other individuals with unique names are also faced with the same issues on a daily basis as Nguyen was. We are put into categories based on who we are, even if it is our name, race, gender, or political views and those categories end up turning into specific stereotypes even if it is not accurate. That is (sadly) how this country runs. America runs on hurting people, categorizing people so that it is “easier for them to understand,” and being selfish in their views. One could tell me that I am wrong and that “America is the greatest” but if America is so great then why do we have so many issues with every topic? Why were these articles published? If this country is so fantastic then why did Nguyen have to change her name to live? Why do women fear how to behave over a word that is seen as negative now? Why do we have to change just to be able to survive and fit into a “good stereotype?”
The readings meant a lot to me and part of being an active reader and a big empath is feeling deeply about the words I have annotated and digested. These topics should make people feel sad, angry, that something is going completely wrong in the “land of the free.” All around us are these labels and how can we truly embrace that if the labels related to ourselves are “bad” in the eyes of society?
