Why Is Radical Feminism Misunderstood?

Historically, societies have been male dominated, with men positioned as the providers and women as the caretakers. A hierarchy was created and enforced, and the system came to be known as patriarchy, that is, the rule of the father. Men historically and systematically oppressed women through rigid control, using religion and culture as tools to justify restrictions on movement and autonomy. Misogyny was reproduced through this system, as a result, manifesting in social evils and cruel practices like witch hunting in Europe and "sati pratha" in the Indian subcontinent. Misogyny sustained patriarchy, resulting in an endless vicious cycle of oppression.

The eighteenth to nineteenth century Europe saw the first wave of liberal feminism, influenced by the age of enlightenment and liberalism, which fought for voting rights and suffrage within the system, but barely questioned patriarchy as a system due to lack of consciousness.

The second wave of radical feminism emerged in the 1960s in the West. It challenged patriarchy and misogyny as systems, demanding equal rights for women and liberation from the oppressor male class. If radical feminism is about dismantling such rigid and unjust structures, why is it so widely misunderstood? Let us explore.

Understanding the Word "Radical"

The term "radical" is often misunderstood as synonymous with "extremism", whereas extremism and radicalism are different terms with distinct meanings. The word "radical" comes from the Latin word "radix", which means "root." It refers to addressing problems at their fundamental source; the root cause of a problem. Extremism, on the other hand, involves employing extreme violent methods for the radical cause or ideology. The core confusion arises because radical feminism has become associated with a man-hating movement in popular perception and because other radical movements have often turned violent.

Radical feminists, however, do not advocate violence in general. They use writings, speeches, and activism to spread awareness. They view patriarchy as the core oppression in society and attack institutions like religion, marriage, and sex work, claiming that they are man-made oppressive structures, but not men individually. Their focus is on dismantling systems of oppression rather than attacking people.

Exclusionary Chambers

• Some radical feminists generalize all men as oppressors, directly and indirectly. Such universalization often leads to the conclusion that a "male feminist" is an oxymoron, in radical spaces. They believe in decentering all men entirely and creating women only societies, isolating themselves from men, claiming true liberation can only happen then.
• Some exclude religious women arguing that religion and feminism cannot coexist, even if women believe in personal faith religion rather than religion as an institution.
• Lesbian feminists who advocate for political lesbianism sometimes criticize heterosexual women for their relationships with men, excluding them from their spheres and questioning their commitment to feminism.
• TERFs, or trans exclusionary radical feminists, believe "a man cannot be a woman," despite scientific evidence to the contrary. They exclude trans women from the feminist struggle, even though trans women face a different type of oppression and stigma.
• Liberal feminism often clashes with radical feminism many a times because according to some radical feminists, liberal feminism is useless and just reformist in nature rather than bringing real change. 

Such purity tests and gatekeeping are common in all forms of activism. These perspectives, however, do not represent the majority of feminists or radical feminist sections. A lot of radical feminists are inclusive and welcome diverse experiences.

The Loud Social Media Voices

Social media platforms like Instagram, Reddit, and Twitter (now X), amplify extreme voices, such as a woman saying "all men are trash." Social media feminism thrives on rage-baits designed to provoke reactions. It is, however, funny that men fall for those repeatedly!

Insensitive comments against men gain traction because the algorithm promotes content with high shock value. Unfortunately, this turns feminism into a market strategy rather than a tool for genuine change. The confusion of extremism and radicalism makes radical feminism appear as man hating, when the reality is far more nuanced.

Angry Young Women

A lot of women have suffered because of abusive men in different ways. Their anger is valid, though sometimes it can manifest in toxic ways. Even good-willed men often take this anger personally, thinking radical feminism is about man hating rather than a systemic critique.

Radical feminists sometimes use bitter words in their writings and speeches as a critique of systems, not attack on men, but this can make some men uncomfortable instead of promoting understanding.

It is, however, worth noting that individual women claiming to be radical feminists, like Valerie Jean Solanas, did make content infuriating to men. Her SCUM Manifesto called for the wholesale extermination of men, an extreme take by any measure. Some viewed it as a satire, however, Solanas seemed to be serious. But instead of judging her work in isolation, we must understand where it was coming from. Her own father sexually abused her during childhood, and she was even abused by her grandfather, leading to severe trauma. We do not have to support her works, but we must support her as a human who suffered immensely.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are a radical feminist or a liberal feminist, make an effort to understand others' experiences. Remember that extreme voices are not the majority of the movement, but they are often used by the oppressor class to downplay entire feminism and dismiss legitimate concerns. Extreme voices should, however, not be our concern. Instead, focus on what brings real change and dismantles oppressive systems for all women.