--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like calling myself a \"feminist\"…" description: "\"I don't like calling myself a \"feminist\" only because I don't think I've done anything active enough to call myself one. It'd be like calling myself a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png" --- # I don't like calling myself a "feminist" only because I… ![“I don't like calling myself a "feminist" only because I don't think I've done anything active enough to call myself one. It'd be like calling myself a civil rights activist just because I'm not racist.” quote by Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png) > “I don't like calling myself a "feminist" only because I don't think I've done anything active enough to call myself one. It'd be like calling myself a civil rights activist just because I'm not racist.” [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoids labeling himself a feminist, fearing the term implies active advocacy he hasn't yet performed. **In simple terms:** Labels may imply actions not taken. Key Takeaway Define activism beyond labels. Themes identity activism self‑perception Mood humorous introspective Type comedic reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - social commentary - self‑assessment Key Concepts social movements personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can one act without a label? A Different Perspective Does avoiding labels hinder progress? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot imagine why a woman would ever call herself anything but a feminist. But a man calling himself a feminist, what does that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-marche/i-cannot-imagine-why-a-woman-would-ever-call-herself-anything-but-a/) [Stephen Marche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-marche/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But I'm an activist - that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that-2/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I feel like most people know that I'm a vegan, and I'm a pretty vocal animal activist. Everything and anything I do, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-von-d/i-feel-like-most-people-know-that-i-m-a-vegan-and-i-m-a-pretty-vocal/) [Kat Von D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-von-d/) > [I have to ask myself, Am I content with calling myself a feminist? Yes, because I speak out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-have-to-ask-myself-am-i-content-with-calling-myself-a-feminist-yes/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I don't know about calling yourself a feminist. I also, for me, it's difficult for me to call myself a feminist in the classic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/i-don-t-know-about-calling-yourself-a-feminist-i-also-for-me-it-s/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [“When a woman fears the punishment that comes from calling herself a feminist, I ask: Will you be so unpunished if you don’t? When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/when-a-woman-fears-the-punishment-that-comes-from-calling-herself-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I think feminism is that you just have to stick it all out. I remember this one time when someone interviewed me, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna/i-think-feminism-is-that-you-just-have-to-stick-it-all-out-i-remember/) [Yuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna/) > [I realized that calling yourself a feminist or not calling yourself a feminist, just by being in a band of all girls, it's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-realized-that-calling-yourself-a-feminist-or-not-calling-yourself-a/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [I don't like to call myself a feminist writer. I say I'm a feminist, but I don't write to propagate an ism,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-deshpande/i-don-t-like-to-call-myself-a-feminist-writer-i-say-i-m-a-feminist/) [Shashi Deshpande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-deshpande/) > [I hear from a lot of young women, you know, I don't want to call myself a feminist because I don't want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-hear-from-a-lot-of-young-women-you-know-i-don-t-want-to-call-myself/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [People were always able to look at Bettie Page and see what they needed her to be and she gave them that permission to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-mol/people-were-always-able-to-look-at-bettie-page-and-see-what-they/) [Gretchen Mol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-mol/) > [Feminism to me means fighting. It's a very nuanced, complex thing, but at the very core of it I'm a feminist because I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/feminism-to-me-means-fighting-it-s-a-very-nuanced-complex-thing-but/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [You can't be a woman and not be a feminist, I don't think. If you care about the world and the world you exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/you-can-t-be-a-woman-and-not-be-a-feminist-i-don-t-think-if-you-care/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I am a feminist. I don't especially care for the term, but there it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/i-am-a-feminist-i-don-t-especially-care-for-the-term-but-there-it-is/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [You can't call yourself a feminist if you don't believe in the right to abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-can-t-call-yourself-a-feminist-if-you-don-t-believe-in-the-right/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## More by Bo Burnham > [The strange thing with Wikipedia is that the first article that ever gets written about you will define your Wikipedia page forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-strange-thing-with-wikipedia-is-that-the-first-article-that-ever/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [And there's a metal train that's a mile long and at the very back end a lightning bolt struck her, How long til it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/and-there-s-a-metal-train-that-s-a-mile-long-and-at-the-very-back-end/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Women are like fingers and toes because they're easy to count on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/women-are-like-fingers-and-toes-because-they-re-easy-to-count-on/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I do think that stand-up comedy in general heavily favors masculinity and so I like to act a little feminine onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-do-think-that-stand-up-comedy-in-general-heavily-favors-masculinity/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Most of my songs make fun of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/most-of-my-songs-make-fun-of-myself/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I write about what I know: teenage dating, overly charged sexuality, all the things that make you uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-write-about-what-i-know-teenage-dating-overly-charged-sexuality-all/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [People give me money and I don't know why, my real collection plate is an empty cup held by a homeless guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-give-me-money-and-i-don-t-know-why-my-real-collection-plate-is/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Comedy doesn't really matter that much; I know that. I treat it like an adult - I don't treat it like a child or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-doesn-t-really-matter-that-much-i-know-that-i-treat-it-like-an/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I've always liked the format of YouTube, sharing things for free, which is a nice exchange between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-ve-always-liked-the-format-of-youtube-sharing-things-for-free-which/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Comedy is very strange to me and I don't fully understand it's purpose or function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/comedy-is-very-strange-to-me-and-i-don-t-fully-understand-it-s/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I don't really care about capitalizing on momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-really-care-about-capitalizing-on-momentum/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [If your belief is hateful towards people, I couldn't respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/if-your-belief-is-hateful-towards-people-i-couldn-t-respect-that/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [When life gets you down, make a comforter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/when-life-gets-you-down-make-a-comforter/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) [Explore all 258 Bo Burnham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't like calling myself a \"feminist\" only because I don't think I've done anything active enough to call myself one. It'd be like calling myself a civil rights activist just because I'm not racist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bo Burnham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-only-because-i-don-t-think-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Active" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-only-because-i-don-t-think-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/716/bo-burnham-1313_active_i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-o_2880320.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't like calling myself a \"feminist\" only because I don't think I've done anything active enough to call…” — Bo Burnham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bo Burnham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't like calling myself a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-only-because-i-don-t-think-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-don-t-like-calling-myself-a-feminist-only-because-i-don-t-think-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```