--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think people resist feminism because…" description: "\"I think people resist feminism because they're scared. I think for women, they're scared of being picked on or of being called out. I hear from a lot o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/jessica-valenti-1960_argument_i-think-people-resist-feminism-because-t_2443337.png" --- # I think people resist feminism because they're scared. I… ![“I think people resist feminism because they're scared. I think for women, they're scared of being picked on or of being called out. 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 in an argument with someone. And it's just not cool…” quote by Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/jessica-valenti-1960_argument_i-think-people-resist-feminism-because-t_2443337.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/jessica-valenti-1960_argument_i-think-people-resist-feminism-because-t_2443337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/jessica-valenti-1960_argument_i-think-people-resist-feminism-because-t_2443337.png) > “I think people resist feminism because they're scared. I think for women, they're scared of being picked on or of being called out. 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 in an argument with someone. And it's just not cool; like it's not a cool thing to be associated with. There's no benefit to saying that you're a feminist.” [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feminism is often avoided due to fear of social backlash and personal conflict. **In simple terms:** People avoid feminism because they fear criticism. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and discuss feminism openly. Themes gender equality social pressure identity public discourse Mood defensive reflective hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - college campuses - online discussions - workplace meetings - family conversations - activist events Key Concepts feminist theory social stigma identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Why do you fear being labeled a feminist? - How can we reframe feminism as inclusive? A Different Perspective Some may view feminism as antagonistic, limiting dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Young women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-women/) ## Related quotes > [I think people resist feminism because they're scared. I think for women, they're scared of being picked on or of being called out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-people-resist-feminism-because-they-re-scared-i-think-for/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [There's no benefit to saying that you're a feminist. But you do kind of get a nice patriarchal pat on the head if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/there-s-no-benefit-to-saying-that-you-re-a-feminist-but-you-do-kind/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Anyone who hates something feels threatened by it. A guy who says he hates feminism (a) doesn't understand or know feminism, and (b) is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-strauss/anyone-who-hates-something-feels-threatened-by-it-a-guy-who-says-he/) [Neil Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-strauss/) > [“Many women, I think, resist feminism because it is an agony to be fully conscious of the brutal misogyny which permeates culture, society, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/many-women-i-think-resist-feminism-because-it-is-an-agony-to-be-fully/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Something I say a lot when it comes to anti-feminist stereotypes is that they exist for a reason. The stereotypes of feminists as ugly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/something-i-say-a-lot-when-it-comes-to-anti-feminist-stereotypes-is/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Young women know that something is off; they know that the world is a messed-up place. They know that the world is a sexist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/young-women-know-that-something-is-off-they-know-that-the-world-is-a/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I would love for everyone to be a feminist, but I have to respect people's choices. If you don't want to be a feminist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-would-love-for-everyone-to-be-a-feminist-but-i-have-to-respect/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [I keep saying this: If you're not a feminist, you're a bad person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/i-keep-saying-this-if-you-re-not-a-feminist-you-re-a-bad-person/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [I still don't want to be put in the feminist bag. I'm a humanist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-still-don-t-want-to-be-put-in-the-feminist-bag-i-m-a-humanist/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [To me, saying you're not a feminist should be like saying you're a racist. It should be that politically unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/to-me-saying-you-re-not-a-feminist-should-be-like-saying-you-re-a/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [Women saying "I'm not a feminist" is my greatest pet peeve. Do you believe that women should be paid the same for doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/women-saying-i-m-not-a-feminist-is-my-greatest-pet-peeve-do-you/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Quite frankly, I talk about the fact that I'm a feminist as often as I can, and every time I do, it gets huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/quite-frankly-i-talk-about-the-fact-that-i-m-a-feminist-as-often-as-i/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [“I’m not sure feminism should require an adjective. Believing in the full social, political, and economic quality of women, which is what the dictionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-m-not-sure-feminism-should-require-an-adjective-believing-in-the/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Jessica Valenti > [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Women are brought up to believe you are going to be the better parent and you know what's best. I don't think that's necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/women-are-brought-up-to-believe-you-are-going-to-be-the-better-parent/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“What is closer to the truth is that when confronted with the love you deserve, it is easier to mock it than accept it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/what-is-closer-to-the-truth-is-that-when-confronted-with-the-love-you/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Stress from blogging keeps me up at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/stress-from-blogging-keeps-me-up-at-night/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I think we get into very dangerous territory when we start to define who can and cannot be a feminist. It's such a slippery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-we-get-into-very-dangerous-territory-when-we-start-to-define/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [It used to be, if you wanted to have a strong, influential voice in the feminist movement, you really needed to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/it-used-to-be-if-you-wanted-to-have-a-strong-influential-voice-in-the/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [The implications of likability are long-lasting and serious. Women adjust their behavior to be likable and as a result have less power in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-implications-of-likability-are-long-lasting-and-serious-women/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I think I was in high school, actually, and it was a guidance counselor or someone said, you know, you're just too loud; like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-think-i-was-in-high-school-actually-and-it-was-a-guidance-counselor/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [The only purpose of an engagement ring is to show you 'belong' to someone, and your man makes bank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-only-purpose-of-an-engagement-ring-is-to-show-you-belong-to/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Something I say a lot when it comes to anti-feminist stereotypes is that they exist for a reason. 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The boredom, the stress, the nagging dissatisfaction, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/i-m-talking-about-the-soul-crushing-drudgery-of-day-to-day-parenthood/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) [Explore all 195 Jessica Valenti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. 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