13 of Our Favorite Modern Feminists (It’s a Femininomenon!)
Let’s send a little light and love to the women who wake up every day and try to make the world better for other women.
Women like Susan B. Anthony, bell hooks, Betty Friedan, and Virginia Woolf contributed significantly to feminism and its evolution. However, that evolution is far from over, and we want to highlight some female feminists breaking barriers today.
Yes, men can be (and should be) feminists too. But this list is about the women shaping modern feminism. As Chappell Roan would say, it’s a femininomenon (feminine + phenomenon).
Michaela Coel
Michaela Coel is a British actor, writer, and director known for her groundbreaking work in television, such as her series I May Destroy You. The show, which is loosely based on her own experiences, addresses issues of sexual consent and trauma, bringing these critical conversations to mainstream media. It is critically acclaimed for its raw and honest portrayal of these issues.
Coel’s decision to reject a $1 million deal with Netflix to retain the rights to her work highlights her commitment to creative control and integrity. Her work continues to challenge societal norms and advocate for women’s rights, and she uses her platform to empower women to take control of their work and art.
Valeisha Butterfield
Valeisha Butterfield is the Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement at Google and has made diversity and inclusion central to her career. It’s hard enough building and maintaining a successful career as an ambitious woman, but doing so while advocating for change is even tougher. Butterfield didn’t let her own ambitions stop her from going out of her way to create space for other women.
Everything she does indicates that she is committed to uplifting future leaders. She has served as the co-president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer of the Recording Academy. Her work aims to close the gender gap and create opportunities for the next generation of women so we can see more ladies in positions of power, where many of them deserve to be.
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem is often referred to as the “Mother of Feminism.” She led the women’s liberation movements throughout the 1960s and 1970s and continues to be a prominent voice for feminist issues today. Steinem co-founded Ms. Magazine and several influential feminist organizations, including the Women’s Action Alliance and the National Women’s Political Caucus.
She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 for her work advocating for gender equality and empowering women globally. She continues to be a trailblazer for women’s rights today, and she’ll always be our feminist mom.
America Ferrera
If you saw Barbie*, you likely remember America Ferrera’s character’s emotional, fed-up, and glorious monologue on how hard it is to be a woman. Ferrera doesn’t just play a feminist on screen; she does the real work, too. Ferrera is an actor and activist who has been a powerful voice for gender equality, Latina women, and the rights of immigrants in the United States.
She co-founded the organization Harness, which aims to engage artists in social justice issues. Ferrera has also been involved in the Time’s Up movement, which addresses sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace. Her work promoting diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, which started far before Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, has made her a significant figure in the feminist movement.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is an actor and transgender rights advocate who has broken numerous barriers in Hollywood. She was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy in an acting category and the first to win a Daytime Emmy. Cox is a leading figure in the transgender community and frequently speaks out on issues of gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Her visibility and activism have helped to advance the conversation around transgender issues and inclusion. Not many transgender women have broken into Hollywood the way Cox has, so her presence in popular shows and movies like Promising Young Woman, Orange Is the New Black, and Inventing Anna is significant (and fabulous, of course).
Roxane Gay
For us, anyone interested in learning more about feminism should familiarize themselves with the incredible work of Roxane Gay. She is a writer and cultural critic known for her insightful commentary on feminism, race, and body image. Her essay collection Bad Feminist and memoir Hunger have resonated with many readers and sparked important conversations about the complexities of feminist identity.
Gay’s contributions to feminist literature and her outspoken activism have made her a key figure in modern feminism. Her brand of feminism is intricate, as by exploring the concepts of feminism, womanhood, and gender identity, she advocates for more understanding and discussion around these topics.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala is one of the most iconic feminists to ever live, so, of course, she made the list. Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist, has become a global advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights. After surviving an assassination attempt while advocating for girls’ education, she founded the Malala Fund, which works to provide quality education to girls worldwide.
In 2014, she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting education and women’s rights. There truly is only one Malala, and her impact has already been massive. Considering she’s not even 30 yet, we expect to see her supporting and fighting for feminism for many years to come.
Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva, an Indian scholar and environmental activist, is a prominent ecofeminist. She has been at the forefront of the ecofeminist movement, linking environmental conservation with women’s rights.
It’s easy for people to box these ideas into separate spaces, but through her work, Shiva shows how treating women with respect and treating the planet with respect go hand in hand. Shiva’s work focuses on biodiversity conservation, protecting the rights of small farmers, and advocating for women’s central role in agriculture and food production — an industry often dominated by men in both reality and perception.
Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke, a Native American activist and environmentalist, has been a powerful voice for Indigenous rights and women’s issues. The Indigenous community is often swept to the side and forgotten, especially Indigenous women. As the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, she works to preserve Native American land and culture, protecting the spaces where Indigenous women can feel safe.
LaDuke has also been a leader in the fight against climate change, emphasizing the connection between environmental issues and women’s rights, particularly in Indigenous communities. These communities, and specifically the women in them, are most vulnerable to environmental changes. LaDuke works to protect these women while raising awareness about these prominent issues.
Michelle Obama
The former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, has used her platform to advocate for numerous causes, including education, health, and women’s rights. Her Let Girls Learn initiative aims to help adolescent girls around the world attend and complete school. Additionally, her memoir Becoming has inspired millions of women to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles.
As the first African American First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has used her platform to champion women’s rights and education. She not only uplifts girls and women with her philanthropic efforts but is a spectacular role model and inspiration for many.
Zarah Sultana
Zarah Sultana is a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Coventry South since 2019. She has used her platform to speak out against Islamophobia, violence against women, and food scarcity.
Her advocacy and interests stretch beyond women’s rights, but feminism seeps into all of her causes. As she often points out, equality for women can be a key ingredient for positive changes in other aspects of society. Sultana’s advocacy for marginalized communities and her commitment to social justice make her a significant feminist voice in contemporary politics.
Janet Mock
Janet Mock is a Hawaiian African American writer, director, and transgender rights activist. She is the author of the memoir Redefining Realness and has worked as a writer and director on the television series Pose. Mock’s advocacy focuses on transgender rights, gender equality, and the representation of marginalized communities in media.
She is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, from books to shows to online publications and more. Her openness about her transition and experience as a transgender woman is inspiring and unapologetic, helping other girls, transgender or not, feel confident in themselves.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an actor and longtime activist who has been involved in feminist causes for decades, using her celebrity status to bring attention to serious issues. This lady cannot and will not be silenced, and her relentless activism has changed how many of us view protesting. Fonda has also been a vocal advocate for reproductive rights and environmental issues.
She co-founded the Women’s Media Center, an organization that works to amplify women’s voices in the media. And her recent activism includes participating in weekly climate change protests and rallies. Fonda has been a feminist icon since the ‘70s — never afraid to get political and stand up for what’s right.
Find Feminists Everywhere You Look
From politicians to actors to environmentalists to writers, feminists find ways to support women and advocate for gender equality in all sorts of spaces. Not every feminist has to protest in front of the White House to make a lasting difference.
These remarkable women represent diverse backgrounds and approaches to feminism, each contributing significantly to the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality in their own unique ways.
They prove there is no “wrong” way to be a feminist. As long as you’re creating space for women, it’s a femininomenon!
How Women Voters Will Shape the 2024 Election
As the 2024 election approaches, the role of women voters is more critical than ever. Women have consistently turned out to vote at higher rates than men, and their influence is expected to be a decisive factor in the upcoming election. Here’s a closer look at how women voters will shape the 2024 election and insights from experts on the gender gap in politics.
READ: How Women Voters Will Shape the 2024 Election
Choosing Where to Be Pregnant: Which States Are Conducive To Safe Pregnancy
Women are facing a relentless assault in our nation, with the fundamental right to bodily autonomy hanging precariously in the balance. Increasingly, women are being stripped of their ability to choose whether or not they wish to carry a pregnancy to term, and vital healthcare services that could save lives are being withheld in an attempt to curtail women’s autonomy.
In response, we have identified 25 states where we believe women can reasonably expect conditions conducive to safe pregnancy.
READ: Choosing Where to Be Pregnant: Which States Are Conducive To Safe Pregnancy
Join Us
Join us on this empowering journey as we explore, celebrate, and elevate “her story.” The Queen Zone is not just a platform; it’s a community where women from all walks of life can come together, share their experiences, and inspire one another. Welcome to a space where the female experience takes center stage. Sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing, Queen!
