--- description: Let's bite the hand that feeds us, shall we? title: #WomenAgainstFeminism Is Happening Now, Ugh image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Living](/tag/time-section-living/) ## Living Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # #WomenAgainstFeminism Is Happening Now  by [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jul 23, 2014 5:36 PM CUT  by [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Jul 23, 2014 5:36 PM CUT _Updated: July 30, 4:00 p.m._ When Newton said that every action would have an equal and opposite reaction, he couldn’t have foretold that his Third Law of Physics would apply to internet feminism. But even though the backlash is hardly “equal and opposite,” once again, just like in the 1970s, some women seem to be misunderstanding the basic principles of feminism in order to rail against women’s rights with the hashtag #womenagainstfeminism. This week, perhaps because of the anti-feminism bubbling up on the internet (although they didn’t explicitly say so), [NPR](http://www.npr.org/2014/07/21/333582322/phyllis-schlafly-explains-why-feminism-has-made-women-unhappy "undefined") re-promoted its 2011 interview with prominent antifeminist activist Phyllis Schlafly who campaigned to stop the 1973 passage of the Equal Rights Amendment–the legislation that would have provided men and women total legal equality. She basically sums up the conservative mindset about feminism: --- > “” --- It’s no surprise that the 89 year-old Schlafly feels this way. But it is somewhat surprising that a small, yet vocal group of young women has started to echo her rallying cry, first on a [Tumblr](http://womenagainstfeminism.tumblr.com/ "undefined"), then on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WomenAgainstFeminism "undefined") (with over 11,000 likes) and now with the adorable #womenagainstfeminism hashtag. Most of the posts include some reiteration of the central misunderstanding about feminism, that a core belief of feminism involves hating men. > [](https://twitter.com/HollyRFisher/status/491235630181908482) > [](https://twitter.com/VeronicaLewis/status/491234707023990785) > [](https://twitter.com/sarabaratx/status/491303255482195968) > [](https://twitter.com/GoldenSnowflake/status/491269238599200768) > [](https://twitter.com/GOPMommy/status/491284635800702976) > [](https://twitter.com/jocelyn%5Fhope/status/491415945311567872) > [](https://twitter.com/CeeJayCraig/status/491236138858713088) While this hashtag is unlikely to undo all the progress made by women like Gloria Steinem and Beyonce, it is troubling, as Jessica Valenti over at [The Guardian](http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/07/anti-feminist-women-hobby-lobby-decision-great "undefined") has explained: --- > “” --- But there will always be some women who don’t understand feminism, just like there will always be some people who deny global warming. There’s no use getting all worked up over a few stragglers who haven’t gotten on the bandwagon. So let’s just try to nip this in the bud. Sorry, Phyllis Schlafly, but feminism is here to stay: _With reporting contributed by Hannah Goldberg_ _Update: The original version of this post incorrectly included a tweet from @Auragasmic as an example of a statement against feminism because it was tagged #womenagainstfeminism. 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