Feminism being popular among teenage girls is not a bad thing, but over the past few years Feminism has stopped being a movement and a weapon for change and become just a fad. We’ve reached a point where Feminism is being used to sell products (books, t-shirt, the 2 million etsy shops selling items) rather than educate women who really need the knowledge. What’s even worse is that the current Fad Feminism is not actual Feminism but an extremely diluted byproduct that’s been created by people who have a very rudimentary understanding of the history and reality of Feminism, but are spreading their incorrect version anyway.
Much of the Fad Feminism actually has the potential to do teenage girls more harm than good, because it’s saying “anything you do is empowering and feminist as long as you support other women!” and that’s just not true. An example is how high heels and makeup, two products that profit directly from the idea that women are not good enough in their natural state, are now lauded as being “feminist and empowering!”. It’s a wet dream for makeup companies but no young girls are being empowered, they’re just being told “here’s a new reason that makeup is cool! buy more! now if you use it you’re enlightened and even cooler!”.
In the end, the people I’ve seen complaining about Feminism being trendy (myself included) don’t like it for these reasons. Because under Fad Feminism everything from bright red lipstick to bsdm is actually really wonderful for women, and all it takes to be a Feminist is a shrug and a “I mean, yeah, I think women should be equal”. And any criticism or attempts at open dialogue are shut down.
So, I for one don’t hope Feminism is trendy forever, because I don’t think Fad Feminism is helping girls. If anything I hope it becomes trendy to read about the actual history of feminism, and to understand what the movement is for. Oh, and I hope it becomes trendy to rip the movement out of the hands of businesses who are tuned in and trying to make a quick buck.