What Feminism Really Means: Beyond White Feminism and TERFs

Feminism isn’t about hating men or burning bras or yelling louder than everyone else (though sometimes, all of that feels pretty necessary and therapeutic.) At its core, feminism is about equality—dismantling systems that benefit one gender over others and creating space for everyone to thrive. That means fighting for bodily autonomy, safety, equal pay, accessible healthcare, and the freedom to live without being reduced to a role or stereotype. It’s not just a women’s issue—it’s a human issue.

But not all feminism is created equal. White feminism tends to center the experiences of white, cisgender, straight, able-bodied women and often ignores the voices of women of colour, disabled folks, and queer and trans communities. Then there are TERFs—trans-exclusionary radical feminists—who claim to fight for women’s rights while actively excluding and harming trans women. That’s not feminism; that’s gatekeeping dressed up in outdated ideology. Trans women are women. Period. If your feminism doesn’t include them, it’s not liberation—it’s just another form of oppression.

True feminism is intersectional, or it’s nothing at all. For the queer community, feminism is more than theory—it’s survival. It gives us language to challenge gender norms, demand safe spaces, and imagine a world where our identities aren’t just tolerated, but celebrated. Feminism and queer liberation go hand in hand. If your feminism isn’t actively creating space for everyone—especially the most marginalized—then it’s time to sit down, listen, and do better. Because feminism that only serves some of us, helps none of us.