60 Feminist Quotes About the New Age F-Word

In the domain of contemporary dialogue, feminist quotes act as powerful catalysts.

They provoke reflections on gender equality and the need for transformations in societal norms.

When Beyoncé proclaimed, “We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead,” she illustrated the inherent potency of words in inspiring change.

Feminism, a conceptual beacon that champions women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality, finds its voice resonating through various mediums.

The feminist quotes below, laden with wisdom and insight, traverse from the colloquial corridors of pop culture to the revered echelons of academia.

This article seeks to explore these compelling feminist quotes, their implications, and the transformative impact they hold in the ongoing discourse on gender equality.

Check out our feminist quotes below to learn more!

The Feminist Movement

The feminist movement started in the late 19th century and gained popularity in the late 20th century.

This was known as the first wave of feminism.

Then the movement gained momentum during the 1960s and 1970s, which was referred to as the second wave of feminism.

After that time, this movement evolved and considered various other issues, including:

• The wage gap
• Beauty standards
• Reproductive rights
• Objectification of women 
• Sexual harassment and assault
• Domestic violence/Intimate partner violence
• Gender inequality/discrimination in the workplace 

And many others.

Please enjoy these informative and illuminating feminist quotes!

Tell us your favorite quote in the comment section.

Top 10 Feminist Quotes 

Feminists challenge societal norms and unethical and oppressive values of days past.

1. “To be a feminist is to be alive.” — Margaret Cho

2. “To be feminist doesn’t mean you can’t be submissive.” — Sam Taylor-Johnson

3. “I realized that, as a woman, you have an obligation to be a feminist.” — Sadie Sink

4. “It is living, not thinking, as a feminist that has become the challenge.” — Rachel Cusk

5. “I don’t necessarily think of myself as a feminist, but I’m a whole person.” — Jill Scott

6. “I try to be feminist in, like, I love myself, and I don’t need someone else’s approval.” — Amy Lee

7. “There are 3 billion women in the world, so there are 3 billion ways to be a feminist.” — Caitlin Moran

8. “I don’t know if I’m a feminist, but I just know that I am all for outspoken, powerful women.” — Mac Miller

9. “Because of the feminist perspective, we have gotten a view of the world that is distorted.” — Warren Farrell

10. “When people ask me if I am a feminist filmmaker, I reply I am a woman, and I also make films.” — Chantal Akerman

Defining Feminist Quotes

These illuminating quotes illustrate that being a feminist can mean so many different things.

11. “Being a feminist is being equal to do what a man do.” — Cardi B

12. “Does being a feminist mean that I believe that I’m as good as any man? Yes.” — Yasmine Bleeth

13. “If you say, I’m for equal pay, that’s a reform. But if you say. I’m a feminist; that’s a transformation of society.” — Gloria Steinem

14. “I will stand for equality, and that doesn’t mean giving me a reservation. I would like to fight for it; just give me a fair chance. That’s what being a feminist is.” — Taapsee Pannu

15. “First and foremost, I’m a feminist. And basically, that stems from a strong belief that all people and creatures deserve equal opportunity, rights, and respect.” — Kathy Najimy

16. “Every woman, whether or not they’re comfortable with the term ‘feminist,’ probably wants to be equal to men, and that is fundamentally what feminism is about.” — Emily Ratajkowski

17. “A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It’s equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of.” — Zendaya

18. “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” — Rebecca West

19. “I would never judge another woman. For me, being a feminist means that even if we don’t agree on everything, we should fight for each woman to be free to choose who she wants to be.” — Maimouna Doucoure

20. “A feminist is a person who wants equal things for men and women, and I definitely believe in that. This doesn’t mean I will degrade anyone. In our house, I want my mother and father to have equal importance, and that’s the only way to bring up a socially responsible child.” — Aishwarya Lekshmi

Feminist Quotes by Self-Proclaimed Feminists

These quotes prove that you don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist.

21. “I’ll always prefer to play with women and hang out with women, and I’ll always be a feminist.” — Courtney Love

22. “I am a feminist. Women are discriminated against in so many ways, and they make up half the population.” — John Legend

23. “I’m proud to be a feminist because making sure that everyone understands we all have a role in fighting for equality is the only way to move forward.” — Justin Trudeau

24. “I was a feminist in the Sixties, and can you imagine? The worst thing I could have done was to be in fashion. It was the most uncomfortable position.” — Miuccia Prada

25. “I don’t think that French women are less feminist. If you look at Simone de Beauvoir, she was French, and she wrote one of the founding texts of feminism.” — Stacy Martin

Views on Feminism

Although feminism has focused on different social matters at different times, the end goal is equality between men and women.

26. “I’m almost a feminist and believe if a girl wants to do something, she should be able to do it in the same way that a man is able to, which is sometimes a problem in our country.” — Alia Bhatt

27. “I consider myself a feminist because I believe women should have equal rights. Of course. It’s just that the term ‘feminism’ conjures up other things for people.” — Marina and the Diamonds

28. “I never say, ‘I feel this way, so you should feel that way.’ Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but I just am who I am. But, yeah. I think you would call me a feminist.” — Kim Kardashian

29. “Women have been taught that, for us, the earth is flat and that if we venture out, we will fall off the edge. Some of us have ventured out, nevertheless, and so far, we have not fallen off. It is my faith, my feminist faith, that we will not.” — Andrea Dworkin

30. “I was born in ancient times, at the end of the world, in a patriarchal Catholic and conservative family. No wonder that by age five, I was a raging feminist – although the term had not reached Chile yet, so nobody knew what the heck was wrong with me.” — Isabel Allende

Feminist Quotes about the Feminist Movement 

Not all women agree with the current movement, but most women agree that the sexes should be equal.

31. “Gone are the days when reality fed the feminist movement.” — Tammy Bruce

32. “I don’t think that the feminist movement has done much for the characters of women.” — Doris Lessing

33. “One of the biggest problems with the modern feminist movement is its failure to bring men along with us.” — Tammy Bruce

34. “I’m not a misogynist, so you can dispense with that. I think I’ve done wonders for the feminist movement.” — Nick Cave

35. “The feminist movement taught women to see themselves as victims of an oppressive patriarchy. … Self-imposed victimhood is not a recipe for happiness.” — Phyllis Schlafly

36. “I’ve never been drawn to the feminist movement. I was brought up to believe that men had little to do with the home or children – except to bring in the money.” — Beryl Bainbridge

37. “There was an angry wave in the ‘70s, a strong feminist angry wave. I remember thinking – oh my God – I thought it was the beginning of something, and it all went quiet.” — Viv Albertine

38. “I have never experienced racism in the feminist movement, so it concerned me to think that I was unable to see the subject clearly because I came from white, middle-class privilege.” — Betty Buckley

39. “The goals of the feminist movement have not been achieved, and those who claim we’re living in a post-feminist era are either sadly mistaken or tired of thinking about the whole subject.” — Margaret Atwood

40. “With the feminist movement – a good movement which I support – there’s been more overt criticism of the male, an attitude that men are failing to understand the finer nature of women, failing to appreciate their needs, failing to support them, failing to be compassionate.” — Steven Berkoff

Feminist Quotes by Non-feminists 

Self-proclaimed non-feminists have an interesting take on the topic.

41. “I’m not an active feminist: I’m an active humanist.” — Hugh Hefner

42. “I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist, but I don’t like girls pretending to be stupid because it’s easier.” — Amy Winehouse

43. “I’ve never considered myself a feminist, but I’m happy that I’ve been raised as a strong, independent woman.” — Shruti Haasan

44. “If a woman wants to take her husband’s name, that’s her choice, and I still think she can be feminist while doing that.” — Roxane Gay

45. “Why am I not a feminist? Maybe because I come from a country where my mother ruled my life. I never felt in any way that I couldn’t achieve what I want.” — Marina Abramovic

Quotes on the Power of Being a Woman

Here are more wise words on the strength and beauty of womanhood.

46. “I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong.” — Amy Schumer

47. “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.” — Maya Angelou

48. “You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” — Brigham Young

49. “Do not live someone else’s life and someone else’s idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is you.” — Viola Davis

50. “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant to be your own person, be independent.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg

51. “I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world.” — Meryl Streep

52. “The emerging woman … will be strong-minded, strong-hearted, strong-souled, and strong-bodied … strength and beauty must go together.” — Louisa May Alcott

53. “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong; it’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” — G.D. Anderson

54. “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong; I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.” — Audrey Hepburn

55. “There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” — Rihanna

More feminist quotes to get you thinking

Below, singers, actresses, and other influential women have weighed in with their thoughts and beliefs on feminism.

56. “Well, I don’t think of myself as a feminist at all. As soon as we start labeling and categorizing ourselves and others, that’s going to shut down the world.” — Melissa Leo

57. “I don’t consider myself a feminist, but I’m down for my first opportunity to say something to the world to be so meaningful. If you asked me, ‘What do you want to say?’ it would be, ‘Love yourself more.’” — Meghan Trainor

58. “I’m a woman who was raised to believe that you are not complete unless you have a man. Well, in some ways, it’s true. I am a feminist to a point. But I’m not going to deny the fact that I love to be with men.” — Goldie Hawn

59. “I like women who look like women. I hated grunge. No one’s more feminist than me, but you don’t have to look as if you don’t give a – you know. You can be smart, bright, and attractive aesthetically to others – and yourself.” — Catherine Zeta-Jones

60. “I think the term feminist is scary for women because it means that you’re extreme in some way, and I’m not extreme in any way, although I do passionately believe that a woman’s role within any organization is to assist and help other women.” — Karren Brady

What is Postfeminism?

There is a group of women that may not be “anti-feminist,” but they believe that equality has been reached in many areas and do not agree with some of the goals of modern feminists.

This movement is called postfeminism and mainly encompasses changing viewpoints of the movement since the 1980s.

If you have found a feminist quote that inspires you the most, share it with us via the comments section!

We would love to hear from you!

Also, share these feminist quotes with your friends by clicking the share button.