I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TIKTOK FEMINISM. Words by Jenny Jung
Everyone’s journey
with feminism is unique and deeply personal. However, it is safe to say that the media we consume act as sources which guide our norms and understanding of feminism. This is why I have a problem with feminist content on social media, most prominently Tiktok. Now, I’d be a liar if I said I’m not constantly on Tiktok every moment of boredom throughout my day – most kids these days are. But this is why Tiktok feminism is so dangerous; it feeds regressive and toxic content into the minds of malleable young people who have yet to form their views on feminism. I remember as a young girl myself seeing #feminism posts on Instagram (you know, the pussy-powerperiod-blood-girlboss activism that was going on in 2012) and taking it as gospel, not realizing how toxic that brand of feminism really is. This is the effect of social media trends on young people, and it is still a problem to this day, if not worse. To preface, capitalism and feminism are a match made in hell. The reason why emancipation has been taking so long (with so many generations to come if ever) is because capitalism exists. 36
The patriarchy is littered with traps, with clever mechanisms to make women feel liberated and empowered and simultaneously feed right from its hands – capitalism and consumerism culture being one. Capitalism is a system born out of the patriarchy, and it serves to reinforce it. Capitalism is inherently gendered, because the means of production are always the masculine, and the commodities are always the feminine. In this society where women are groomed into being satisfied as products, there can never be emancipation. This leads to the first Tiktok trend I want to talk about.
the ‘divine feminine’, Have you ever and other futile encountered attempts of those Tiktoks with women escape from the dressed like male gaze. forest witches and/or goddesses, posing for the camera with that annoying “I am woman, I am fearless…” sound in the background? The divine feminine is a trend on Tiktok, meant to channel our powerful feminine energy, and feel empowered in this society where men tell us what women should be – yes, women sure look beautiful and radiant, but is the
