I Was a Feminist Cliche

I was part of an era. The 1990's to 2000's were crucial years in my development and a huge moment for women in film and media to embrace a new form of female power.

I loved the Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny's Child, and shows like Living Single, Girlfriends and Sex & the City. They provided me with empowered role models and anthems that represented the power of femininity. Those women were fierce, and I was proud to bask in their glow.

At the time, I believed I was a feminist. I refused to allow boys to open doors for me, choosing to walk ahead and try to catch it first for them. I was proud to pay my own way and scoffed when someone tried to pay for me as if I didn't earn my own money. I stood up for women as equals on date night, but only then.

What I eventually learned is that all of those images of feminine power focused more on the social world. When I was sent out to the world to begin adulting, I still had no schemas for what a feminist should do to fight inequality at work or in the systems that guide our daily actions. I was a cliché of feminism born from media with no true knowledge or power to make change.

Real change comes from understanding how the systems around us work, bringing light to injustices, and taking steps to bring a tribe along to create progress.

Understanding those systems starts with sharing our stories. This issue of Women of Denver magazine offers a number of stories that bring light to the journeys we face as women. As you read these stories, think about the common threads and how we can come together to create a stronger future for women everywhere.

Krystal Covington

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