It seemed that 2014 was the year of the scarlet letter. Not the letter “A,” but the letter “F,” for feminism, demanding female celebrities own up to their views on feminism. The “Are you a feminist?” question was thrown around a lot, and soon the world had their celebrity feminist lists and their celebrity anti-feminism lists, consisting of A-list stars.

Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco was the latest of celebrities criticized for not self-identifying as a feminist. Asked if she considers herself a feminist, Cuoco told Redbook Magazine in an interview for the February 2015 issues, that she does not because it never seemed to be an everyday thought for her.

Cuoco told Redbook the following:

Is it bad if I say no? It’s not really something I think about. Things are different now, and I know a lot of the work that paved the way for women happened before I was around … I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that’s because I’ve never really faced inequality.

This statement was heavily criticized by the media, and days later, Cuoco admitted on her Instagram profile, that her words were “taken out of context.” Whether you yourself was insulted or disagreed with Cuoco’s statement is solely up to you, however, Cuoco’s statement is an example of the media’s strange obsession with feminism .

It seems almost every week, there is a different celebrity being asked about feminism. From Game of Thrones star Maisie William’s opinion on Emma Watson’s UN work, to Kirsten Dunst denouncing feminism because she believes in traditional motherhood, female celebrities are part of this feminist hunt, whether they want to be or not.

The only way I can understand why the media enjoys recycling this question is because there are bigger, more renown stars that are attempting to bring up feminism in the lives of a younger generation.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are possibly two of the biggest pop stars in today’s music, and they are also looked up by millions of young girls, making their feminist lyrics and messages even more visible to today’s pop culture. This big word “feminism” is reappearing, and we have big stars standing by its side, but does that mean that everyone fully understand it?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. That is possibly why there are just as many celebrities who don’t identify as feminists, as there are who do. Celebrities including Lady Gaga doesn’t identify as a feminist because she loves men, and Bjork who believes feminism means isolation, are examples of celebrities denouncing feminism because they believe it is man-hating or makes them different from society, which is not at all what feminism strives for. Misconceptions like these are being publicized more, almost trying to stand opposite pro-feminism news.

It almost takes away from the cause itself. With so many testimonials of “ifs,” “maybes,” “no’s” and “buts,” feminists almost have to keep repeating they’re beliefs over and over. The feminism question has turned into an interview curve ball, with celebrities having to explain themselves on the spot, and later amending what they believe was taken “out of context.”

This whirlwind of confusion and criticism masks what the word “feminism” really means- which is the belief that both men and women should have the same equal rights. Speeches such as Emma Watson’s UN presentation are given the spotlight for only a mere day, before it is than pushed aside with yet another celebrity not identifying themselves as a feminist, almost forcing the public to wonder: is feminism a bad or a good thing?

Let’s pay more attention to what feminism has achieved for this generation, and let us not shame women for being a feminist or for not being a feminist. Equality is what feminism strives for, including that everyone should have the same right to stand by their opinions, whether you enjoy them or not.

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