Does ‘feminist’ have a place on a list of words to ban? (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Feminist’ is currently topping Time magazine’s poll of words to ban this year with a staggering 45 per cent (at the time of writing) of the vote.

The term looks out of place in the otherwise lighthearted list which includes slang words like ‘bae’, ‘obvi’ and ‘yaaaassss’.

So why is it on there in the first place? ‘You have nothing against feminism itself,’ writes Time’s list curator Katy Steinmetz in the article blurb. ‘But when did it become a thing that every celebrity had to state their position on whether this word applies to them, like some politician declaring a party?



‘Let’s stick to the issues and quit throwing this label around like ticker tape at a Susan B Anthony parade.’


MORE: Watch potty-mouth princesses swear allegiance to the feminist cause

Internet forums have emerged, urging users to vote ‘feminist’ out of our vocabulary, with one commenter writing, ‘Let’s trigger some b***hes’.

At its peak the term had 51 per cent of the vote, however, as numbers slipped another forum user felt some words of encouragement were necessary. ‘We’re back down to 38%, Pick up the slack guys,’ they wrote.

Outraged critics have taken to Twitter to express their distaste for Time’s poll, and a Facebook petition to ‘celebrate feminists’ has been backed by Girls creator and actor Lena Dunham.

TIME magazine wants to ban the word feminist hello 1954 called they want their ideals back — charlie (@cutequeer96) November 13, 2014

Seeing TIME magazine putting the word "feminist" on a list of words they'd potentially like banned in 2015, really saddens me. Earth sucks. — Chris Millington (@ChrisJohnMilly) November 12, 2014

I'm a feminist- are you? Tell Time magazine before they "ban" the word: https://t.co/gp0S1fiXn6 — Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 13, 2014

Do you think Time was wrong to include ‘feminist’ in its list of Words to Ban in the first place? Tweet your thoughts to @MetroUK with the hashtag #WordstoBan.

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