Kristen Stewart Gets Why Her Generation Won't Call Itself Feminist

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 13 October 2014

A certain section of Hollywood is embracing feminism like wildfire.

Still, some young actresses are reluctant to accept the label, a trend the Daily Beast brought up in its interview with Kristen Stewart. The actress and cross-dressing video girl goes up against the thorny question "Why doesn't your generation see itself as feminist?" and wins, giving an incisive answer that shows just how well she understands the American Young Person:

"That's such a strange thing to say, isn't it? Like, what do you mean? Do you not believe in equality for men and women? I think it's a response to overly aggressive types. There are a lot of women who feel persecuted and go on about it, and I sometimes am like, 'Honestly, just relax, because now you're going in the other direction.' Sometimes, the loudest voice in the room isn't necessarily the one you should listen to. By our nature alone, think about what you're saying and say it—but don't scream in people's faces, because then you're discrediting us …

It's the overcompensation to where our generation goes, 'Relax,' because it's been easier for us, and because we don't have as much of the anger, so it's like we can't get behind it and it's a bit embarrassing. But that being said, it's a really ridiculous thing to say you're not a feminist."

It's true: We don't respond well to yelling, and we do have it pretty good compared to our grandmothers. But we also know life can be better, which is why we rally behind #HeForShe and Emma Watson, applaud Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and openly discuss Annie Lennox's criticism of Beyoncé.

What Stewart and company are saying is that if the old ways are no longer effective, it's up to us to create something new and relatable, whether that's an immensely successful Twitter campaign or female-directed short films.

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Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.