Is this feminism helping women or just feeding egos?

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Just now

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Be real for a second, feminism has done a lot of good. Women can vote, work, study, and have more say in their lives thanks to those who fought for basic rights decades ago. But nowadays, you can’t help but wonder: Is all this “new age” feminism truly assisting everyday women, or has it become more of a trend that makes people feel good about themselves?

Scroll through social media, and you’ll see what I mean. It’s full of influencers posting “empowering” selfies with #Feminist in the caption, or brands slapping “Girl Power” on a T-shirt and selling it for triple the price. Sure, it looks cool, but does it change anything for the single mom who’s working two jobs? Or the girl who can’t go to school safely in some parts of the world? Probably not.

A good example is how some celebrities claim to be feminist icons but rarely back it up with real action. They’ll give a big speech at an awards show about women’s rights, but then continue working with companies that exploit women workers. Meanwhile, people clap and cheer, but the problems stay the same.

Then there’s the “call-out” culture. Sometimes, instead of helping women, people start tearing each other down in the name of feminism. If a woman wants to be a stay-at-home mom, she’s “setting us back.” If another woman enjoys wearing makeup and dressing up, she’s “trying too hard to please men.” Isn’t feminism about letting women choose what they want? Somewhere along the way, it’s turned into policing each other’s choices, which honestly just feeds egos instead of helping anyone.

Of course, not all modern feminism is shallow. There are still amazing people and groups out there fighting real battles. Like the organizations pushing for stronger laws against domestic violence, or activists working to get girls into school in countries where they’re not allowed. Those people don’t get as many likes on Instagram, but they’re the ones who make an actual difference.

So, what’s the point here? It’s not that feminism is useless, far from it. It’s when it becomes all about hashtags and clout that it loses its real power. If we want feminism to stay meaningful, it has to stay focused on real issues: equal pay, safety, education, healthcare, and freedom to live however a woman wants. Less talking, more doing.

In the end, the test of any social movement is whether it improves real lives in measurable ways. To stay relevant, feminism must keep asking itself hard questions: Are we addressing root causes or just symptoms? Are we listening to all women, or only those whose stories look good online? Are we fighting for equality or just for applause?

Only when these questions are answered honestly can feminism fulfil its promise: not as an ego boost, but as a force that genuinely liberates.