Dressing like a Feminist and Acting like one are two Different Things

In recent months, what many thought impossible has happened: feminism has been well and truly catapulted into the mainstream. Though the reasons for this sudden surge in mass appeal are numerous, much credit must go to the appointment of Emma Watson as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. The appointment paved the way for ‘that speech’ and the launch of the HeForShe campaign, which did much to bring gender equality issues into the public consciousness.  

Long before the HeForShe campaign became a widely discussed phenomenon, occasionally social media would cough up a photo depicting a straight-faced youth holding a placard that said “this is why I need feminism”, or a smiling celeb proudly wearing a t-shirt declaring “this is what a feminist looks like.” Last week Elle Magazine decided to commandeer the latter example when putting a piece together picturing famous men looking their most earnest. The men photographed included A-listers such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. However, three of the men approached were the three Westminster Leaders: David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband. While Clegg and Miliband gladly snapped up the chance for a photo opportunity, the Prime Minister declined and immediately faced a media backlash as a result.

Now far be it from me to suggest that Benedict Cumberbatch wouldn't have jumped right under that horse with Emily Davidson given the chance, but we have a slightly better idea about the politics of Cameron, Clegg and Miliband. Cameron heads a cabinet comprising of only 22% women, and with the gender pay gap increasing and huge financial pressure on domestic violence refuge centres under his government, what is clear is – Dave is not a feminist. However, on this occasion at least, he is not a hypocrite. Although Nick Clegg deserves credit for his recent stance on paternity leave, on what level can we truly consider him a feminist? Let’s not forget, he is the Deputy Prime Minister of the same regime as Cameron. But what of Miliband? He does at least have more women in his shadow cabinet, but what other evidence have we really seen of his feminist leanings?

Maybe I’m being cynical, and we should applaud Clegg and Miliband for their clothing based commitment to feminism. Maybe it was a genuine statement about their belief in gender equality. Ultimately though, perhaps the best way for Clegg and Miliband to show us what a feminist looks like, is not by posing for fashion magazines, but by taking feminism from a popular movement to the forefront of Westminster politics.