Has Modern Feminism Lost Its Way?
By Amy Powell
Why are we being told that ‘girls support girls’ as if it's some revolutionary revelation? It’s as if there’s a presumption that most women never had each other’s backs until some influencer slapped a hashtag on it as they so often do. I don’t know about you, but having a daily Instagram reminder to support the women in our lives feels a little out-dated and forced.
Social media is where the latest viral trends in video and content creation are born. Micro-trends are similar but even shorter-lived, all it takes is a celebrity endorsement or viral video and soon enough we begin to see people adopting the trend. This social ritual has become commonplace in digital activism, which is performed by sharing posts or using hashtags that are trending within the platform to signal an alliance with certain social issues. However, some posts and hashtags that are shared widely can lack substance and this can be more of a hinderance than helpful.
These micro-trending activist movements seem to come and go, and it is beginning to feel more performative than productive. The currently trending hashtag ‘#GirlsSupportGirls’ raises the question of why it has become necessary for women to feel they must make an online declaration to prove they are part of the sisterhood. We’ve seen it too many times: influencers push the latest trends, brands commodify them, and social media parades them around as if it is groundbreaking. But beneath the hype, it’s just another marginalised community being fed into the trauma-profit machine.
Of course, the concept of women supporting women is essential. However, the suggestion that we need catchy phrases or viral hashtags to remind us to do so is patronising and counterproductive. Many of us have been supporting each other all along, without feeling the need to advertise it. When “support” turns into a public spectacle, it starts to lose its meaning and the whole concept is reduced to something that’s all about optics rather than genuine solidarity.
In fact, micro-activism could be doing more harm than good by diluting the very meaning of feminism. Feminism, at its core, is about equal rights and justice. Real feminist action takes time, dedication, and resilience—qualities that don’t exactly fit into the fleeting, aestheticised world of micro-trends. Yet, these superficial movements demand we buy into them to fit some ideal of what a "good" feminist should be. Frankly, I’m finding it harder and harder to call myself a feminist with all the sycophantic talk.
It’s not that feminism shouldn’t have a platform. The fight for women’s rights is far from over. But it does need to retain its integrity, and that means moving beyond slogans that can be sold, commodified, or turned into a trend. Feminism shouldn’t be a product.
As we approach 2025, it’s time to leave performative activism in the past. Women deserve more than to be neatly categorised into a hashtag; they deserve genuine support. Real activism requires hard work and commitment, not just engagement with fleeting online trends. We must deepen our understanding of women’s history and acknowledge the struggles that have been tirelessly fought for over generations. Knowledge is power, and with it, we can stand alongside those still fighting against injustice and prejudice.
Opinion feature article by Amy Powell