There are a lot of negative stereotypes surrounding feminism. Calling feminists “Feminazis” and accusing them of men-hating and reversed sexism are only a few of the most prominent examples. Why are do these terms exist and where do they come from? Why is a movement for equality equated with gendercide? Or does feminism need an image change?

Former FemSoc President and Greenwich alumni Nathalie Grigorenko talks to us about the negative branding of feminism, man-hating and if “Feminazis” are a thing. 

Nathalie holds an MSc in Gender from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Greenwich. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, she moved to London in 2016. Ever since getting involved in the student movement and Students’ Unions, she has been passionate about progressive politics and decolonising knowledge. She is particularly interested in questions of sexuality, representations of feminism, and feminist theory overall. Recently, she has produced work on the representation of man-hating and its connections to the SCUM Manifesto, theoretical alliances between transfeminism and political lesbianism, as well as co-founded Solidarity Collective: an online platform for progressive political discussion.