Feminism arose out of the frustration and sense of unfairness that women felt due to their position in society. Men made all the rules and women were expected to be content with their lot in society, even though they were treated as inferior. Of course, women were not happy to put up with the discrimination they encountered as a result of their gender. Thus, a feminist movement developed in order to give women more of a say and to have their views heard. Feminism has clearly had a positive impact on society, but this is not the impression that the media gives.

Although Western women may not face as many constraints on them as they did in the past, there is still a need for feminism in society. Women still face discrimination in the workplace and are frequently paid less for doing the same job as their male counterparts. Feminism also has a role to play in developing countries, where women’s rights are often limited. Feminism has largely had a positive impact on society since its aim is to bring about a fairer society. However, the media has a tendency to frame feminism in a negative light.

Perhaps, this is because the media is largely owned and controlled by men, just as the political establishment is dominated by men. It would appear that representatives of the media and politicians are in collusion when it comes to the political agenda. In the UK, David Willets – the university minister – asserted that it was feminism which had widened the poverty gap and reduced social mobility. This Conservative politician preferred to blame feminism than to consider the impact of government policies created by people like him on declining levels of social mobility.

Despite the difficulties women face entering certain professions and the discrimination that can arise because of their gender, feminism is presented as outdated and as harmful to society. Thus, feminists are presented as eccentric women who hate men and who have nothing better to do with their time than to criticise the exploitation of women in pornography. They are often regarded as unfeminine and not ‘real’ women.

It is therefore not surprising that a generation of young women reject the notion of feminism – which is really about promoting gender equality – and see nothing wrong with the way society operates. However, when these girls realise the significance of their gender when it comes to the opportunities available to them, they may well change their mind and adopt a different attitude. Unfortunately, feminism seems to have become a dirty word throughout society, which has clearly been fuelled by its negative portrayal in the media.