politics
March 15, 2026
The one thing everyone gets wrong about feminism
People love to declare the death of the women’s movement, pointing to the ‘failure’ of #MeToo or the Epstein files, but don’t give up the fight just yet, writes Rebecca Solnit
TL;DR
- Obituaries for feminism are often premature, based on the flawed assumption that millennia of patriarchy can be dismantled in a single lifetime or that isolated events signify total failure.
- Events like the overturning of Roe v. Wade, #MeToo, and the Epstein files should be viewed within a global and historical context, not as sole measures of feminist success.
- #MeToo led to significant legislative changes in workplace anti-harassment laws, increasing accountability and victim protection, though this progress is often incremental and goes unnoticed.
- The imprisonment of high-profile abusers and the increased willingness of society to listen to victims serve as warnings and demonstrate shifts in justice and public consciousness.
- Progress in reproductive rights has been global, with more countries expanding abortion rights than narrowing them, despite the rollback in some US states.
- The fight for equality is ongoing, with backlash real, but the achievements of feminism have led to a world where women are more equal and free than in the past.
- Societal changes, including the 'gender revolution' and increased male participation in domestic life, reflect the slow but profound impact of feminism.
- Remembering the past and documenting how things used to be is essential to appreciating the distance traveled and the importance of continued efforts towards equality.
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