Millennial Feminism Should Be Celebrated Despite Its Flaws, Not Dismissed
Source: Jill Filipovic. "The Lindy West controversy is obscuring something important.." March 31, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that millennial feminism, despite having real problems, accomplished important things like #MeToo and changing how we talk about women's bodies and rights. She thinks people are being unfair by focusing on its flaws and using Lindy West's personal story to dismiss the whole movement.
Conclusion
Despite legitimate criticisms and the Lindy West controversy, millennial feminism was largely successful and beneficial, and we should grieve its loss rather than celebrate its demise
Premises
- Millennial feminism achieved significant positive social changes including #MeToo, body positivity, mainstreaming intersectionality, and transforming discourse around women's issues
- The movement emerged from a deeply misogynistic cultural context in the early 2000s where feminist voices were rare and women's issues were marginalized
- While the movement had problems with censoriousness, racial inequalities, and shutting down legitimate discourse, these flaws don't negate its overall positive impact
- Concrete evidence shows lasting benefits: abortion rights activism without shame, changed media coverage of women's issues, legal protections for trans people, and healthier attitudes toward body image
- Lindy West's personal struggles don't invalidate her contributions to making feminism more accessible and less apologetic
- Critics focusing on the movement's annoying aspects miss the bigger story of how it fundamentally improved American society
Assumptions
- Social movements should be judged primarily by their overall impact rather than their worst elements
- Personal contradictions or failures by movement leaders don't invalidate the movement's ideas or achievements
- The current backlash against millennial feminism represents a loss rather than necessary correction
- Progress in social justice is measurable through concrete policy changes and cultural shifts