This is what a feminist looks like...

You've probably seen/heard about these t-shirts that have emerged recently, modelled here by Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg:

There are so many issues that I have with these t-shirts. First and foremost, they seem to be attempting to address the myth that all feminists look like ugly, hairy witches. It appears that many people think feminists must all be ugly so cannot get boyfriends and are therefore, angry at men. Anyone with common sense can realise that this is bullshit without having to see these t-shirts. They are completely unnecessary.

Secondly, there are far more pressing issues that need to be addressed by feminism! The movement largely does not care if people think we're all hideous looking, most of us are more concerned with important issues affecting women around the world. So again these t-shirts are pointless. How about we put time into changing things for women instead of just putting t-shirts on public figures?

On top of this, it is another way to try and make feminism into something fashionable. Fuck that. Feminism is a political movement looking to secure equality for all women across all classes, races, sexualities all around the world. Magazines and designers need to stop trying to use it as something trendy. Because it is so much more than that. It should not be a fashion statement to claim to be a feminist. I have no issue with celebrities advocating feminism but if they are doing it as an attempt to fit in then they can fuck off. There are women everywhere dealing with inequality of gender and it should not be used to sell products of capitalism. Stop trying to make money from a really important movement.

The whole issue with David Cameron refusing to wear one of these t-shirts came from ELLE magazine. Don't get me wrong, it is great that a widely read magazine has a feminist issue on sale. But this is also a magazine, like most of them, that primarily tries to sell beauty products to women. The beauty and fashion industries make billions from women's low self esteem. This is obviously not okay. It is important that women's magazines address feminism however, we must remember that their primary function is to advertise an industry which is widely known for making women hate themselves and that is very anti-feminist.

It also seems to be men wearing these for the most part. I have no problem with men supporting feminism. However, it is a movement started for and by women. Feminism has achieved a lot with very little support from men. Women's rights movements do not need men to be successful but yes, the more support a movement has, the more likely it is to progress. It is important to remember that while these middle aged white men might claim to support feminism, they have no idea what it is like to be a woman. So their support is nice but it is more important that women are involved.

It gets worse.

There are now claims that these t-shirts were made in a very anti-feminist way. Claims have been made by female workers earning 62p an hour. If these claims are proved to be true then it just rounds off the whole fiasco with these t-shirts. Wearing one does not prove you are a feminist, refusing to wear one (as David Cameron did) does not show you are against equality. They are just pieces of material with slogans on them that are looking to show that anyone can be a feminist... something most people already know.