The One Thing Everyone Gets Wrong About Feminism

In recent years, there has been a surge of commentary declaring the decline of the feminist movement, often citing events like the #MeToo movement and the overturning of Roe v. Wade as indicators of its failure. However, Rebecca Solnit argues that feminism is far from dead and that such assessments are based on flawed assumptions.

Solnit highlights two main misconceptions driving these narratives. Firstly, many people mistakenly believe that the feminist movement should have achieved complete success within a single lifetime, particularly given the significant progress made since the 1960s. This perspective overlooks the deep-rooted nature of patriarchy, which has been entrenched in societal structures for centuries. Expecting an overnight resolution to such a complex issue is both unrealistic and defeatist.

Secondly, the tendency to measure the success of feminism by isolated events, such as the outcomes of #MeToo or high-profile cases like Jeffrey Epstein, fails to account for the broader context of ongoing struggles for women's rights. Solnit points out that no human rights movement is judged solely by whether it has eradicated all related issues. For instance, the civil rights movement is not deemed unsuccessful simply because racism persists.

The article encourages readers to reconsider their views on feminism, reminding them that while progress may be slow and uneven, the fight for gender equality continues. The notion that feminism has "failed" is a simplistic narrative that ignores the substantial achievements made and the ongoing efforts to address systemic inequalities.

Source: www.theguardian.com – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/feminism-isnt-dead-rebecca-solnit