Feminism: the term, the movement, and its impact in the modern age

By Grace Bonamico

Feminism finds itself today in a complicated situation; the movement is caught between advancement and fragmentation. The very definition of what constitutes feminism has become highly debated in the modern age, and although the movement is still actively pursuing gender equality, many cannot help but question whether feminism is evolving or dying. Much of the debate surrounding the movement, however, is not about its objectives but rather about the term itself. As observed by an analyst in The Egalitarian, “the word feminism has been hijacked by some and distorted by others who do not fully understand the movement.”

The current phase of feminism, which is often referred to as the fourth wave, has emerged alongside the rise of social media culture, reshaping how activism is organized and shared. Unlike earlier waves rooted in formal organizations or large-scale protests, this wave is defined by its reliance on technology and global connectivity, as many modern movements are. As one study, ‘#LikeAGirl: Realizing the Communicative Potential of Fourth Wave Feminism’ by Samantha Keville explains, “modern technology is allowing people everywhere to immensely spread their views and beliefs on feminism. In other words, mass globalization has the ability to cause mass change and recently has been utilized as a powerful tool for spreading awareness on women’s rights and essentially creating worldwide change in an easier and more accessible manner.”

This digital foundation has created one of the movement’s greatest strengths: accessibility. Social media allows individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, to share experiences, build communities, and participate in activism without the barriers that once limited involvement. At the same time, that same structure introduces new challenges. The emphasis on visibility can blur the line between meaningful engagement and performative activism, a term that is increasingly used on the internet. As the Scary Mommy website defines it, “when an individual from a majority or privileged group (white/straight/cis/abled) professes their support of and/or solidarity with a marginalized group (identifies themselves as an ally) in a way that either isn’t helpful to that group, draws attention away from that group, or actively harms that group.”

Performative activism has only grown with algorithm-driven platforms that tend to reward simplified, emotionally charged content over nuance. As a result, fourth-wave feminism is both more expansive and more complex than its predecessors. This wave is defined by unprecedented reach, but also shaped by the limitations of the digital spaces it depends on and the sincerity of content creators.

As feminism has expanded, it has also become increasingly split at the seams, evolving into competing ideologies that often disagree on fundamental definitions of empowerment and equality. Liberal, radical, and individualist strands of feminism each offer different visions of what the movement should prioritize, whether that be working within existing systems, dismantling them entirely, or emphasizing personal autonomy above all else. This ideological divide is not new, but it has intensified in the modern era.  As one honors thesis, ‘TOXIC: How Modern Feminism Has Destroyed American Society’ by Garridy Brown Hamilton puts it, “feminism is not a one-size-fits-all issue.” 

That fragmentation has only deepened over time, contributing to the sense that feminism no longer operates as a single and unified movement. Instead, it functions as a collection of overlapping and sometimes conflicting perspectives, each with its own priorities and language. The result is a growing lack of a shared agenda, in which advocacy can feel more like a series of parallel conversations than a cohesive push for change. At the same time, the rise of post-feminist thinking and identity-driven branding has further complicated the landscape, blurring the line between activism and personal expression.

The fragmentation in the movement is not just in its ideas; it is also in its language, which is tied directly to how the word feminism itself is perceived. As the movement has diversified into multiple branches and perspectives, the label has struggled to carry a clear meaning. In fact, the Egalitarian explains, “the feminist movement can be separated into different branches offering differing perspectives on what equality… mean[s], how this can be achieved and who is involved.”

At the same time, this complexity has contributed to a broader disconnect between the movement’s goals and its public image. Even as support for the umbrella term “gender equality” remains high, the term itself has taken on negative or misunderstood connotations. As the same article notes, “it isn’t the aim of feminism that isn’t supported, it’s the word,” pointing to a growing divide between belief in equality and willingness to identify with the movement. This tension fragments the movement externally in how it is received, turning what was once a more unified movement into one where supporters can’t agree on its specific meaning.

Alongside the struggle to define the movement’s beliefs and goals, a visible cultural backlash has emerged, most notably in the rise of the “tradwife” movement. Popularized across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the trend centers on a return to traditional gender roles, where women embrace homemaking and domesticity. The tradwife movement reflects a broader reaction to the pressures of modern work culture, where burnout, economic instability, and the expectation to “have it all” have left many searching for alternatives that feel more stable or meaningful, though many are critical of tradwife content creators.

Media-Diversity.org notes that “for some, adopting this role may indeed feel empowering, as it aligns with their values or desires for a simpler, more peaceful life,” while going on to say, “however, for others, the glorification of such a lifestyle can be seen as harmful. The idealised version of homemaking presented by influencers like Nara Smith or Hannah Neeleman, who runs the “Ballerina Farm” TikTok account, raises important questions about whether these women are truly making an empowered choice or simply adhering to societal expectations.” 

The movement/trend has become controversial as it’s grown. Some argue that it represents a regression to outdated gender hierarchies, just in a more visually appealing and curated form. As one commentary by Ashley Vola on online tradwife culture explains, “That’s why the tradife content, it heavily relies on aesthetics. It has to make oppression look pretty, right? Because if it wasn’t made to look that way, if the wives were sharing the most intimate, vulnerable moments of their lives instead of these curated moments that they share on social media, you would see that this is far from aspirational.”

At the same time, supporters and tradwife content creators like Nara Smith say it’s a personal choice. “I feel like they’re projecting how they want their life to be onto me. That’s one thing I really struggled with in the beginning, even doing social media with all these opinions of people having opinions on me getting married young and having children young, and them not understanding that that is a choice I made for my life. That doesn’t mean that that’s the right choice for you. It doesn’t mean that your choices are right for me. And I think everyone is on their individual journey.”

The conversation around feminism today is also shaped by a growing generational divide, particularly between Millennials and Gen Z, who often approach the movement with different priorities and perspectives. Millennials, coming of age during the rise of “lean-in” culture and the push for workplace equality, have often emphasized career advancement and financial independence as central markers of empowerment. In contrast, Gen Z has shown a more complicated and at times more conflicted relationship with feminism, shaped by economic instability, digital culture, and a growing skepticism of traditional success narratives. In fact, recent research, according to Forbes, shows that Gen Z is “more divided than any other generation” on issues related to feminism and gender roles, highlighting just how unsettled these ideas have become within younger groups.

This divide is not simply about disagreement. While Millennials often framed empowerment in terms of access to careers and breaking institutional barriers, many Gen Z individuals are rethinking whether those goals are sufficient or even desirable. The rise of anti-hustle culture, alongside trends like rejecting traditional career paths or embracing alternative lifestyles, is not limited to the tradwife movement; it also includes trendy lifestyles like vanlife, signaling a move away from defining success solely through work. At the same time, Gen Z’s perspectives are far from unified. As another study, this time from King’s College, notes, “the views of Gen Z men and women often starkly diverge” on questions of equality and gender roles, reinforcing the idea that even within a single generation, feminism is not a singular experience.

Educational institutions such as Five Towns College often present special programming for students to understand the complexities of being a women in workforce.  In March the college’s Business Club hosted its annual Women in Entertainment panel to spotlight industry leaders and provide a forum for honest discussion.  “The panel helps all students recognize that successful organizations are built on diverse perspectives, experiences, and talents. It reinforces the idea that every individual, regardless of gender, brings value to their profession and workplace. When students learn from professionals with different backgrounds and experiences, they develop a greater appreciation for collaboration, innovation, and the strengths that diversity brings to a team,” said Five Towns College Business Chair and Associate Professor Donna LaTorre.

On one hand, critics point to a loss of clarity, arguing that feminism no longer presents a unified message or set of goals. Public skepticism toward the label has grown, fueled in part by internal divisions and competing interpretations of what feminism should represent. “It isn’t the aim of feminism that isn’t supported, it’s the word.”

At the same time, others argue that what appears to be a decline is actually a transformation. Rather than disappearing, feminism has expanded, becoming more inclusive, more global, and more responsive to the realities of a digital world. Its embrace of intersectionality and its presence across online platforms demonstrate an ability to adapt, even as that adaptation introduces new challenges. In this view, fragmentation is not necessarily failure, but evidence of a movement evolving to reflect a wider range of experiences and identities.

Looking ahead, the future of feminism may depend on whether it can reconcile these competing trajectories. One possibility is a return to more clearly defined, shared goals, focusing on common ground rather than internal differences. Another is the continued splintering of the movement, in which feminism exists less as a single entity and more as a collection of distinct, sometimes conflicting perspectives. There is also the possibility that the label itself becomes less central, with individuals supporting gender equality without identifying with the term “feminism” at all.

Feminism in the modern age is not a fixed ideology but a movement actively changing in real time, thanks to digital spaces and ongoing debate. What once operated with clearer boundaries as a more unified movement has become more fluid, reflecting a wider range of experiences, identities, and priorities. As a result, the question is no longer simply what feminism is, but what it is becoming. Even its terminology is under reconsideration, as growing discomfort with the label suggests a deeper transformation.

Ultimately, the movement’s future will likely be determined less by how it defines itself than by what it chooses to prioritize. Whether it seeks to rebuild a shared agenda, continue expanding into new forms, or move beyond labels altogether, its direction will depend on the problems it addresses and the people it includes. In that sense, modern-day feminism is not ending; it is being changed, shaped by the cultural, economic, and technological forces that continue to redefine what equality looks like in the modern world.