Why Meghan Trainor Is NOT a Feminist

A feminist is an individual who believes in equality regarding the rights and opportunities for both men and women. A feminist does not body shame. A feminist does not make fun of other people’s disorders. A feminist does NOT hate men. Meghan Trainor claims to be a feminist but fails to demonstrate any qualities of being a feminist. When Trainor was asked in an interview if she was a feminist she replied “Obviously I’m a feminist. My songs are women’s anthems across the board”, clearly Trainor believes her songs make her a feminist. A song is an object and objects do not make an individual a feminist. In her song “All About That Bass” Trainor skinny shames women in order to boost plus size girls. It is NOT acceptable to body shame any individual, no matter the size. Her attempt to make ‘plus size’ or ‘thick girls’ feel more confident is appreciated, but, there is NO need to bring another group of individuals down in an effort to bring another up. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight back in 2014 Trainor claims she was not “strong enough” to have an eating disorder. An eating disorder is not something that is chosen or wanted by any individual. An eating disorder is a disease and Trainor’s negative and misleading comments are unacceptable. Meghan’s alarming viewpoints regarding eating disorders affect the the thinking of her young fans. In brief, Meghan Trainor is not a feminist because she does not possess the characteristics that a feminist does. Her lack of education on the topic and ignorance has lead Trainor to misinterpret the definition of feminism.

The feminism movement is a movement that has inspired individuals wordwide. Feminism however, goes deeper than what Trainor believes. It is a social revolution that is fighting issues like  the "tampon tax". It is more than girls being able to wear crop tops to school and therefore being in violation of the school's dress code. Feminism dates back to when Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women's rights. It dates back to August 28th, 1917 when 10 suffragists were arrested outside the White House because they were picketing for suffrage. It dates back to when the 19th amendment was passed and women throughout the United States were finally given the right to vote. Feminism is not only important to me because I am a woman, it is especially important because I am a woman of color. Recognition must be placed on these factors when calling oneself a feminist. In closing, we must remember our fellow women who fought a movement that still, a hundred years later has not been accomplished. So when Meghan Trainor fails to recognize this it questions the validity of the feminist movement.