12 Inspiring Female Celebrities Who Are Proud Feminists

The question: “Do you consider yourself a feminist?”

An award-winning actress, Emma Watson, in her recent speech to the United Nations that became a viral phenomenon, used the simple definition “Feminism: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.”

Here’s a list of 12 famous women who are proud feminists: they all deserve to be held up as role models and true inspirations – as do the women we didn’t have room for this time round.

Emma Watson AND HER perspective on feminism – “I was appointed six months ago, and the more I have spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop. For the record, feminism, by definition, is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.'”

Elisabeth Moss AND HER perspective on feminism- “I think she represents what feminism is really about: equal opportunities, being respected, and being heard. For Peggy, the term ‘glass ceiling’ didn’t exist. She wasn’t necessarily aware of feminism. She wasn’t trying to make a stand. She just wanted to be respected and treated the same as everyone else because she has good ideas. That’s something that women today still feel but they don’t want to make a big deal out of it. You just want to be able to have your ideas heard. I am thoroughly lucky that I get to tell that story, because it’s an important story for all women today.”

Amy Poehler – ” I consider myself a feminist, and it informs my work only in that it’s just who I am, in the same way that I’m a woman, or I’m 5’2″ or whatever. I was lucky that I came through a system that had many people who did much more hard work and road-clearing before I got there.”

Zooey Deschanel AND HER perspective on feminism – “I’m just being myself. There is not an ounce of me that believes any of that crap that they say. We can’t be feminine and be feminists and be successful? I want to be a f*cking feminist and wear a f*cking Peter Pan collar. So f*cking what?”

Taylor Swift – “As a teenager, I didn’t understand that saying you’re a feminist is just saying that you hope women and men will have equal rights and equal opportunities. What it seemed to me, the way it was phrased in culture, society, was that you hate men. And now, I think a lot of girls have had a feminist awakening because they understand what the word means. For so long it’s been made to seem like something where you’d picket against the opposite sex, whereas it’s not about that at all. Becoming friends with Lena [Dunham] — without her preaching to me, but just seeing why she believes what she believes, why she says what she says, why she stands for what she stands for — has made me realize that I’ve been taking a feminist stance without actually saying so.” – Taylor Swift told the Guardian in August 2014.

Kerry Washington – “I do consider myself a feminist. I mean, I love that definition, that it’s the whole belief that women are human beings and deserve equal rights, equal access.”

Ashley Judd AND HER perspective on feminism- “Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it.”

Claire Danes – “I am a feminist. And I’m so glad that Lena Dunham exists, because she is one too, and she’s quite vocal about it. Yes, women have more freedom and more influence than ever, but it’s hardly equal. It’s just not. It’s really f*cking crazy. I’m sorry I’m cursing. But it’s wild that women are underrepresented [in Hollywood]. I have real anxiety about directing, and that’s something to question and challenge and correct.” – Claire Danes told Glamour.

Jane Fonda – “Essentially feminism will come into wholeness when we achieve a social paradigm that allows men and women to become full human beings. Rather than women muting themselves and men hardening themselves, which I think is the root of all the problems — including war.”

Beyoncé – “I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything? I’m just a woman and I love being a woman. I do believe in equality and that we have a way to go and it’s something that’s pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept.” –  Beyoncé come forward to reaffirm her feminist credentials in a interview with British Vogue.

Susan Sarandon – “I think of myself as a humanist because I think it’s less alienating to people who think of feminism as being a load of strident bitches and because you want everyone to have equal pay, equal rights, education, and health care. It’s a bit of an old-fashioned word. It’s used more in a way to minimize you. My daughter who is 28 doesn’t even relate to the word ‘feminist’ and she is definitely in control of her decisions and her body.” – Susan Sarandon told The Guardian her perspective on feminism.

Lena Dunham – “A huge part of being a feminist is giving other women the freedom to make choices you might not necessarily make yourself.”

Are you a feminist?