Opposition to feminism or the beliefs and movements supporting women's equality and rights.
From anti- (against) + feminism (from Latin femina, woman, + -ism, ideology). The term emerged in the late 19th century as feminism gained momentum, with opponents organizing explicitly against women's equality movements.
Antifeminism isn't just disagreement—it became a coordinated political movement that shaped laws, media, and culture; understanding its strategies is key to understanding modern gender politics.
Antifeminism explicitly opposes movements for gender equality. Its rhetoric has historically dismissed women's liberation, suffrage, reproductive autonomy, and workplace equality as threats, using language that pathologizes feminist advocacy and frames equality-seeking as dangerous or unnatural.
Use 'antifeminism' as a descriptive term only in analytical contexts. When describing opposition to specific feminist goals, name those specifically (e.g., 'opposition to equal pay') rather than using umbrella antifeminist framing.
["gender equality opposition","feminist critique"]
Feminist scholars and activists have documented how antifeminism serves as a deliberate strategy to maintain gender hierarchies, making visible the work required to advance women's rights.
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