"Twilight" Author Stephenie Meyer Has Every Right to Call Herself a Feminist

Impact

Stephenie Meyer, the famed author of the Twilight series, says she's a feminist. One would think that this would be sufficient to silence any criticism or questions about how she identifies herself, but apparently this isn't enough. She must have proof to join the club.

Why anyone cares is baffling. If Stephenie Meyer wants to say she's a feminist, why can't she? She's got the money to buy the word if she wants to. Or if she isn't inclined to buy this particular word, she can purchase another word in its place just for her.

The point being is that in today's world, everything must have a label. As soon as Meyer said she was a feminist, Twitter erupted. Everyone knows how easily it is to cause Twitter warfare, so it should come as no surprise that Meyer found herself in the middle of a heated hashtag extravaganza. But she handled it with class and poise.

Many critics said she isn't qualified to take on the mantle of feminism, since Bella, the female protagonist in the Twilight series, is rather passive and not a ball-busting warrior. Meyer says, "I think that there are many feminists who would say I'm not a feminist. But to me ... I love women, I have a lot of girlfriends."

For hardliners, this won't be enough. She's not actively promoting a cause, but in reality, she is championing something greater.

Meyer is promoting support for other females, for strong female friendships. She's not going after her critics or trying to prove to her naysayers that she's actually a feminist. Going on a crusade of "is she or isn't she a real feminist" isn't always the most effective way to address the issue.

Instead of giving her opinions, Meyer takes a different approach. When asked if she was anti-abortion, Meyer says, "I never talk about politics, because it's one of my pet peeves when people with any measure of celebrity get on their soapbox. First of all, celebrities don't know anything about real life."

This is a refreshing perspective. In many ways, Meyer comes across as someone who is grounded and down to earth. She also seems to understand that real people often get tired of celebrities promoting their agendas. If a celebrity wants to speak out they can. But while everyone has the freedom to speak, sometimes a celebrity spokesperson can be like listening to sharp fingernails crunching a chalkboard.

Is it fair to say that Meyer, the creator of the saga of Edward and Bella, should not be considered a feminist because of what she writes about? Absolutely not. She can write about whatever she chooses. Just because she doesn't align herself with any particular cause doesn't make her any less of a feminist. She supports other females and their successes wholeheartedly, which should be enough.

Why can't everyone relax a bit about the subject? For all intents and purposes, Meyer can call herself a feminist, even if she doesn't one-hundred percent fit the mold. After all, a mold can take many forms.