Salma Hayek Gets Award for Women's Equality, Says She's Not a Feminist

Add Salma Hayek‘s name to the list of famous women who support women’s rights but think feminist is a dirty word.

On Monday in Beverly Hills, Hayek was honored as a women’s rights advocate at Equality Now’s Make Equality Reality event. Despite that, and her continued work on behalf of women worldwide including co-founding Chime for Change, “a global campaign to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for girls and women around the world,” Hayek does not want to be called a feminist. Via People:

Despite her passionate support for women, Hayek told PEOPLE that she does not consider herself to be a feminist.

“I am not a feminist,” she said. “If men were going through the things women are going through today, I would be fighting for them with just as much passion. I believe in equality.”

Nancy, what the fuck are you talking about please. As Latina notes, believing in equality is pretty much the actual definition of feminism. According to the Huffington Post, she made the comment distancing herself from feminism at the same event where Gloria Steinem was also honored:

Not to mention, according to The Hollywood Reporter, host Kathy Griffin at one point said “Let’s talk about feminism. I’m sick and tired of these young girls not owning this word!”

Ditto. One more time: feminism (noun):the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. feminist (noun): a person who supports feminism. It’s not a dirty word, folks. It’s bad enough that there are so many idiotic misconceptions about what feminism is or is not. Spreading the notion that there’s something harmful or wrong about the word “feminist” (or that it isn’t compatible with your beliefs in equality) at an event designed to shine a spotlight on the fight for equality for women and those who advocate for it isn’t especially helpful.