Every year, Time Magazine holds a light-hearted poll to see what word or phrase users would most like to see 'banished'. Previous polls have highlighted 'OMG', 'YOLO' and 'twerk' as the most unpopular words - few are likely to disagree there. The 4th edition of the poll, however, is proving a little different.
As of writing, this year's poll highlights that a staggering 45% of users have voted 'feminist' as a word that should be banned. It compares to a mere 13% for second-placed 'bae'. All the other options - including the frequently abused 'literally' - have received 5% or less of the vote (including 0% for 'disrupt').
The author of the poll and accompanying article explains the words inclusion, stating "you have nothing against feminism itself, but when did it become a thing that every celebrity had to state their position on whether this word applies to them, like some politician declaring a party? Let’s stick to the issues and quit throwing this label around like ticker tape at a Susan B. Anthony parade."
Time will announce the 'winner' (should that be loser?) of the poll on November 19th.
What can account for the huge percentage of dislike for 'feminist'? It is not much of a stretch to see it as a continuation of the vitriolic online response that has surrounded the likes of GamerGate and Emma Watson's UN speech. Indeed, it is reported that some users on forums have mobilised to vote for 'feminist' in bulk - one much cited comment explains that "we’re back down to 38%, Pick up the slack guys."
There could, it should go without saying, be some people legitimately annoyed by overuse or misuse of the word. But for many the results are likely to be further evidence of a disheartening online 'war' against feminism.
Naturally enough, not everybody has responded favourably to the mass voting against 'feminist':
I'm a feminist- are you? Tell Time magazine before they "ban" the word: https://t.co/gp0S1fiXn6
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 13, 2014
PS I'm not mad at banning the word Bae. A woman at Starbucks gave it as her name for her latte cup. Stop her before she kills again.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 13, 2014
