Entertainment

Katy Understands Feminism a Little Bit More Now

by Nicole Fabian-Weber

From her geisha-costume filled performances to her burning a pendant with the word "Allah" on it in a video to not really understanding what feminism means, Katy Perry has, rightfully, been on the receiving end of much criticism for her cultural insensitiveness, and, to put it bluntly, ignorance. But she's making a little progress with the latter. (A little.) After initially proclaiming herself not a feminist, then saying she is a feminist, because a feminist is someone who "loves themselves as a female, and also loves men," Katy now seems to have a better grasp on the concept. How so? Katy wants a baby.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Perry confessed to wanting children some day — but added that she certainly doesn't "need a dude" if she does wind up going down that path. Will we soon be confusing the bright lipstick-wearing pop star for Gloria Steinham any time soon? Ehh, probably not. But at least Perry is inching her way towards understanding that feminism is, at its core, about women wanting the same opportunities and rights as men. Perry's realization that women don't need to wait for a knight to ride up on a white horse to bless them with a child in their uterus is good. We like that. It sends the message to her millions of female tween fans that women needn't put their plans on hold, whatever they may be, for a man.

But as far as Katy's understanding — or more so, acceptance — of how cultural appropriation isn't cool goes, we may have some work to do. "I guess I'll just stick to baseball and hot dogs, and that's it," Perry said in the interview. "I know that's a quote that's gonna come to fuck me in the ass, but can't you appreciate a culture? I guess, like, everybody has to stay in their lane? I don't know."

Image: Huffington Post