There have been growing misconceptions about feminism, especially on social media, where misunderstandings often spread faster than facts.
This conversation resurfaced recently, on December 6, 2025. Nigerian content creator Maraji shared a video on TikTok to raise concerns that TikTok feminists have diverted the fight against patriarchy and for equality to hate for men. The contradictory statement in her video was claiming that TikTok feminists hate men and that all TikTok feminists are extremists. Her comments sparked debates, with over 6,790 user comments, highlighting how easily feminism is misrepresented and why it is important to address these inaccuracies with clarity and context.
The statement that feminism is anti-men is false. Feminism seeks equality and fairness for all genders, but particularly women who have been historically and systematically mistreated.
So, portraying feminism as inherently extreme misrepresents the vast majority of advocates, who fight for equal rights. Feminism is about equity, not animosity. Feminists challenge systems that disadvantage women.
For clarity, feminism is a social, political, and economic ideology that seeks to dismantle unequal systems and create a society where gender does not determine access to safety, opportunity, or dignity. The same feminism has had a profoundly significant impact, from girls’ access to education to women’s right to vote and participate in governance, legal protections against domestic violence, workplace rights and maternity protections, and increased visibility of women in leadership, media, and public life.
When feminists talk about equity, they are not asking for special treatment. They are recognising that starting points are unequal. For example, treating men and women equally in politics overlooks the barriers women face in entering leadership positions. The equal pay laws mean little if women are still excluded from high-paying sectors, and safety cannot be equal if women must constantly modify their behaviour to avoid violence. Equity therein means adjusting systems so everyone has a fair chance, not erasing differences, but addressing disadvantage.
Maraji’s inaccurate statements can undermine the work of feminists. They reflect deeper misunderstandings about misogyny, patriarchy, and feminism itself, and why these concepts matter beyond online debates. Labelling all TikTok feminists as extremists is misleading. It shifts focus away from the real issues women face and turns structural injustice into a personality problem. More importantly, it delegitimises women who are simply naming their experiences and demanding fairness.
Misogyny is not simply about individual hatred towards women; it is a systemic structure embedded in laws, institutions, culture, and everyday practices. Globally, and in Nigeria specifically, data shows 31% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence at least once, and about 9% have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, according to national surveys. Indicate 133 women and girls were killed in gender-related violence in 2024, with cases of femicide rising year on year.
As of September 2025, over 140 femicide cases had been documented, activists such as DOHS Foundation and many more state that the true figure is higher due to under-reporting.
Women and girls remain disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, rape, and femicide. Many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear, weak justice systems, and victim-blaming. The survivors are often questioned more harshly than perpetrators, reinforcing a culture of silence.
These realities are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a system that devalues women’s lives and safety. When feminists speak about misogyny, they are naming a pattern that data, lived experience, and history repeatedly confirm.
When patriarchy is mentioned, it is not an insult to men; it is a social system that prioritises male power and authority, often at the expense of women and girls. Its effects are measurable and visible in political participation; women remain underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making spaces.
For example, in Nigeria’s Senate, 4 women currently serve out of 109 seats (approximately 3.7% women), while 103 seats are occupied by men (approximately 96.3% men), according to IPU Parline statistics. In the House of Representatives, out of 435 seats, 15 are held by women (approximately 3.4% of the seats) and 420 by men (about 96.6% of the seats). Combined, women hold only about 4.2–4.5% of all 469 seats in the National Assembly, while men occupy the remaining 95.5% of seats in Nigeria, highlighting their limited influence in governance.
In the aspect of economic inequality, women earn less, own fewer assets, and are more likely to work in unpaid or informal labour. Data shows women participate in the labour force at lower rates (about 47.8%) compared with men (57.8%), indicating persistent gaps in economic activity and access to opportunities.
Also, women are often expected to shoulder caregiving responsibilities while being excluded from power. These outcomes are not accidental. They are the result of long-standing systems that favour men structurally, even when individual men may not actively intend harm.
Similarly, NFM consulted a women’s rights advocate, Michelle Okeke, who says Maraji’s attempt to call out individuals who misrepresent feminism is good; however, she noted that broad generalisations risk undermining the work of genuine feminists who are committed to equality and justice. Michelle emphasised that public figures like Maraji have a responsibility to be clear, precise, and thoughtful when addressing sensitive and impactful issues such as feminism.
Conclusion
While Maraji’s platform gives her voice reach, it is important to clarify that feminists are not extremists. Feminism is a movement for fairness, inclusivity, and equality, a principle that ensures society also benefits women, not just men. Reducing it to hatred or extremism does a disservice to the hundreds of thousands advocating for positive change worldwide.
