Scientist at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and newly-crowned Miss USA, Kara McCullough, came under fire for her conservative views on affordable healthcare, deeming it “a privilege.” What’s more, her thoughts on feminism are equally problematic.
“As a woman scientist for the government, I’ve liked to transpose the word feminism to equalism. I don’t really want to consider myself this diehard, you know, oh-I-don’t-really-care-about-men… One thing I will say, women we are just as equal as men when it comes to opportunity in the workplace,” McCullough says in the clip below, equating feminism to man-hating and further perpetuating an outdated look at what feminism truly represents.
(Something worth unpacking here is the political act of rejecting “feminism” and embracing “womanism,” as the latter was meant to include the intersectionality of women of color.)
Needless to say, the Twitterverse had plenty to say, with many opposing the beauty queen’s anti-feminist rhetoric, one that appealed to men. What say you?
What’s wrong with being a feminist Miss DC USA!?!? Who says feminists hate men? Gurl!!! #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/jr5Hc5p2DN
— Makho Ndlovu (@makhondlovu) May 15, 2017
Miss USA is a chemist who advocates for women in STEM, but without feminism or guaranteed access to healthcare. Oooookay.
— The Dubai Datebook (@_ShamGod) May 15, 2017
Feminism doesn’t mean you don’t care about men. District of Columbia clearly doesn’t know a thing about feminism 🙄👎🏼 #MissUSA pic.twitter.com/WFG6JYWGTV
— Sarah ?? (@SarahGram6) May 15, 2017
Miss D.C. clearly has no idea what the definition of feminism is #MissUSA
— Amanda Navarro (@NAVARROnotDave) May 15, 2017
miss USA has such a dated view on feminism
“women r smart and can think” cool – now what about racial issues? gender identity? pls— Sonja (@butchkween) June 12, 2016
Really disappointed in the new #MissUSA Just because she’s a brown girl people are like “you should be happy what about feminism”
— NyQuil (@taychrist) May 15, 2017