#FeministsAreUgly trends on Twitter, feminists hit back by posting stunning selfies

The feminist movement has always been a widely polarising subject, with immense debate over what it should really represent, even as people on all sides of the argument aim for equality of women and their rights.

So when #FeministsAreUgly began trending on twitter, it drew a mix of reactions spanning from laughter, sarcasm, outright condemnation and, as those on Twitter are wont to do, retaliation. Several feminists responded to the hashtag by posting stunning selfies of themselves and of female celebrities. 

Feminists are also reclaiming the hashtag and the word by posting pictures of themselves that are anything but ugly – not because they support the objectification of women, but to prove how ridiculous being labelled ugly for their thoughts and opinions really is.

The origins of the #FeministsAreUgly ​hashtag are still unclear. But to feminists – and women – whether they are ugly or not is not the question, as the purpose of feminism is to ensure that women are not meant to merely please the male gaze. Many also posted their selfies to show that they simply didn't care whether their appearance did or did not appeal to the people around them.​

in response to the #FeministsAreUgly trend pic.twitter.com/yTQLKWSUzG

— (@snapchatpoetry) August 8, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly What will I do? How can I get a job, or survive, or think, read, speak or do anything now that I'm UGLY? My life is over.

— Agratha Dinakaran (@Agratha) August 8, 2014

So you're judging the value of women's thoughts by their looks? Tell me more about how we don't need feminism. #FeministsAreUgly

— Zach Green (@140elect) August 8, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly is already wrong, but the point of feminism is that women aren't there for your eye candy anyway, BroDudeMan.

— JRehling (@JRehling) August 8, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly and they also have cooties and TAG you're it. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we were behaving as though we're five.

— Sarah Wood (@OpinionatedDem) August 8, 2014

Ryan Gosling, John Legend, Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- just a few examples of how "ugly" feminists are... #FeministsAreUgly

— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) August 7, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly, perhaps; and even crazy maybe! pic.twitter.com/VIKxnV36wh

— Ruchi Kumar (@RuchiKumar) August 8, 2014

Apparently #FeministsAreUgly......?? pic.twitter.com/EPc5ftBl99

— JEN (@xojenjo) August 7, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly YEAH SORRY I CAN'T HEAR U pic.twitter.com/os7aS1AkDI

— bio (@bbcssherlock) August 7, 2014

Lol so apparently #FeministsAreUgly pic.twitter.com/jDlM3aNMdL

— ???? (@_mindinrevolt) August 7, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly pic.twitter.com/o5Lv2CyMui

— aug10th? (@indieAfrikana) August 7, 2014

LISTEN UP #FeministsAreUgly OKAY pic.twitter.com/MiHCi4o9ae

— Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) August 7, 2014

But #FeministsAreUgly tho... pic.twitter.com/ro68Ea7qSu

— Rhiannon (@AywaRhiannon) August 7, 2014

The face that sunk a thousand ships. #FeministsAreUgly pic.twitter.com/qBInNTpOaT

— Lily Bolourian. (@LilyBolourian) August 7, 2014

The #FeministsAreUgly tag started by misogynists has backfired coz now they have to look at all us ugly feminists :( pic.twitter.com/J5ZEmP7muv

— Emily (@emilyxhaimeed) August 7, 2014

#FeministsAreUgly if a feminist is a person who supports the equality of the sexes then I'm one. And I'm hot as hell pic.twitter.com/veyAxS53S4

— Rou Reynolds (@RouReynolds) August 7, 2014