Toxic feminism is defined as a set of behaviors or ideas attributed to some individuals who identify as feminists—but which contradict feminism’s core aim of gender equality.

Symptoms

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5,

Toxic Feminism is defined by features such as

• Gender hostility – treating men as inherently bad, stupid, or oppressive
• Double standards – demanding equality only when it benefits women
• Silencing dissent – labeling any disagreement as misogyny
• Victimhood absolutism – denying female agency or responsibility entirely
• Misuse of power – supporting unfair policies or social shaming under the banner of justice

These behaviors resemble Feminist ideology taken to an extreme—where identity becomes moral superiority.

How it differs from feminism

Feminism (at its core):

• Advocates equality before law and society
• Critiques unjust power structures, not entire sexes
• Supports agency, responsibility, and dignity for all genders

Toxic Feminism

• Replaces equality with reversal of hierarchy
• Frames gender as zero-sum conflict
• Prioritizes ideology over nuance or truth

In that sense, it’s closer to gender supremacism than feminism.