“Being a feminist has consequences,” says Fanny Vedreine

• After the creation of an eco-feminist fanzine and the publication of a practical guide to feminist seduction, the Nice author Fanny Vedreine is releasing a very “intimate and cathartic” essay on militant burn-out.

• Through ten chapters, divided by the areas of her life ruined by feminism, she also gives advice for “having a positive note” in this observation.

• It is an essay intended for "new generations of activists" but also "for the old ones so that they know that they are far from being alone to be tired and that we are all together".

Fanny Vedreine, 30, entered feminism eight years ago after the death of her father, the pillar of her “ultra-patriarchal” family.

She then opened her eyes and understood that she was evolving in a world where “sexism was omnipresent”.

An awareness “which is not without consequences”.

She explains through her essay How feminism will ruin your life (to rebuild it better, I promise!) -ed.

Mango, 16.95 euros - her own story to warn feminists of what awaits them by delivering an "intimate and cathartic" testimony.

What motivated the writing of this essay?

There were several things.

The trigger, and what mainly inspired me, was reading Florence Given's book,

released in 2020. I also wanted to bring my intimate and cathartic testimony.

The title of my essay is completely taken from the first chapter.

I fought for it to stay as it was.

I was told that they were afraid that it would be misunderstood or misread.

But secretly, it's also my dream that an anti-feminist person buys it and says to himself “oh well!

I knew it, I was right”, whereas it is quite another thing (laughs).

And then, I also saw as my activism progressed, many Instagram accounts closed because of insults and the difficulty of managing.

It made me react.

There is also the possibility of burning out when you are an activist.

How can this personal testimony ultimately concern a large number of people?

The story of my life is also that of others.

When you become a feminist, you are also much more empathetic and sensitive.

I started reading a lot of essays, listening to a lot of podcasts about it and in the end, you feel bad.

But when I became interested in feminism, we talked about “empowerment”, about Beyoncé, what great stories.

I hadn't been warned that my life was going to be completely shaken up, radically changed.

When we tackle this subject, we are constantly nourished and deconstructed until the end of our life.

And basically, it weighs.

Nor had I been told that when you decide to open it up, to get involved as an activist, that doesn't necessarily always make you happy and that has consequences.

What kind of consequences?

Once you have the "feminist" label, it follows you everywhere.

You always pass for the hater, the one with the hairs under the arms.

You can't talk anymore without the discussion ending badly.

You then learn to keep quiet to please and not offend anyone or to end up in tears after a debate.

It's a difficult label to bear.

I had to give up some people around me, even if it means not talking to them anymore.

But in the end, it's a blessing in disguise.

I created around me a circle of benevolence, even if it was not easy.

What is the message to convey?

The essay explains in ten chapters how feminism has ruined my family life, friendship, sex, love, culture but also in my job and in my consumption.

I try to give advice so that at the end there is a positive note.

You have to learn to let go of guilt, to take lightness.

Despite all these effects on my life, I have no regrets.

This consciousness is everywhere, it makes us constantly angry.

But that's better than not knowing.

Becoming a feminist is a very courageous act, you have to stay strong.

This text is also a way to warn new generations of activists while supporting old ones who feel tired.

You are far from alone.

We are all together.

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About Fanny Vedreine

Fanny Vedreine is 30 years old and comes from Cantal.

She spent ten years in Paris where she worked in a club while being a freelancer.

She leaves the capital for Nice in 2020, where she devotes herself to writing and selling natural wines.

Since then, she has created the ecofeminist fanzine Le String, dedicated "to the power of women, rock and sexuality" and is also the author of

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• Books

• Nice

• Culture

• Feminism

• Paca