20 Feminist T-Shirts to Wear for a Boost of Empowerment
Wear your feelings on your sleeve—literally.
March is hailed as Women's History Month, but, in reality, women and feminism deserve to be celebrated every day. From catcalling to the wage gap, women too often get the short end of the socioeconomic stick in a myriad of ways, and maintaining constant awareness of the need for equality is the only way to ensure that all women, regardless of race, sexuality, or class, are treated equal.
You might ask: What can we do to keep this awareness up? In addition to advocating, educating ourselves, and supporting female creatives and entrepreneurs, we can also wear our politics on our sleeves. Fashion is an excellent way of making a statement and reminding ourselves and those around us of what matters—not to mention, fashion is fun! So check out some of our favorite feminist t-shirts that you can grab right now to wear your values and show the people around you how you feel.
This long-sleeve turns its nose up at the offensive, back-handed compliment that so many men seem to think it's appropriate to give Black women. We promise that you'll feel confident all day long with this shirt.
Ladies, let's be honest—in the age of the internet, we don't need to wait for a partner to make us feel good. (Fun fact: I wrote the copy for this t-shirt.)
Bella Doña is all about empowering women and celebrating Latinx culture, so it comes as no surprise that they carry several intersectional feminist pieces, including this fashionable tee.
The '70s called, and they wanted me to tell you that ringer tees are back! And why not put a classic feminist spin on this retro style by adding a taste of girl power to it?
For this piece, which comes in three colors, elevated women's athleisure brand Athleta partnered with Brown Girls Do Ballet (BGDB) to create a striking minimalist design.
Tap into your inner '70s boho queen with this whimsical, layer-able piece that communicates both optimism and political determination.
This long-sleeve by ethical Palestinian-owned brand Palidrip reads, "I'm Not Arguing, I'm Simply Explaining My Rights." This way, you'll be way ahead of anyone trying to mainsplain, gaslight, or otherwise annoy you during a spirited discussion.
Indigenous-owned brand OXDX is well-known for making apparel that eschews racist notions of what it means to be Native American, and this detailed artwork is a prime example.
Just when I thought I couldn't love this feminist rallying call more, The Outrage made a shirt with this curve-tracing print.
"Más Feminismo, Menos Machismo" means "More Feminism, Less Patriarchy" in Spanish—a message we can all get behind, in any language.
Whether you're an aspiring politician or a supporter of contemporary women change-makers, you'll love this artistic t-shirt and find that it matches with everything.
Yo Soy Afro-Latina is an empowering brand that uses '90s nostalgic designs to present pro-feminist, pro-Latinx, pro-Black messages. One of the brand's primary aims is to expand society's idea of what "looking" Latinx means by being more inclusive of the Afro-Latinx population.
This campaign is a media company that promulgates the stories of women and marginalized people in order to both showcase these communities' talents and shed light on their experiences. They work with celebrities, athletes, fashion brands, and entertainment companies to ensure equity in all creative spaces, and the proceeds from products like this t-shirt go directly to supporting their goals.
Asian American Girls Club sets out to redefine modern Asian American womanhood by creating fun clothing, highlighting inspiring women, and providing down-to-earth advice about everything from skincare and career goals. Support them by rocking this fun crop top as summer approaches.
Woman-owned small business Crust and Magic specializes in upcycled pieces that feature original artwork. This self-love focused long-sleeve is a great example, and is sure to make you and everyone around you smile.
One DNA makes gender-neutral clothing using recycled fabrics, which enhances the empowering message of this stylish tee.
Let's face it: Girls wanna do more than just have fun. We want good relationships, supportive communities, money in the bank, and...well, just read the shirt.
There are few things more feminist than using your voting rights to advocate for yourself and other women, and this adorable tee serves as a reminder of that.
The girl in this Lichtenstein-reminiscent cartoon is saying, "It doesn't matter what you look like, darling! It's what you are!!"
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Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com. Before working with Marie Claire, Gabrielle worked in local government, higher education, and sales, and has resided in four countries and counting. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, and spent two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.
Deeply political, she believes that skincare, haircare, and sexual wellness are central tenets to one's overall health and fights for them to be taken seriously, especially for people of color. She also loves studying makeup as a means of artistic expression, drawing on her experience as an artist in her analysis of beauty trends. She's based in New York City, where she can be found watching movies or running her art business when she isn't writing. Find her on Twitter at @GabrielleUlubay or on Instagram at @gabrielle.ulubay, or follow her art at @suburban.graffiti.art
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