And many people would call me a feminist, a word that I don't think is inherently bad, although I do feel the movement that did once empower women has been co-opted by transgender activists (read: men) and abortion proponents. Sometimes, looking through another lens makes my comfort with the term feminist more palatable. 

In 2023, I publicly stated that I hoped civilians would have overthrown the regime in Iran as a potential result of the uprising of women refusing to wear their hijabs.

Is this so-called feminist thought? Yes. Is it bad feminism? No.

Additionally, some of my favorite music selections have empowered female overtures, and that's not new. Thinking back to the 1990s, I was belting out No Doubt's "Just a Girl," and awaiting the day I could mimic Gwen Stefani's iconic red lipstick. 

Yet, we somehow live in a time where the fringe ultra-conservative right has figures who suggest that women in America should not vote, including Hannah Pearl Davis, the female voice of the patriarchy, among others. Yes, these are real societal discussions happening, with YouTuber Davis posting a video last year advocating for the 19th Amendment to be repealed. 

Reader Warning: offensive language

To me, this is a destructive representation of the right--and such rhetoric should be opposed by conservative and Republican women, not just the left's progressives. 

Reviewing the checklist: I like voting, feminist movements that aren't co-opted by men disguised as women or abortion-tastic, and popular music with themes of women's empowerment. All signs indicate that I should be among the target audience for Hillary Clinton's new Broadway musical, which she co-produced called "Suffs," which details, probably poorly, the women's suffrage movement.

But, I'm not. As video clips that preview the Broadway production circulate on the internet, I'm left to feel this portrayal of women is insufferable, which is the antithesis of what it aimed to do. 

Here are the clichéd lyrics showcased in one video:

Mister President hear our cries, (Mister President hear our cries)

We the Women of the country, (We the Women of the country)

We demand to be heard, (We demand to be heard)

We demand to be seen, (We demand to be seen)

We demand equality and nothing in between (Equality)

We demand to be heard, (We demand to be heard) 

We demand to be known, (We demand to be known)

We demand a voice of our own, (We demand an amendment, we demand an amendment)

In another song, titled "Great American B****," the Broadway actors explore the honor of being called obscene labels.

Viewer Warning: Offensive language and sexual references 

It's clear that I shouldn't expect anything but insufferable behavior from Hillary Clinton, who could easily be considered one of the most cringe-inducing political figures of our time. Her shallow and hollow brand of feminism, epitomized by slogans like "I'm with her," is made even worse by her callous treatment of her husband, former President Bill Clinton's alleged victims, including Monica Lewinsky. 

It's hard to imagine anything less empowering than enduring public humiliation on a national scale and accepting it as a concession for access to political power, by staying with a deceitful and adulterous husband simply because of his influence. It's a main course of patriarchy, served on a glaring silver platter, with a side dish of impeachment. Oh, 'it's a man's world,' isn't it, Hillary?

Although many commentators who have viewed the musical production have called it moving and powerful, from the previews available "Suffs" seems like an embarrassing representation of women and their hard-fought rights. The feminist theatrics come off like a parody more than a historic record of women's triumph. And yet, this staged and performative womanhood is perfectly on-brand for Hillary Clinton.