bra burner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Pejorative
Quick answer
What does “bra burner” mean?
A derogatory and dismissive term for a feminist, particularly one protesting societal norms about women's roles and appearance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A derogatory and dismissive term for a feminist, particularly one protesting societal norms about women's roles and appearance.
The term originates from a sensationalized reference to an event during the 1968 Miss America protest, where some participants symbolically discarded items of female constraint, though no bras were actually burned. It is now used pejoratively to stereotype feminists as angry, extremist, or anti-feminine.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties understand and use the term similarly. It is arguably more prevalent in American political discourse due to the origin of the specific event.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative in both, implying irrationality, unattractiveness, and extremist views. British usage may have a slightly more historical/dated feel.
Frequency
Low frequency in both; more likely found in polemical, political, or historical commentary than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “bra burner” in a Sentence
label someone a bra burnerdismiss X as bra burnersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bra burner” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His speech relied on outdated 'bra-burner' rhetoric.
American English
- She rejected the bra-burner caricature of feminism.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or gender studies to discuss media portrayal and stereotypes of feminism.
Everyday
Rare; if used, it is insulting and polemical.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bra burner”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bra burner”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bra burner”
- Using it neutrally or positively. It is exclusively derogatory.
- Assuming bras were actually burned at the historical protest.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The term stems from media sensationalism surrounding a 1968 protest where items like bras were thrown into a 'Freedom Trash Can,' but no burning occurred.
No, it is almost exclusively a derogatory term used by opponents of feminism.
Its usage has declined but persists in certain polemical or historically-aware contexts to evoke a stereotypical image of radical feminism.
"Feminist activist" or "women's rights advocate" are neutral descriptors.
A derogatory and dismissive term for a feminist, particularly one protesting societal norms about women's roles and appearance.
Bra burner is usually informal, pejorative in register.
Bra burner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɑː ˌbɜː.nər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɑ ˌbɝː.nɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The bra-burning stereotype”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a tabloid headline from the past: 'BRA BURNERS!' It's a label meant to start a fire of controversy, not a literal event.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEMINISM IS A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE (a metaphor used by detractors).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of the term 'bra burner'?