These female stars changed their views on feminism once they understood it better

Feminism is about gender equality. It isn't about destroying chivalry, demeaning housewives, or rejecting men. Once These Hollywood stars learned the truth behind feminism, they changed their views on the label entirely.

Taylor Swift:

In her recent interview with Maxim, Swift discussed her former misunderstanding of feminism. She said:

"I didn't have an accurate definition of feminism when I was younger. I didn't quite see all the ways that feminism is vital to growing up in the world we live in."

Now, her view on feminism has completely changed. In the same interview, she said:

"I didn't see myself being held back until I was a woman ... the double standards in headlines, the double standards in the way stories are told, the double standards in the way things are perceived. A man writing about his feelings from a vulnerable place is brave; a woman writing about her feelings from a vulnerable place is oversharing or whining. Misogyny is ingrained in people from the time they are born. So to me, feminism is probably the most important movement that you could embrace, because it's just basically another word for equality."

Beyonce:

Queen Bey originally stayed away from the feminism label. She says she did not consider herself a feminist "because people put so much on it."

However, once Beyonce learned that feminism isn't all about bra burning and man-hating, she warmed up to the label. In her short film "Yours and Mine," she explains:

"It's very simple. It's just a person that believes in equality for men and women."

Katy Perry:

When named Billboard's Woman of the Year in 2012, Perry was asked about her stance on feminism. She said, "I am not a feminist, but I do believe in the power of women."

But in 2014, when Australian morning show host Karl Stefanovic asked Perry if she considers herself a feminist, she surprised everyone with her response:

"A feminist? Um, yeah, actually. I used to not really understand what that word meant, and now that I do, it just means that I love myself as a female and I also love men."

While Perry's definition of feminism is a far cry from the more well-rounded definition Beyonce embraced in her 2014 VMA performance, Perry's change of heart is still significant. She no longer stigmatizes a label based on her false notion of its definition.

Vanessa Hudgens:

Hudgens originally had doubts about feminism due to its second-wave implications. She explains:

"I used to be on the fence about it because it gets to a certain place where it almost has the reverse effect, where it's so overpowering and so aggressive that it's like rather than just standing up for female pride and female rights, it becomes, like, 'I am the man.'"

However, Hudgens now calls herself a feminist thanks to third-wave feminism. She explains:

"Now I feel like there's this new wave of feminists coming up that are truly about equal rights for women. I mean, Beyonce is, like, killing the game, and I love her."

Contrary to popular belief, feminism isn't about burning bras, hating men, acting like men, or destroying chivalry. Third-wave feminism brings a new perspective to the table. Feminists can love men (or be men!), own aprons, and appreciate romantic gestures. They can also loudly and subversively fight for women's rights. There are many different types of feminists who all believe in gender equality. Taylor, Beyonce, Katy, and Vanessa changed their views. Maybe the rest of Hollywood will do the same.

Click through this slideshow to see the different female celebs who all identify as feminists:

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