Crumb Maidens

This is a term used for women who betray their own gender in exchange for the small crumbs of power tossed to them by the patriarchy.

Crumb maidens have a choice. They actively choose to uphold the patriarchy in exchange for the small crumbs of power tossed to them, but are the first ones men will blame when things go wrong (I.e. Republican women in the US and LNP women in Australia).

This term was coined in Canberra on 22 August 2020 by Peta Swarbrick and Bethany Williams, after they watched an online interview with Mona Eltahawy (American/Egyptian feminist) who described these types of women as only having power through their proximity to the patriarchal structures, scrambling for the crumbs of power that the patriarchy discarded.

Because of the popularity of the series the Handmaid’s Tale at the time, Bethany and Peta created this term, which has caught on, yet has been commonly attributed to a Guardian journalist who began using the term a year after it was first coined.

Female politicians who do not support bodily autonomy are Crumb Maidens, because they are doing the work of the patriarchy.

Crumb Maidens by Set the record straight April 9, 2026

Crumb Maiden 

A person (Male or Female) who works to maintain power structures (Typically gendered power structures) which hurt them and/or their community in the hope that they can gather some small residual benefit

@AmyRemeikis Nov 30, 2021
At some point, we also have to have a reckoning of the crumb maidens, who uphold the power structures, actively bully or encourage their worst aspects, so they continue to benefit from the crumbs of those power structures. Until they don't.

Crumb Maiden by XTC9931 November 30, 2021

Crumb Maiden

A Crumb Maiden is a term used to describe women who betray their own gender in exchange for the small crumbs of power tossed to them by the patriarchy.

These women reject feminism and because they are so desperate for proximity to the patriarchal structures which give them a sense of power, they will actively advocate against the interest of women.

They will even fight against one another as they scramble for the crumbs of power tossed to them by men who will rescind that power when the Crumb Maiden no longer serves a purpose to them (I.e. Republican and LNP women).

This term was originally coined in Canberra by Peta Swarbrick and Bethany Williams on 22 August 2020, after they watched an online interview with Mona Eltahawy (American/Egyptian feminist) who discussed how some women uphold the patriarchy in exchange for the tiny crumbs of power tossed to them.

After the interview, Peta and Bethany described these women as Crumb Maidens, and began to regularly tweet #CrumbMaiden on Twitter, sharing the term with Mona Eltahawy who was delighted with the term.

A year later, a Guardian journalist used the term in her writing, which incorrectly caused the term to be attributed her.

Female politicians who choose to uphold the patriarchy to the detriment of women are such Crumb Maidens.

Crumb Maiden by Set the record straight April 9, 2026