(Image Source:  Billboard ) BY JOSH LANDERS Pop singer Katy Perry is Billboard Magazine’s 2012 Woman of the Year -- but she didn’t receive the award without stepping on a number of feminists’ toes. Billboard tweeted part of Perry’s controversial acceptance speech saying... “‘I am not a feminist, but I do believe in the strength of women.’ - @katyperry accepting 2012 Woman of the Year award at #WomenInMusic .” Perry’s apparent oxymoron set the feminist blogosphere on fire. A writer for Jezebel resorted to a condescending tone saying... “Hi Katy Perry! At its most simple definition, all feminism means is that you think that women should be equal to men, okay? Cool, thanks, byyyyye!” But Slate writer Amanda Hess has the star’s back, wondering why anyone would want to be labeled a feminist when it seems all who step into that arena get shot down... “Here’s one reason some women might not identify as feminists: Whenever they begin to engage with the material, feminists condescendingly dismiss them as morons, complete with all-caps maniacal laughter.” So engaging feminism often leads to bruised pride for many female celebs. But as a writer for the Atlantic says, it can also hurt your pocketbook. “...Perry and other public figures may forswear feminism ... because feminism is controversial; embracing it may irritate fans. More charitably, women may worry that the feminist label and its stereotypes prevent people from listening to, and buying into, a feminist message.” In an interview with Joy Behar, active feminist Katie Roiphe spins Perry’s remarks as a good thing for the feminist movement. Here’s Current TV. “If young women aren’t calling themselves feminists, maybe thats a sign that the movement has succeeded. Maybe it’s a sign of how much younger women perceive the opportunities available to them.”