Since when is "Feminist" a Dirty, Dirty Word?

Many of my very intelligent, capable friends (both male and female) do not identify themselves with the word "feminist", even though if you break down the basic idea: that women should be treated equally to men and given the same opportunities without gender disadvantage, these friends and acquaintances wholeheartedly agree that they believe in equality. So if the platform isn't the problem, then it must be...the word feminist! Ah, what a revelation! But alas, how did we get to this point? Since when is "feminist" a dirty, dirty word?

I recently read an article  about gender and women's studies, or lack there of, in high schools in this country. This article suggests that maybe our negative connotation to the word "feminist" comes from a lack of education on the topic. I myself have to agree that although I was raised in a liberal home and attended a liberal public school system in New Hampshire, I went to college thinking that "all feminists are lesbians" and "all feminists burn their bras and hate men". Oh, if my 17 year old self could see me now (I'm sure she would be horrified, for more than one reason!) at the ripe old age of 23, writing a blog about how not to be afraid of the word.

Another suggestion as to our aversion from the word "feminist" comes from the fact that radical feminists-those who do come from a place, in theory, of believing that all men are rapists (if not physically than emotionally, economically, socially)- are the only ones who ever got any attention. Because people don't know there are more mainstream definitions, they disassociate with the word altogether.

But now! I have come to reclaim the word and its meaning-and I encourage you to do the same. Even now, I can imagine many a situation (especially those involving a cute boy) where I would temper my answer to "are you a feminist" with a "but" ("yes, I am a feminist BUT I'm not crazy"). I feel like I have to apologize for my belief that everyone should be given the same opportunity, regardless of their gender!
But not anymore. I refuse to continue letting feminist be a dirty word, only spoken in GWS classes at small liberal arts colleges in New England. I am a feminist because I believe in equality (and squashing the giant worldwide patriarchy in favor of something a bit more...modern) and I am not sorry.

So now that that's established-how do we go about changing how everyone ELSE feels about it?! I am at a loss! Education is certainly important and should be a component of how everyone views the feminist movement from its inception (which was probably about the times that homosapiens started walking upright...). And all of the smart, competent women need to stop apologizing for having that inner feminist that they have. That will tie into my next post-how anti-feminist is pop culture, anyway?- but that is for another day.

Until next time,
Sarah