I get all fired up when someone says that I should take a chill pill and focus on my MRS degree. I resent when people tell me that what I’m wearing isn’t sexy enough for the night scene. And, I am definitely earning the rep as that crazy chick who is way more like Rosy the Riveter than any girl should ever be.
But, I resent being called a feminist. And I have no idea why. Despite my glaring girl-power spirit, I get really defensive when people pin me as the “f word,” quickly lashing back with “No I am not!” and a kitchen joke.
Rationally, I know it is strange that this is something that irks me. According to Merriam Webster, feminism is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes” — which really doesn’t sound too terrible. But even with my queasiness, I did not realize how distasteful people find the word feminist until this week’s poll.
It disappoints me that at a school chockfull of intelligent, thoughtful difference-makers, so many — including myself — think that the word feminist has a negative connation.
Do you think that the word “feminist” has a positive, negatve or neutral connotation?
Results:
Positive: 7%
Neutral: 21%
Negative: 72%
Sample size: 100
Original Author: Sophie Allen