It's really important for young women like us to call ourselves feminists. We want people start associating us with "the F-word," in order to update/correct the image that today's feminists are exactly like the bra-burning '70s stereotypes. Feminism has changed a lot in 30 years. If we don't identify as feminists, how do we show society at large that the movement has evolved? If I thought all feminists were anti-sex, anti-fashion and anti-men, I wouldn't identify with feminism, either.

Ehrenreich is partially right. It's a success that some things that used to outrage only feminists are now widely unacceptable (like blatant harassment/discrimination). It's a success that most campuses now have a women's center. But it's also dangerous to think that the rights we've won are protected. Our country CAN go backward from here (and, in the next three years, it probably will).

So it's our job to declare ourselves feminists, to show we're part of a movement that seeks to protect the gains we've won while continuing to highlight what needs to be done. I'm all for using the "F-word" whenever we get the chance.

I do not now, nor have I ever identified as a feminist. I consider myself more of a humanist, trying to achieve a balance of what's right and fair with an understanding that there are some inherent differences between the genders. I don't think there's any one right for all (or even most) women, so I was more thsan annoyed when I saw a feminist on one of the TV News magazines (can't remember her name or which show because I'm now old and forgetful) slamming women who chose to opt out of their career path to spend some time on the "mommy track" I know women who've left the hard core career path because they were sick of the BS in most work environments and used having children as a reason to exercise that option; I know women who stayed home to raise their children because they felt it best and I know women who stayed in the work-force for various reasons. Just like in abortion, there is no single right decision for all women in all circumstances and much of what I've heard from the "feminist movement" seems to espouse there is; I've also been turned off by the woman as victim routine which seems to rear it's ugly head whenever convenient.

Yes, there are inequities without legitimate reason. . .those are the things we must rectify as best we can, but not all inequities are illegitimate and sometimes there are mitigating circumstancessurrounding inequities which actually end up pitting women against each other.

I completely agree that we need to work on using the label of feminism more so that people really understand what it means to be a feminist. People associate that word with the Rush Limbaugh definition and it is infuriating.

It's difficult because a lot of people (myself included) aren't sure exactly what qualifies one to be considered a feminist.

If I believe in equal pay and career opportunities, zero-tolerance for rapists and domestic abusers, greater respect for all the unpaid contributions that women make, breaking free from the sadistic beauty standards that are pushed on women and girls, full insurance coverage for contraceptives, equality in education and athletics, honor instead of ridicule of female anatomy and physiology, and equal political representation, but I also believe that abortion is taking a life and shouldn't be done electively, where does that put me? Would I be encouraged to use the F-word, or would I be left saying, "I'm not a feminist, but . . ."

There isn't any set of 'rules' for feminist! There is just a collective set of 'ideas.' We are still individual people with individual opinions...

I really do believe that it's important that we use the word "feminist" and self-identify as feminists -- as others have stated, we can't just assume that because we've come so far, we can sit happy and not think that things can slide back.

Feminism is still a dirty word in many parts of the country, among many people. I shied away from using 'the f word', myself, for years, equating feminism with the Rush Limbaugh crazy stereotype. It wasn't 'til I took a long look at feminist schools of thought, and then a long hard look at myself, that I realized that I was one, too. I think we need to use the word, get it out there, take it back from the people who'd use it against us.

While I agree that it is important for all of us to embrace the feminist label, I think the glass is half-full in regards to the reality that so many shun the label. I think that's Ehrenreich's point, feminism continues to succeed on the merits despite the demonization and the stereotypes, which is something to be happy about.

I am frankly so tired of hearing comments like the one from ol cranky about 'victim feminism'. As long as its true that I can make a solid, full time living helping rape survivors, 90% of whom are women, we've got a serious collective cultural problem with women BEING VICTIMIZED that has to be addressed before someone outside of that experience can bemoan 'victimhood'. I am waiting for the day when I am thankfully unemployed and then (and only then) will I silently accept her and others their privilege-- the privilege of women who've never been raped or beaten.... or who have, but think it's somehow empowering to reject the experience of other women who are outraged and despairing after being raped/beaten.