Great thread, Dorian, and great post, Saluki!

I think the problem with the word feminist is the same problem with any other sterotype. There are few extremes that create the stereotype and end up tainting the word for all the less extreme. I looked at a couple of all girl colleges, and there was definitely one that I refused to go to because the majority of the girls there were of that extreme branch of feminism, which just plain makes me uncomfortable. Again, not all of them, but it felt like some of them were giving off this extremely defensive, hostile vibe. It's kind of the same thing with religious fanatics (and sugar..)-- too much of a good things isn't good anymore.

Perhaps if fewer girls were afraid of being stuck with this stereotype, we could be more courageous with being called feminists, thus redefining the word and the connotation with it.

I am a feminist, not a fanatic.