A long time ago, I wrote an article on link, and the misconceptions about not calling yourself a feminist. Since it was so long, I highly doubt that it was read by its target audience, so I'm going to keep this one very short.

I won't repeat myself on detailing all the different schools of feminist thought, especially because I doubt you're interested. Instead, let me just say this: Feminism is like many religions or philosophies. Just as one person who calls herself a Christian can have vastly different views and beliefs by another calling herself a Christian, the same can happen with feminism. Feminists often debate and criticize each other, and there are plenty different "sects," if you will, of feminism.

Feminism is also similar to Islam in the Western World. There are insane Islamic extremists who use excessive violence to make a point. However, the vast majority of Muslims reject this extremist sect and preach peace and cooperation. Just as Islam has radicals, so are there extremists in feminism.

However, several feminists reject extremist feminism on the grounds that it preaches female chauvinism. Chauvinism was a word used heavily in the 1960s by feminists to describe the male attitude that women were inferior to men. But it is not a gender-specific term. Female chauvinists are often misinterpreted as the majority of what feminism is.

It is not.

Female chauvinism is not what the majority of feminists fight for. I don't know how I can emphasize this enough to make the message clear.

Anyone, male or female, who believes that men and women should be equally respected and valued for their many different strengths and talents, should consider him or herself as a feminist.

Anyone, male or female, who believes that his or her sex is superior to the opposite sex is a chauvinist.

Is that clear enough for you?