Feminism is the belief held by a feminist. A feminist, in turn, is someone who believes that women are entitled to equal rights which in turn means equal pay for equal work.

While there are most assuredly some feminists who are extreme in their beliefs, and who do dislike men (usually as a result of abuse or rape) most feminists -- and one need not be a female to believe in equal rights for both sexes, in fact, one wonders why everyone doesn't believe in equality -- most feminists are simply seeking equal rights under the law, and equal pay for equal work.

Feminists do not hate men, nor are they "ugly dykes" -- it is infuriating to see hateful, useless, polarizing descriptions of this kind. In point of fact, the men who define feminists as "ugly dykes" are almost always the kind of men who create extremists; if I'm trying to obtain equal pay for my work, and I'm told that this is not a legitimate goal, but instead that I am "an ugly, hairy armpit, fat, can't get laid bitch" (this comes from one of the definitions) then I'm likely to feel extreme dislike for that individual.

If this happens enough times, you can see why a feminist would turn into an extremist and start hating the people who delight in mislabeling her and distorting her beliefs.

And of course there are greedy, ugly souls out there who are women, just as there are greedy, ugly people who are men. Given the dispersement of wealth in this country, the majority of these people are men, not women.. but there are a small minority of women who are as bad as their greedy, uncaring, "it's not my problem" male counterparts. No argument there.

The MAJORITY, however, of feminists are people who work for a living, work hard, and are frustrated at having to work twice as hard to make less money than their male colleagues. They don't want to make MORE for less work, or less experience.. simply equal pay for equal work, and equal protection under the law.

The only thing really in question is why anyone WOULDN'T support that. Why would anyone be AGAINST equal protection under the law, and equal pay for equal work unless that individual believed that women were a lesser life form or not as "human" as men, and therefore deserved to be treated without equality under the law, and without equal pay for equal work.

And if you believe that... well, then you're not quite sane, are you?

The belief that women are and should be treated as potential intellectual equals and social equals to men. These people can be either male or female human beings, although the ideology is commonly (and perhaps falsely) associated mainly with women.

The basic idea of Feminism revolves around the principle that just because human bodies are designed to perform certain procreative functions, biological elements need not dictate intellectual and social functions, capabilities, and rights.

Feminism also, by its nature, embraces the belief that all people are entitled to freedom and liberty within reason--including equal civil rights--and that discrimination should not be made based on gender, sexual orientation, skin color, ethnicity, religion, culture, or lifestyle.

Feminists--and all persons interested in civil equality and intellectuality--are dedicated to fighting the ignorance that says people are controlled by and limited to their biology.

Feminism is a political, social, and cultural movement that aims at equal rights for women. Its beginnings and extreme controversy in a (Western) patriarchal society has created stigma and stereotypes associated with the definition. Some include that feminists are:
-lesbians
-man haters
-'hairy-legged bitches'
Feminism helped women get the vote, obtain equal rights for jobs, made laws to control domestic violence, help women obtain the rights to own property, to divorce, to have access to birth control and to have possession of their own bodies.
Feminism is still needed in today's society. One can see this through the other versions of this definition.

Man = Woman, no more, no less. Women were, and in social aspects, still are, treated as inferior.
Sexism began as early as Aristotle, who claimed that women were 'imperfect' men since they did not contain a penis on their persons.
To be superior, one must make something inferior. I am sure this definition will get many 'thumbs down', but it is the truth.

I am a wo-man and I am a feminist.

the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes*.
*merriam-webster dictionary

an ideology that focuses on woman being treated as equals to men. There is no sexism in this concept- because we live in a patriarchal society, males are automatically given a superior position. calling feminism sexist is also ignoring centuries of history where men have oppressed women.

a common misconception about feminism is that one is supporting woman's equality but opposing man's. This is not true. Supporting something like gay rights doesn't mean you're against a straight person's rights, and the same goes for feminism in terms of equality between the sexes.

1. The right to choose in a non-oppressive society that is free of societal hierarchies.

2. A movement to end sexist oppression as well as domination relations. This does not only aim to make women equal to men, but all people equal to each other in rights. It is one gear in the bigger machine of human rights.

3. A movement to recognize and work to end the oppression of women in any form.

4. An examination of sexism with the intent to end it.

5. A movement for social justice with an emphasis on gender.

First of all i want to say that most of the entries on feminism are disrespectful and infuriating. The arguement that feminism states that women are better than men was created and is sustained by insecure men who are afraid of patriarchy tumbling down on their priveledged ignorant heads. WAKE UP people and look around you. all those "examples" of brain size, decreased male entry into college, etc are just excuses to either degrade women or only superficially examine the issues of gender equality.

FEMINISM IS:
1.)respecting people of all genders (recognizing the diversity in sexuality, from homosexuals, transgendered, heterosexuals and transexuals) as human beings that deserve to be treated with respect.

2.) recognizing the past inequalities that have historically denied women access to many social, economic and political spheres that are mostly occupied by men.

3.)Recognizing the result of these inequalities have lasting impacts today

A wonderful ideology that depraved misogynists love to hate.