taking the stereotype out of first gear

First off, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who was willing to take a few minutes out of their dinner time to answer my questions. Though this survery was rather small, it gave me insight to a random and general idea of what the term feminist and/or feminism is often understood as. I surveyed 25 random men and 25 random women. The survey ran as follows:

Individuals were given a note card and asked to give the following information:

1. Age

2. Gender

Question #1

Personal understanding/ definition of a feminist or feminism. Subjects were also given the option of simply writing words that came to their mind when picturing a feminist.  

Question #2

 Do you consider yourself a feminist?

The results were as follows and will be organized by age, gender. Definitions and answers:(answers to all questions and answers are written verbatum- including caps and spelling errors)

17 year old Females - 2 surveyed

def's from female who wrote "no"

1. a feminist is a female who is bent on independence on all costs and who actively lobbies for female rights, usually to the point of ignoring issues that actually matter. I do not consider myself one.

def. from female with no answer to question #2

1. a feminist is a person who wants to promote equal rights for both women + men.

18 year old Males - 13 surveyed

def's from male(s) who wrote "no"- 8

1. "a bad lady, or 'catty' man". No

2. "Feminism is women in action. Feminism is womens right. I have no real clue what it is, so those are my guesses. No

3. Feminist is women that think women can do anything that men can. No

4. Adolfia Hitler. No

5. Feminist! Suck. No

6. Someone who puts womens rights above all. I am Not

7. Angry, misguided, over-zealous. I AM NOT A FEMINIST

8. Def: a person with the characteristics of one who is female. Am I? Possibly, but officially, no

def.'s from male(s) who wrote, "yes"- 4

1. Someone who favors the rights of women. Yes

2. supporting chicks. Yes

3. Someone who's girly. Yes

4. I am a feminist in the sense that I believe women should be given the same opportunities as men and should not hold back in sharing their gifts just because they're women. I'm not a feminist in the sense that I don't believe women are better than men. But I don't think that is real feminism, so Yes, I'm a feminist.

def. from male with no answer to question #2

1. Femenist wants equality but will go to any lengths to achive it.

18 year old Females - 9 surveyed

def. from female(s) who wrote, "no" -4

1. someone who takes women's rights seriously and sometimes to extremes. No I am not

2. a femenist is a person who actively fights for women's rights or something. I would not consider myself a feminist.

3. someone who stands up for the rights of women. I am not a feminist, but I do believe strongly in women having the same rights as men

4. Feminist = card carrying member of N.O.W. I am not a femist, although I have often been accused of being one

def. from female(s) who wrote, "yes" -2

1. person who supports the movement that encourages the equality of women to men in all aspects of society & societal existance. Yes

2. A person who defends womens rights!! Umm... to an extent

def. from female(s) with no answer to question #2 -3

1. I think feminism has changed so much over the years that there can't possibly be a set definition. The movement began with a really good foundation but now is defined by keeping abortion legal. I support womens rights, God made us all equal, but a society can't function if there is no difference between a man's role and a women's.

2. Someone who is very stron willed about women's rights, & fight for them

3. Femenist: Woman who wants total power and superiority over males.

19 year old Males - 2 surveyed

def. from male(s) who wrote, "no" -1

1. Def of feminist- someone who believes that women can do anything men can do. Am I one? No.

def. from male(s) who wrote, "yes" -1

1. One who wants equal rights for women. Yesm

19 year old Females - 6 surveyed

def. from female(s) who wrote, "no" -3

1. someone who believes that men & women are equal in every aspect of society. Do I consider myself one? No.

2. definition of feminist: Dr. Mrs Van Leuen.  I consider it silly and stupid.

3. someone who is extremely  concerned with somen's rights, power, and equality w/ men. Sometimes I think that this "extremness" can go to far, so as to begrudge men. no, I wouldn't consider myself a feminist although I am certainly concerned w/ women's rights.

def. from female(s) who wrote, "yes" -3

1. someone who supports/advocates women's rights and equality. I think to some degree I am a feminist.

2. A person in active support of women's rights and social equality. Yes

3. a feminist is anyone who supports women in any way. Yes I am.

20 year old Males - 3 surveyed

def's from male(s) who wrote "no"- 3

1. Def: someone who is femenin. Am I?: No

2. Someone who radically seeks to give women equal opportunity. Feminist?: No

3. Someone who views women to be superior to men. By my definition, I am not a feminist

20 year old females - 4 surveyed

def's from female(s) who wrote "yes"- 4

1. Feminism- The belief that women have/deserve equal rights in all areas. I am under that def. but not some definitions others would say

2. one who believes that women are equal or greater than men. I would consider myself to be somewhat of a feminist

3. a person that believes that women should have equal rights as men. I consider myself a moderate feminist

4. a person who thinks that men adn women should be treated equally and are of equal value. I am a feminist!

def's from male(s) who wrote "no"- 4

1. Someone who pushes for woman's equal rights. NO I'm not one

2. One who thinks that men & women are the same therefore meaning women and men should be treated exactly the same. NO I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A FEMINIST!

3. Someone who is radically active in womens equal rights. no

4. A PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO FAVOR EQUALITY WITH GENDERS BUT STRIVES FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN FAVOR OF FEMALES. NO, I'M NOT A FEMINIST.

def. from male with no answer to question #2

1. Strongling Supporting the case for female empowerment.

21 year old females - 2 surveyed

def's from female(s) who wrote "yes"- 2

1. a feminist is someone who stands up for the equality of women in the face of male poo-poo headism. Yes. I am.

2. Feminist- one who advocates for equal opportunities for women. yes

22 year old Male

def's from male(s) who wrote "no"- 1

1. feminist- a person who strongly believes in the equality of rts. of women and is radical about their beliefs. -No

23 year old Male

def's from male(s) who wrote "no"- 1

1. A FEMINIST: Someone who views all issues through a gender-specific lens. No

29 year old Male

def. from male with no answer to question #2

1. Feminism has various definitians that run the spectrum from ultra consertive to extreme liberal. Ultimately the common understanding would see feminism as a movement that attepmts to re-establish the power paradigms so that women have equal access to them.