My daughter, my son, my husband, and I all consider ourselves feminists because we believe in equal pay for equal work. We believe in equal opportunities in the job market, politics, religion and civil service for men and women.

Simply put, women and men should be held in the same regard.

A feminist isn't someone who hates men. They don't want to bring down the opposite sex. A feminist is someone who wants to improve the lives of women. Feminism isn't trying to take respect from men, but to gain respect for women all over the world. The goals of a feminist would be establishing equal wages for men and women, and helping women in other countries to achieve higher standards. A true feminist doesn't hate to accomplish things, they love.

A feminist today is the evolution of the feminist yesterday. It is going to be difficult to define that word at any point because by the time that definition goes to print, it has aged and absorbed more wisdom (or failed to from time to time).

A feminist wants equality for all, but he or she use the word "feminist" because the brand of self-courage being carried inside was inspired by feminists of long ago.

Just as a father bequeaths his last name to his son, just as a stormy night bequeaths humidity to the morning after, the struggles of the past to have a woman's citizenship fully respected bequeath the courage to keep pointing a finger in the face of those who would keep oppressing women if they could, or simply oppress the next minority in line.

I believe the title, although stands for true equality, actually sounds and breeds bias.

I have true appreciation of the ideals...now.

But I was turned off by the word to not even look into what the whole gig was about I accidentally had it in my face 2 years ago.

Excellent ideals. Wrong title to portray actual equality.

First wave feminists fought for the vote. The second wave fought for a place in the workforce. The third and now fourth wave works not to make the playing field even but to change hearts and minds. We are already created equal. Feminism is necessary to see that we are treated that way.

A feminist is a friend to women. If you have ever been a friend, a really good one, you know that this is not a facile answer. It's hard enough to be a good friend to any person, let alone a whole gender. But if you have a friend, you know that you will not stand for them to be treated unfairly. You will support them when others turn their backs. You will embarass yourself if you must to defend their honor. You will not care who hates you for it. You will disagree amicably. You will support their decisions. You will always regard your friend as an equal.

A creature who made me is at least my equal. I must work for my mother as she has worked for me. I must honor my son's mother for she has given him his life. I must hold my sister's hand because she has held mine. I must do these things because it is decent, honorable, just, and fair and I want to be those things.

For me, as a man, women are at the center of the world. They bring us all into life. Women are worthy of our highest honor and respect. We deny our deepest self by denying a fundamental truth of nature. For I believe in the power of love.... And love is the source of life...and to love is to yield...to surrender...but with strength and resilience....and wisdom...and a feminist is a person who supports and defends this deepest and source...and feminism is a recognition that women have the voice and perspective that will bring us closer to what we are.