Let’s do a linguistic exercise. I’m going to write a word and I’d like for you to think about how it makes you feel. Here it is:

Feminism.

Now, let it mull in your mind for a bit. Meditate on it, perhaps go for a jog and come back to the next line when you’re ready.

Perhaps you feel hopeful? Reassured? Inspired?

Something tells me this might not be the case.

If you’re like myself a few years ago, chances are, you’re uncomfortable.

Feeling anxious or unnerved when talking about women’s rights, I’m told, is a common side effect for both supporters and non-supporters of feminism alike.

The key difference, however, is that feminists and their sympathizers are nervous that their goals won’t be achieved, while those against feminism fear that they will succeed.

As is the case in many issues that divide us, I believe that this fear stems from misunderstanding.

Because for me the word “feminism” carried with it an undercurrent of radicalism, negativity and hatred until recently in my life, I feel the need to share with you why I’ve “made the switch.” The funny thing about the whole process was that I didn’t make any huge changes in my beliefs in doing so.

You see, where I grew up, feminists were women who, aside from obtaining for females the right to vote in 1920, had done no more good for society than goldfish. Presented by many as man-haters and bra-burners, their cause wasn’t something I wanted to be associated with. I liked men-if they were nice-and, well, playing sports was too difficult without that particular article of clothing, so I decided not to subscribe to the feminist mode of thinking.

But I wanted to be a doctor for most of high school, and get paid just as much as a man doing the same thing.

I wanted to be a politician, too, running as a democrat, not only as “the female candidate.”

I also wanted to get married someday, to a man who didn’t expect me to do certain chores because they were “a woman’s job.”

With these hopes in my mind, I was -without my own knowledge – a feminist all along.

And because of this, I think many of you are too.

Being a feminist, you see, doesn’t mean that you think you’re better than men, or that you don’t shave or wear bras. It doesn’t mean that you’ve abandoned being feminine or that you’re sexually oppressed. Being a feminist also doesn’t mean that you have to be a woman or a lesbian.

It simply means that you want women and men to have equal rights. This includes equal opportunities for both men and women in employment and public office, and fair treatment in payment and policy.

I would argue that this isn’t radical at all. It’s just logical.

It must be the word “feminist,” then, because I don’t think many level-headed people would argue against equality. But I have been wrong before.

Maybe if we changed the “f-word” to something like “social reformer,” “humanity caretaker” or “womanist,” the feminist cause would have better luck.

But I doubt it. This isn’t a word game, after all.