@nononono,
I hate to disappoint you, but the last "feminist" I really paid attention to was Gloria Steinem, and that was over 40 years ago, and, even then I never went as far as subscribing to Ms Magazine.
But I do owe a sincere debt of gratitude to people like Ms Steinem, because women today live in a much less restricted society than they did in the 1950's and 1960's. We are much more able to fulfill our potential now, than was true back then. We were hindered by corset-like narrow definitions of "femininity" and being "ladylike" (all those white gloves and hats), as well as by societal barriers and discriminatory practices that either slammed doors in our face, or never even allowed them to open, so we could peek inside. It was very exhilarating to have our consciousness raised, to realize we had the power to create exchange, and then watch it come about.
It wasn't about "feminism" it was about Women's Liberation--and we were uniting to free ourselves and our sisters from overly constrictive social roles. It wasn't about hating men then, and it's not about hating men now. It was about taking our equal place next to men, and our share of what society had to offer, and not having our choices limited by anything other than our abilities. It was about an affirmation of womanhood, and an affirmation of personhood for women. We didn't just want to be merely ornamental, or sex objects, or hand maidens, any more, and just as my grandmother had to fight to get the vote, we had to fight for other civil rights--for the right not to be discriminated against in the hiring for certain jobs, for the right to get credit in our own name, and for things as important as equal pay for equal work, and as trivial as the right to wear slacks in a restaurant.
We had to fight for every single change. And we still have to keep fighting. Issues of particular concern to women still exist, issues of inequity still exist. And issues of misogyny still exist.
We've come a long way. I've seen that in my lifetime. And the changes have been remarkable. But we've still got a way to go. I've never seen this march forward by women as gender warfare, I've always seen it as a reactionary vs progressive struggle, with people crossing gender lines in support of one side or the other.
Women organized, kept their focus on the goal, took action, and then moved into positions of societal power. They really didn't, and still don't, waste their time bashing men, had they done that, they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have. And, if you're going to waste your time feminist-bashing, or trying to deny misogyny exists, or boasting that more men than women have died in battle, rather than promoting, and raising awareness for, those specific men's issues you feel are important, your issues won't get very far either.
My grandmother had to fight to get the vote, and, hopefully, I'll get to vote for our first female President. That's progress
Coincidentally, Hillary Clinton is probably one of the most admired feminists in the world, whatever will someone like you do if she's elected.
