On principle, I dislike redefining words away from their lingual roots.
Feminism is a combination of Feminine, the female gender-- and --ism, (from dictionary.com) "a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs ( baptism); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc. ( criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)."
Together, this literally means "The practice or state of being female."
If you want gender equality, then use a proper term, like "Equalitarianism"
If you claim you are a feminist, I will take you for your word, that you promote the state of being female over other issues, and are thus not interested in equality. No, you do not get to redefine words to suit your whims.
If you claim to want equality between people in all ways, please call yourself an equalitarian, as that is the correct word to use. I am an equalitarian. NOT a feminist.
Heh. It's tempting to laugh at the Latin root words, but it's understandable.
Sure, the etymology of the word is literally as you say, "Of being female".
Welcome to the 19th century, though.
It's the name of a movement for equality. Not supremacy, as many on both sides would now claim! It's a movement which has existed for over a GODS DAMN CENTURY, dedicated to nothing more than mere equality. That has always been the goal of Feminism. And loud memesters, "empowererd" by the internet and twitter, can't change that.
Third-Wave "Feminism" has shit-all to do with actual Feminism. It's supremacy pure and simple, and it's horrible. It's an unsurprising and disgusting overreaction, largely by teens who don't know what the hell they're talking about.
Feminism, as defined by Merriam Webster and also OVER A CENTURY of actual activism, is for equality of genders. No more, no less. These third-wave "feminists" piss on everything that's been accomplished.
Feminism literally means "about women", and "Democrat" literally means a government where we all vote on every single issue. That's not actually what either word means, is it?
Feminism means gender equality. Has for over a century.
Supremacists of any stripe can get wrekt.