Feminist? or 'Gender Egalitarianist?' (radical, women, originate)

[edspace]

I've rarely come face to face with the stereotypical 'radical feminist' often depicted as a man-hating butch lesbian. (And often called 'feminazis.') Rather, I've heard people say, "I'm a feminist, not because I hate men, but because I believe women should have the same rights as men."

So here's the question. Why would the word for such a belief use a Latin root that referres to woman, ie "feminist?" That's the same as saying, "I'm a 'masculinist' because I believe men and women should have the same rights." So in the end, wouldn't it be more linquistically accurate or semantically correct (but not 'politically correct' ) to use the term, 'Gender Egalitarian?'

I'm not bringing up the 'lowering of the lifeboat' discussion because it's already been done and not relevant to this thread.

[justanothermanger]

I'm a woman, and some of those "feminists" bug me!

[justsomefeministguy]

Feminism is the blanket term for it because it's been around for a long time, and is ever changing. A feminist is someone who originally started out desiring women's suffrage; a provision necessary to equalize the genders. The movement turned to rights about the body, and right to privacy in the second wave; again, a provision necessary to equalize both genders. Only now, in third wave feminism, have we begun to hit the part where we're finding privileges women have that men don't. Therefore, the movement will seek to do what it always has done; make provisions for the equality of both genders. The term 'feminist' sticks because it's been the label for an incredible movement which has historically sought equality in gender. The fact of the matter is, when the movement originated, women were just above property, which meant the movement was forced to address women specifically. Ask any true feminist what the definition of the movement is, and while they will say it is more oriented around women (there are more injustices toward them), the term 'gender equality' is bound to come up.
Hope that helps.