Q. How many feminists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?A. That’s not funny.It’s an old joke, probably from the ’70s, the peak of the women’s liberation movement. Unfortunately, it still rings true today.Never mind the “Vagina Monologues” graphic controversy. Remember back in late September, when Dean of Students Tom Hill made a remark that had campus feminists up in arms? Hill said of his 1972 Olympic bronze medal, “I gave it to a friend of mine. She still had better have it, or I might just have to kill her.”Letters to the editor attacked Hill, especially because the friend he was referring to was female. A lot of people didn’t know what the big deal was. Well, the big deal is this: One branch of feminism is giving the whole movement a bad name. Though the vast majority of Americans would agree with a statement such as “Men and women should be treated equally,” only a minority consider themselves feminists. Feminists are not the only group whose militant wing makes the rest of the group look bad (think Strom Thurmond and Pat Robertson for the Republicans), but it is rare that the militant wing has enforced such a negative stereotype that most members refuse even to be associated with the group.What does “feminist” mean? Everybody’s a little hazy on the definition. Some think it means man-hater. Others believe it means you can’t wear make-up, date men or act feminine. Others think it means you think women are superior to men.Really, a feminist is just someone who believes in equality of the sexes. But the many overly-sensitive, outspoken members of the movement’s radical wing have caused many to interpret “feminist” as synonymous with “feminazi.”Everyone is running around talking about how we can empower women. “This is empowering,” “I’m empowered by this.” It’s interesting that “empower” is usually used in the passive voice. The women in question can’t empower; they have to be empowered. Why do women have to be empowered? Why don’t they have power to begin with? We hear all this drivel about our male-driven society and the power of the patriarchy. But growing up here in Ames, I don’t remember a single time I was treated unfairly for being female, except one incident involving a student teacher in Phys Ed who wouldn’t let the girls play football (he was disciplined appropriately). No one had to empower me; I had just as much power to begin with as any of my classmates. The feminist movement was great back in the ’60s and ’70s. It did the job well. Women don’t need to be liberated anymore; there’s no longer much they need to be liberated from in America today. When we raise our children thinking they’re going to have to spend their lives fighting the patriarchy, they’re victims before they’ve even begun. Today’s girls are being raised in a post-Spice Girls era, where “Girl Power” is the rule, not the exception. Women go to college in higher numbers than men and get better grades. The only ones re-enforcing the idea of this being a male society are a few small groups like the Promise Keepers and the Southern Baptists and one large group — feminists.SAT and ACT scores show girls are getting just as much out of public schooling as boys are; the income gap between men and women is exaggerated by the fact that more women take time off for child care; and every law that would guarantee equality (aside from the essentially meaningless Equal Rights Amendment) is already on the books.The women’s rights and feminist movement still have their places today. Sexual assaults are rampant on college campuses; high schools are teaching abstinence-only Sex Ed, resulting in a lack of knowledge about birth control and STD protection; there are billions of women outside of America who still need to be liberated. Going after graphics and lighthearted jokes is not accomplishing anything but hurting the feminist movement’s image further.Unfortunately, many of the issues feminists should be out in droves to support get ignored due to political motives.Think Paula Jones. She refused the sexual advances of her employer. She pressed charges, even against fierce opposition. She stood firm even under the cruelest attacks on her appearance and character. And she did it all against the most powerful man in the world. So where were the feminists while Jones was fighting for her rights? Off campaigning for Clinton and Gore, of course. If Clinton had been a Republican, Jones would be our No. 1 feminist hero now that Gloria Steinem has become a “semi-nonperson.” Instead, feminists stood by silently while Jones’ name was dragged through the mud.I am a feminist. So are most people. Most men, even. Men and women are equal, whether the Constitution specifically says so or not. We need to stop hunting for oppressors that aren’t there and alienating two-thirds of the movement in the process.Imagine a feminist. She probably looks pretty similar to the cartoon, huh? But feminists can also be housewives, models, cheerleaders, soccer moms — whatever they want to be. Part of being a feminist is doing what you want to do because you want to do it, not because someone else — whether it’s the “oppressive male patriarchy” or the militant, anti-male “feminazis” — wants you to.Jocelyn Marcus is a junior in English from Ames. She is opinion editor of the Daily.