Time Magazine, the publication that posed the question “Is God Dead?” in the ’60s, recently had cover with a question for the ’90s — “Is Feminism Dead?”

The article claimed “traditional feminists” are no longer en vogue, but Iowa State women’s activists have their own ideas about whether feminism is dead on campus.

The Time cover showed the faces of “the godmothers of feminism” Betty Freidan and Gloria Steinem.

The representative for the ’90s was not Steinem, nor current National Organization for Women President Patricia Ireland, but the insecure TV lawyer “Ally McBeal,” portrayed by actress Calista Flockhart.

The article portrayed the fictional McBeal as more interested in snagging a husband than marching in a women’s lib rally.

“I read that [Time] article a couple of times, and I think one reason some people may think feminism is dead is because they don’t know what feminism is all about,” said Alissa Stoehr, programmer for Women’s Week and senior in liberal studies.

Stoehr said she thinks people believe feminists have to have certain characteristics, such as being homosexual, pro-choice and man-hating, but anyone can be a feminist.

“You can believe in censorship and still be a feminist,” Stoehr said. “My definition of a feminist is someone who believes in equality between men and women.”

Stoehr said she thinks more people in the ISU community could be defined as feminists than are currently labeling themselves as such.

“I think there is a core group of people who identify themselves as feminists, and there are others who think they are feminists but are afraid to say it … then there are people who won’t say they’re feminists at all, but who identify with some of the basic concepts of feminism,” Stoehr said.

Some ISU students also disagree with the notion that feminism has “died.”

“No, I don’t think it’s dead at all,” said Katie Patch, junior in anthropology. She said she considers herself a feminist, and she thinks there are a lot of feminists on campus.

“I think that even if they don’t think they are, they are,” she said. “The biggest reason [I am a feminist] is because I’m at college to get a job, and I want to get paid as much as men do.”

ISU female students declining to call themselves feminists may be evidence of a trend toward “anti-feminism.”

“I don’t consider myself a feminist,” said Jami Sperfslage, sophomore in business. “To me, a feminist is someone who continually stands up for women’s rights, and I don’t make a point to do that.”

Sperfslage said she “definitely” thinks feminism exists on campus, however.

“I hear about it from time to time,” she said.

Some male ISU students have a different perspective on feminist issues.

Charles Yovonie, junior in pre-engineering, said he does not really consider himself a feminist, but he does believe in equality.

“Everybody should have equal rights,” Yovonie said.

Travis Mattson, junior in nutritional science pre-medicine, described himself as “slightly” feminist.

“When it comes to [certain issues like] parenting, I still feel the traditionalist way,” Mattson said. “I think one parent should stay at home, and it should be the mother.

“I think we should have equal rights and equal pay, but there’s a lot of reverse discrimination,” Mattson said.

He said he thinks a lot of scholarships are unfairly earmarked for women and minorities.

“You never find a scholarship for a white male, or for a male, period,” Mattson said.

One reason for the differing perspectives on feminism may be attributed to an unclear definition of the word itself.

Director of YWCA Judy Dolphin said part of some women’s reluctance to call themselves “feminists” may be because the term is viewed as too “strident.”

“They call it the f-word,” Dolphin joked. “I think [feminism] is just a term that doesn’t seem to be … understood.”

Dolphin said she thinks anyone who believes in equal rights for everyone is a feminist. She also said if women are not vigilant about feminist issues, rights may be lost.

Dolphin said in the future, she hopes the term “feminist” takes on a more positive connotation.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that word at all,” Dolphin said, remarking that her favorite pro-feminist button bears the slogan “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.”

Jill Bystydzienski, director of the women’s studies program, agreed there is no universal definition of feminism.

“My definition is someone who recognizes there are inequalities and inequities between the sexes … and who is committed to changing the situation,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to see people actually using the term feminist, because it sometimes has a negative connotation.”

One faculty member said she has seen a definite shift in feminist attitudes at ISU.

Kathleen Hickock, associate professor of English, has been teaching at ISU for almost 20 years.

“I think feminism has changed,” she said. “When I first came here in 1969, it was a bigger presence on campus, and now I think it’s more diluted.”

Hickock said in the early 1970s, small hard-core groups, such as the NOW chapter and the YWCA, were highly visible.

“I think we were more visible individually because of the concentrated nature of the movement,” she said.

Hickock said the women educated in the women’s studies programs in the ’70s went out and did their work, and now she sees a new generation at ISU.

“[The generations of feminists are] like ripples in a pool,” she said.

Despite these comments, Hickock said she believes the ISU community is more pro-feminist today than in the past.

“I think most people are aware of the negative image of feminism, but I don’t think most people accept it,” Hickock said.

She said she thinks people may believe other people accept it, and therefore are careful about how they portray themselves.

“Frankly, I think [the view that feminism is dead] is wishful thinking,” Hickock said. She said she does not believe the United States is in a post-feminism stage.

Hickock also said she feels the student body is much more pro-feminist now than in the past.

“I think if you conducted a poll … there would be a large consensus,” she said.

Stoehr, who is starting a Young Feminist Network, said she believes education about women’s issues is vital.

“Women have made great strides … but we still have a lot to do,” she said. “Feminism is not only about gender … it’s about a large group of people we want to get rights for.”

Hickock agreed that the struggle for equality is far from being completed.

“It’s not over,” she said. “And it’s not going to die.”