The feelings of the bra-burning era have not gone up in smoke --despite what some people may think or desire.

Feminism -- defined by Webster as the "theory of social, political and economic equality among the sexes" -- has met both criticism and support during the last two decades.

While some women have been heralded for fighting for and winning women's suffrage, abortion rights and prominence in the workplace, there has been considerable backlash to the feminist movement.

Although many University women say they agree with feminism, many don't like to be called feminists because they don't want be referred to as "dykes" or "man-hating bitches" by people who disagree with the movement.

"I think that women are still scared to use the big 'F' word," said Kristen Eisenbraun, Penn State Pro-Choice co-director.

In a 1990 poll conducted by The Daily Collegian, 38.2 percent of 364 randomly selected female University students considered themselves feminists while 96.8 percent supported gender equality on social, political and economic levels.

But the poll preceded the 1991 Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings and the William Kennedy Smith and Mike Tyson rape trials. Some female advocates say these events have fueled the revival of the feminist movement after the 1980s lull.

"More and more women are beginning to say, 'Yes, I'm a feminist,' " said Deborah Golden, Penn State Pro-Choice co-director. "People are becoming aware that the fight's never over."

But Eisenbraun said the feminist movement is moving backward because Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that legalized abortion, might soon be overturned.

The conservative Reagan era caused much of the "anti-liberated women" attitude to flourish and promoted the fight to get rid of abortion rights, she added.

Although some people may think the National Organization for Women's political party supports their needs, some said the party will not receive strong support because of the feminist reputation.

"They are a very tiny minority because of the extreme in their viewpoint," said Glen Bayly, pastor for the Alliance Christian Fellowship.

The party represents a small number of people and faces problems because of lesbian stereotypes, he added.

Catharine Buck, political co-director of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance, said the lesbian stereotypes are a way of silencing women.

"It's scary to say 'feminist,' " Buck said. "A way to make that scarier is to dyke-bait feminists."