My first reaction to Brian Blase's column on Monday was "sez you." On second thought, though, I have to ask, where does he gets the authority to claim that feminism has lost its relevance? Has he been a member of a feminist organization, volunteered for "feminist" causes, such as rape centers or legislators who provide gender equity, or ANYthing that would indicate that he is something besides just another person trying to kill feminism off by declaring it dead?

This brings me to his assertions that feminism in 2002 is all about abortion and sexual harassment. Both of these issues ARE subjects of discussion among those who believe in "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes" (Merriam-Webster's primary definition of "feminism"), but they are not the only issues that feminists feel strongly about. Despite media coverage to the contrary, we are interested in a variety of gender (not "women's") issues, and feminist belief in NOT monolithic — get any two of us together, and we may well differ on how we feel about any given issue.

In spite of his sweeping generalizations about feminism and what it represents, I'm inclined to offer Mr. Blase some friendly advice: If you want to see feminism in action, (1) try attending a meeting of one of Penn State's multiple women's (or "womyn's," if it floats your boat) groups, and see what we're up to (I was a member of Womyn's Concerns prior to graduation); (2) you might also want to check out what's being said in feminist Internet bulletin boards, or (3) get involved in the "nitty-gritty" of feminist beliefs by volunteering for the political campaign of a equity-minded candidate, or at a women's crisis center. Whatever you do, don't try to tell ME that feminism is dead. Since I embraced "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes," I have never felt so aware.