Feminism and Egalitarianism

This Leftover Soup thread developed a side topic on feminism, which I'm spinning off here so that we can go into more depth without cluttering the thread that's supposed to be about the comic. To kick this off, here are the relevant quotes from the discussion we were having over there:
RyukaTana wrote:The idea that [a makeover for Gina] is somehow some terrible idea smacks of feminism, and I never use that word to describe something good.
Merle wrote:That is why you fail.
RyukaTana wrote:If failure means not fighting for equal rights by fighting for the rights of a single group, I'd absolutely rather be a failure. If feminism is about actual equal rights, then the word 'feminism' is absolutely worthless.
Bramble.Chappell wrote:"Feminism" refers to many different ideologies, (which is why I avoid using the term by itself) several of which, in my opinion, are at least as harmful to women as the things they're campaigning against, but let's remember that it at least began as a push toward legal and social equality, even if a lot of people today make it about promiscuity and eagerly perpetuating the dehumanization of women. You make a fair point about the word "feminism" being shifted to one side in spite of being at least theoretically about equality, but that's because most agree that women have been and continue to typically be the injured parties in a sexist culture. (Though, yes, of course such a culture is also harmful to men, if less directly.) You could argue, depending on what part of the world you're in, that that's no longer applicable, but, living where I live and having seen what I have, I have to say I strongly disagree.
Alex Starkiller wrote:Fuck, that's right. It's either describing radical "feminists" or it's just another synonym for "equality" and thus doesn't need to exist. I didn't think of that.
RyukaTana wrote:Yeah, there's a lot of people who really want to nag about the value of the concept of feminism versus egalitarianism (the proper term for people who support equal rights), but in the end, it really just has no value. I can be an egalitarian and support women's rights, but I also support men's rights and gay rights and everyone else's rights. Feminism, in relation to egalitarianism, really has no value as a term, unless you're describing people who only fight for women's rights (regardless of extent), and I wouldn't want to be, or support, such a person.
I realize it doesn't take a 'feminist' view to go with what the OP was discussing, but the 'No, stop, bad' nature of the post just smacks of this idea that the 'natural woman' is superior. Feminism often plays this game of decrying men for treating them like 'whores', but then insisting that women who enjoy being in the traditional feminine roles (including, and especially, the sexual side of it) are lesser individuals. The best part being, if you call these sorts of 'feminists' out on it, they speak so subtly that they will simply take refuge in audacity... How dare we imply that they are hypocrites!
The best part is that it's such a staple of our culture (men bad, women good, ironically), that I wouldn't insist or assume that the OP is doing so intentionally. When I say 'best', I, of course, mean 'worst-fucking-bullshit'...
yomikoma wrote:Do you disagree with the use of the terms "men's rights advocate" and "misandry" as well? Because, despite there being a few exceptions, the users of those terms are almost entirely misogynist assholes. Surely that's just as bad as the issues you have with "feminists".