What is a feminist? Evaluations and stereotypes in closed- and open-ended responses

This article outlines the evaluation and stereotype of feminists, based on responses to closed-ended semantic differential traits as well as open-ende d, projective responses to a hypothetical male or female feminist. Consiste nt across both methodologies, undergraduate respondents (Study 1: N=210; St udy 2: N=135) viewed feminists as politically liberal, assertive/career ori ented, and more likely to be heterosexual than lesbian. Most evaluations we re neutral to slightly positive, with a few negative areas. However, femini sts were seen in less positive terms than the typical woman and were descri bed as much more assertive and politically liberal. Gender, race, birth coh ort, gender of target, and feminist-attitude differences are presented. Des pite the neutral to slightly positive evaluation, most respondents did not personally identify as feminists, possibly because they misperceive others' attitudes toward feminists as more negative than they actually are.