I wrote this as a comment to Peg Aloi’s recent article (link) for the Huffington Post. Unfortunately, it was too long to post on their site. But I thought it deserved a life here. How appropriate that it shall live in the same world in which I detail my exploits in “women’s work.”

From Merriam-Webster…

Feminism: the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
Strangely, it doesn’t say anything about putting every possible activity or behavior on a sliding scale, bounded at either end by the terms “masculine” or “feminine.” And it certainly doesn’t imply that one must “re-brand” those activities at the “feminine” end as being less valuable or detrimental to the feminist movement. Funny, because you seem to think the definition encompasses both those things.
The goal of the feminist movement was to earn women respect, power, and a place in the world equal to that of their male counterparts. It wasn’t about stopping women from engaging in domestic tasks, it was about starting  them working, studying, and living in spheres formerly occupied only by men. Feminism was a movement of addition, not subtraction. If your position is to be considered standard, then feminism has changed into a mindset in which one devalues the pursuits of our mothers and grandmothers, and continues to aspire to a “masculine” ideal. Not a man’s idea of the perfect woman, mind you, but rather the idea that only what is “masculine” is ideal.
The real women you mention were indeed pioneers, but you do them disservice to imply that their advances are less impressive after their success–to suggest that they were only relevant when their fight was contemporary. They are still exemplary women, though perhaps not in every facet of their lives. But then again, few of us are. And I have to ask: do you think strong women only exist in rock and roll and on celluloid? Strong female role models have always been thin on the ground in pop culture. ALWAYS. You frame your article as if this dearth of “tough women” were a recent phenomenon, rather than the norm. You also reference the sexualization of female superheroes, then hold up Xena (with her typically revealing costume and sometimes fetishized view of lesbianism) as a feminist ideal. You seem, Ms. Aloi, to be a little confused.
I maintain that feminism is alive and well in this country. True, there has been a resurgence of interest in hand- and needlecrafts, as well as the domestic arts. But with this trend comes something that wasn’t there before: respect. Someone found baking cupcakes from scratch or knitting a sweater is, most of the time, now subject to a sort of wonder at their skill and aptitude, rather than passive derision. Women and men can now reclaim those practices, and the majority of our society (yourself, Ms. Aloi, obviously excepted) now views them quite rightly as “special skills,” rather than “women’s work.” The fact that we can bake and blog without shame is just as much a stride forward as Joan Jett fronting the Blackhearts.
Feminism is a movement of addition. It is only when people (no matter their gender, Ms. Aloi) try to interpret it as one of negation that the work and progress of the movement is damaged. I suggest you reconsider the tone and substance of your argument. Otherwise, it seems some of these “soft” women in the comments might show you just how “tough” they really are.