Why is Feminist a dirty word?

Elle Macpherson is doing her part to remind us why we need feminism, and people who call themselves feminists, which Macpherson is not.

This reminded me of a blog post I read a while back about dating men who refuse to call themselves feminists. I'd go out a limb and say most of the men in my past were feminists even if they didn't want to use the word, and a good friend of mine adamantly refused to call himself a feminist because he didn't want to co-opt the word. However, I think I'm done dating men who won't own up to being a feminist.

I am of the persuasion that we need all the help we can get, and with so many people running from the word for fear of connotation we need them.

Feminism and the word feminist has a negative connotation, and people refuse to redefine these words. I had a different upbringing where feminist wasn't a dirty words, but as long as we let people participate in this passive definition than it will always be.