Jane Eyre Feminism

It has come to my attention of late that when I self identify as a feminist many people don't understand what I mean. Many think of the colloquial phrase "feminazi", they associate all feminism with radical men hating speech and deeds. In that context my feminism means i supposedly don't like men or wish to overthrow or demean all men. To that I would say you are mistaken. I am sorry that in our american culture today feminism means that to you. But it does not mean that to me.
When talking about this misconception of the phone with one of my best friends, a fellow educated deep thinking young lady, she told me that's why she doesn't outwardly self identify as a feminist. To her, that association is incongruent with her thoughts and life. I responded by telling her I understand but, I have taken a different approach. For me I'd rather take the heat and change people's minds about the very misconstrued view of feminism and the women and men who support it.
One of the most important books to me growing as a teenage girl was Jane Eyre. I love classic literature and I had often had trouble identifying with female characters at the time. Most female characters I ran into were important or loved or valued for their beauty. I wasn't all together unfortunate looking at the time but my focus was on my spirit and mind as well. I wanted to be loved and respected and valued for all of myself, not simply my packaging. It was the character of Jane Eyre that gave me such hope as a young woman. For Jane was not beautiful, she came from nothing and she did not find her value in other people's praise. Jane was mistreated and unloved but, she choose to treat others well and to love. Jane desired to be free so she worked to support herself in a time when women were practically pets to be bought and sold. Jane knew herself and her own heart and chose righteousness in her deeds over compromise of her self-respect. As I read that book I knew who I longed to be and would be. A girl and a woman who is strong in herself so that one day she might love someone else and be a real partner in a union.
Charlotte so beautifully put the feminist condition in the words of Jane to her beloved:

" Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal — as we are!”

My dearest readers, this is the truth I must proclaim to you. For me this is pure feminism, EQUALITY. I value men and I value women. Our spirits weigh the same.  It is to those equal spirits that I speak earnestly and lovingly ( I hope).