"Feminsim," a word bomb bigger than "Nuke"

I was at the Yellow Deli (restaurant the hippies own) tonight, at one of their open forems ( place where the curious can learn about their beliefs or just talk general philosophy and theology, which is usually what happens)

I made the mistake of mentioning I was a feminist.
Its always a mistake to mention I'm a feminist! The first thing people do, especially men, is make some stupid feminist joke to see if they can get me riled up." HA HA HA like I haven't heard that one before!" is what runs through my head.
They treat the issue like its some big joke, they don't take me seriously. So instead of getting angry and annoyed I just try to make myself laugh with them because one thing life has taught me is that people don't take you seriously if you get angry in a debate.

Feminism is a term that is majorly misunderstood. Feminism is about ENDING the War of the Sexes, ending this power struggle between us.
First men thought they were more powerful than women, so women set about proving them wrong-- this was the first step in the feminist movement
But it back-lashed. Once women began to show men they could do the same things the men thought their power was in jeopardy and felt they had to me even more macho, powerful.
They, men today, don't understand that true feminism isn't about the women having MORE power than men, its about taking the issue of power out of the equation entirely so that men and women can experience the full relationship of PARTNERS
Because, however much culture may tell us, Men, are NOT all powerful, and Women aren't all beautiful, or perfect, or insert any stereotypical adjective.
We- Are- Human! Why can't we look at each other straight in the eyes for once instead of glorifying this image of one being taller or shorter than the other?
True, feminist goals do include giving women fair wages and opportunities
but like all civil rights issues its about freeing the man and women from stereotypes and fixed ways and opportunities of being so that all humans, men AND women can experience their full potential without feeling as though they HAVE to be good at sports or wear makeup or anything.
Feminism is as much about freeing the man as it is freeing the woman.

I wanted my friends at the yellow deli to understand this, but they are very traditional in their roles.
One man, the leader of the forum, said that women could do the same jobs as men could but that he wouldn't put a women out a work-site with a jackhammer or anything, the explanation being that most women wouldn't be strong enough.
I don't doubt that most women in this culture would be strong enough, with everyone telling them that super muscular women were somehow ugly or unfeminine. Its the same way that white people would say that blacks were stupid, all the while refusing them a proper education.
But the fact is that if a woman IS strong, enough, and enjoys construction why shouldn't she do it?
Isn't this the same thinking that barred women from becoming doctors or professors or soldiers?
It sickens me that these are men I respect. Depresses is perhaps a better term. Because with an attitude like this, where they don't even take the issue seriously, what is the next course for feminism?
I doubt chaining myself to a building would change their attitude, change their mind.
Because even more than fair wages this is a war for the mind, for the freedom of the mind.