Roxanne Szal, third from left, leads a discussion with members of her Chi Omega sorority at the sorority house. Photo by Phelan Ebenhack.

Make no mistake about it: Feminism is alive and well.

The movement, now 45 years old, is heavily-fueled by college students pressing for equal opportunity. The concept of feminism has evolved over the years, from race to class to gender, and the modern-day feminists are loud and numerous.

Sammy Lifson, a recent college graduate with degrees in advertising and women and gender studies, said the concept of feminism in today’s world has adapted to meet the needs of the diverse social landscape. In Lifson’s mind, feminism is a “critique of power,” at large, that centers on gender.

“Maybe it looks like feminism is dead because it’s different, but I think it’s better,” she said, adding that, if more individuals realized the number of issues of inequity feminism encompasses, more people would identify as feminist, she said.

A movement that challenges the status quo scares people

Lifson admits activism on college campuses doesn’t exist with as much fervor as during the years of the Vietnam War, though her experience with the feminist movement, and as an organizer for SLUT Walk NYC, is an indicator of the movement’s evolution.

Droves of women gathered at Union Square for Slut Walk NYC, one of many Slut Walks both nationally and internationally, in a “fight against rape culture.” The demonstration advocated against the culture of victim-blaming and allowed sexually abused women to openly discuss assault or rape, and feel empowered by it, Lifson said.

In Lifson’s calculation, an estimated 3,500 participated, though she strongly felt that the media portrayed the walk from deceptive point of view.

Coverage of Slut Walk NYC by media outlets documented hundreds of “hysterical, scantily clad women taking to the streets,” though many were dressed in casual clothing, Lifson said, also noting the number of participants was grossly underestimated.

Lifson said she believes the media skewed coverage of Slut Walk NYC to marginalize the movement and make it appear non-threatening.

Similar tactics, Lifson said, are adopted to quell the threat of feminism. Depictions of feminists as little more than a gathering of “hairy lesbians” are meant to demonize feminists and as “totally out there.”

“A movement that challenges the status quo scares people,” she said.

Tumblr becoming rallying point for the feminist community

Many writers who discuss feminism’s demise, are also out-of-touch with where much of movement exists — Tumblr, Lifson said. The feminist community has taken to the blogging site to fuel wide-ranging discussion, she said.

Erin Carhart, a sophomore women and gender studies and public affairs major and president of Syracuse University’s Students Advancing Sexual Safety and Empowerment (SASSE), said she believes modern feminism takes into account multiple social issues that stem the power structure, though reproductive justice is a hot-button issue at the moment.

“We’re looking to better our society as a whole, not to just have women rise above,” Carhart said.

The wage gap and discrimination in hiring are two issues at the forefront of the feminist movement, said Hannah Warren, a senior women and gender studies and magazine journalism major and editor-in chief of Syracuse University’s feminist publication, Medusa magazine.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement is currently helping to address this issue and make it part of the national conversation, Warren said.

Carhart said she has been berated for her feminist views. People have thrown things and snapped verbal insults at her for voicing her opinions, she claims. Instances of inappropriate responses to her views occur frequently, she said, adding that it’s important to recognize where the hostility comes from.

However, those moments when women approach Carhart and thank her for giving them the courage to confront a difficult situation continues motivates her work.

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