Feminism. Depending on the crowd you run with, the word can either garner nods of progressive approval or laughs to sustain bar conversation.
Author Hanna Rosin is trying to persuade people to move away from the latter with her new book "The End of Men: And the Rise of Women," which documents Rosin's research into women's recent and growing dominance in many parts of American culture.
In the book, Rosin playfully describes Auburn as a "feminist utopia" because women have higher median incomes than men, at a rate of approximately 129 percent.
Rosin stressed that this number is different from a wage gap, in which people are compared by what their salaries are for performing identical jobs.
"These numbers are explained by the fact that more women are working," Rosin said.
"This is different than Susie working with Bob and Susie makes more money than Bob -- that's the wage gap. This is basically more Susies working than Bobs, even if the Susies are making slightly less money."
Rosin theorized this claim from information she received from James Chung, president of Reach Advisors, a New York-based strategy, research and predictive analytics firm.
Chung could not be reached for comment, but his research was quoted by Rosin in a New York Times article titled "Who wears the pants in this economy?" from Aug. 30.
"James Chung ... analyzed census data showing that in most of the United States, young, single, childless women in their 20s working full time have a higher median income than equivalent young men," Rosin wrote. "A handful of regions in the Southeast stand out as having a particularly big disparity, including Auburn, where the median income of these women is estimated at 129 percent of the median income of similar men."
According to the Population Reference Bureau, since 1991 the proportion of young women in college has exceeded that of young men, with the gap widening every year.
Data from 2005 indicates that nationwide women make up the majority, approximately 54 percent, of more than 10.8 million young adults enrolled in college.
Auburn's enrollment for fall 2012 is reversed compared to national trends: 51 percent male, 49 percent female.
Whatever the data may show, simple observation of social interaction does not seem to indicate that Auburn is a particularly feminist-oriented society, even with 49 percent female student enrollment.
A partial explanation may be the South's traditionally well-steeped culture of chivalry, with women expecting certain treatment their counterparts elsewhere in the country are unlikely to receive.
Taira Campbell, senior in public relations and landscape horticulture, said the culture of the South may simply mask what is slowly becoming an egalitarian culture in Auburn.
"I do think it is just part of the 'Southern' culture," Campbell said. "Most girls here don't take offense to it or even think about it; to us it's just nice hospitality."
However, Campbell conceded that traditional expectations of family vs. career are still the rule rather than the exception.
"I think a lot of girls still go to college expecting to come out with a husband, whether they'll admit it or not," Campbell said.
Taylor Carr, junior in anthropology, said he is aware of feminist professors and like-minded thinkers, but does not see these teachings in everyday life.
"I know that there's a few teachers that are feminists, one within the Women's Studies department, but they don't flaunt it," Carr said. "They study it, but they don't bring it out in society itself and reflect it upon Auburn."
Carr said he disagrees with the "women-first" attitude that has stereotyped feminism.
"I don't believe we should put women before men," Carr said. "It should just be totally equal. Everyone can do everything."
Samia Spencer, professor emerita in the French department and self-professed feminist, echoed Carrs' viewpoint on feminist ideals.
"I'm a feminist and not afraid to say it," Spencer said. "Because what is a feminist? It's someone who wants the same rights, not just 'women only.' For society to progress, men and women must work together on every issue."
Spencer said she still frequently sees young women who don't realize the extent of the rights they have gained through the struggles of past women.
"Some girls, when they come to campus and see certain ideas expressed and wonder what to do, they need to think for themselves," Spencer said.
"They need to realize that they don't need to go a certain way and reconsider some of the ideas they have... some girls are so attached to the values they've been raised in among other environments that they resist all change."
The multi-dimensional discussion will continue among students, faculty and the community of Auburn for as long as both genders exist, but Auburn does have a thriving women's studies program to help supplement curiosity, with students able to take courses in feminist theory, women in politics and gender's relationship to art, among others.
"I tell my (mostly women) students, 'you are a smart person; you have to look ahead and consider all your options to follow what you're passionate about doing,'" Spencer said. "The sky is the limit, or like people in Huntsville say, 'the sky is not the limit.'"
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