In her Feb. 10 letter, Karen Shiebler wrote, “Feminism is about populist, progressive ideas.’’ Perhaps she should take another look at her dictionary. Feminism is simply the belief that women are entitled to the same rights as men. Period.

Although I also hail from the left side of the political spectrum, I would never presume to assert that there are not feminists on all sides. And populism is a political style that is also neither inherently left nor right wing. Donald Trump is just as much of a populist as Bernie Sanders.

And finally, nobody, of either gender, forms their opinions without outside pressure from any part of society, unless they live in a soundless cave. School, the workplace, the media, and conversations with family and friends would all constitute outside pressures. I doubt that many us, male or female, would be able to, or want to, form opinions free from those.

Nancy Waters

Acton