Walker was willing to discuss her outspoken feminism for which so many people criticize her. I acknowledge this issue of perceived identity by allowing the students to bring it up on the first day. In the courses I teach, that is indeed a radical notion. Walker said that feminism has negative connotations and is misinterpreted because it's associated with man-hating. While I could argue that all movements of social reform are at one time or another called extreme, I don't really think that ideology is at the root of this response.
Social change makes people uncomfortable, even the people who want to see that change.
Walker says the word feminism doesn't describe her well. If I were to describe myself in three words, none of those three words would be feminist. I would probably say I'm a woman, a scholar and a teacher. If I got six words, 'feminist' would be in there, but alone it's not only an inaccurate summary of my whole identity, but a disproportionate element of my identity. I am a feminist though.