I'll speak for a broad base of people here.

When you say feminst, you're thinking of a group of people who seek to bring equal treatment to women everywhere, correct? That is the goal of most feminists, I believe.

Unfortunately, the most vocal and/or heard feminists are the hard-line extremists who go around saying things like "men are evil", "all men are rapists", "men should not be allowed in society" "men can't love, how can they take care of a chold" etc.

It is the extreme views of the small minority of feminists who tarnish the image of most feminists, and it is that image of women wanting to subjgate and oppress men that most people want to stay away from.

When someone says they believe in egalitarianism, they are saying I want us all to have the same rights and be treated the same as everyone else without oppressing anyone to do so.

When one is challenged on their view of wanting equality for all without accepting the title of feminist, it feels like one is being challenged by an extrmist feminist who has the only goal of putting a chosen group of people ahead of all others, forcefully.

Please don't feel negatively when someone says they are for everyone being equal, they are just making sure they are not going to be associated with extreemists. I believe this to be the thinking of MOST people. If this is your thinking as well, and someone says they are for equality for all, they are on you side as long as you are not looking to suppress anybody.