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So, from we have brains:

I'm in a young feminist bookclub and last night we were discussing No Turning Back: The History of Feminism and the Future of Women by Estelle B. Freedman. She states that she uses the label of feminist, even for women who wouldn't themselves claim that label. Apparently, it was for easy reading/writing, so she doesn't call one woman a 'womanist', another a 'humanist', and yet another a 'radical feminist'.

So I ask you, is it fair to label someone a feminist if they don't claim it? Is it important to label others as feminists, even if they won't march with you at the Feminist Pride Parade? How do you feel when the woman next to you on the bus, in class, at work states, "Oh, I believe I should be paid as much as Dan, but I'm not a feminist!"

So I call myself a feminist. That's pretty much most of what I am. Feminism is "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes." (Merriam-Webster OnLine)
I believe I have the right to earn my own money and spend it, I believe I have the right to choose, or at least give my choice on, who's gonna represent me in the government and I believe that I have the right to drive a car or drink in a bar as much as any man has. That makes me a feminist.

Now, I live in a fairly big city (that if compared to other italian cities it is) and among my friends and acquantainces I do not know anyone who doesn't agree that women should and must have those rights. And there is some irony in the fact that at the same time they deny their being feminists.

Well, unless they are plain stupid, and I don't believe them to be, this contradiction is probably caused by that great evil thingy called stereotype. Somehow society loves them.

A typical stereotype is the leg shaving issue. Feminists don't shave their legs, did you know? Well, if you knew, I'm afraid to tell you that you are another victim of the big lie. If you didn't, well then, I'll tell you why: because it isn't true. Not a single letter of the word feminism contains the "thou shall not shave your legs" rule. Admittedly some women have made that choice, believing that they are not supposed to shave their legs for the sake of other people's (men) standards of beauty.
But as a matter of fact I shave my legs, perhaps just because I'm a fucking egocentric who likes caressing her own smooth skin, but then again that doesn't mean I renounce to any of my rights by doing so.

Another stereotype is the make-up issue, which sounds pretty much like the leg-shaving one. So, hello? I am a woman and a feminist and a glam whore and I simply happen to love make-up. Glittery make-up the best. And it's not like I won't go and vote because I'm busy wearing my mascara, 'cause you know, I can do both the things.

And let's talk about the not liking men/boys thing. Apparently all feminists are spinsters and/or lesbiens.
Actually I'm pretty much sure that even men can believe that a woman has political/economic/social rights so I don't see why I should hate the whole category. I mean, I know that there are also men that don't, but I don't hate them for that. I disagree with them. Find them also a little close minded most of times. But I don't hate them.
And as a matter of fact I'm in love with a man. But I still pay my own bills, open the door for myself and express my political opinion. In fact loving a man never prevented me from being a feminist. And the other way round.

And I'm not less a feminist only because I don't burn my bra. According to many (confused) people that's all that feminists do. Burn their bras. I frankly have no inclination to burn mine, basically because I believe that you should only burn clothes when it's very chilling cold and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and run out of anything else inflammable.
The burning bra era has passed, girls, we have better, cleverer and more powerful actions to perform nowadays.

So frankly, if someone refuses to consider themselves feminists only because they don't identify with the stereotype widely described above, I have news for them: as long as they are socially, politically and economically indipendent and believe it is their right to be so, well yeah, they are feminists, and I will call them so.

In substance:
So I ask you, is it fair to label someone a feminist if they don't claim it?
Yes, actually I view it as some compliment.
Some time ago I read an interview to Ani DiFranco on the Women Who Rock magazine (which sometimes is an authentical piss-of while in others it has some cool readings in it) and the beginning of the article went:
"How do I fucking define feminism?" asks singer/songwriter and warrior/poet Ani DiFranco, thumbing furiously through the massive Webster's on her petite lap. "Ah, here it is: 'The theory that women should have political, economic, and social rights equal to those to men.' Now, is that such a scary concept to identify with?"