White feminism. This is a word that is very popular today and often is not used in a good way. And let’s be real, white feminism is not a good thing and often gives the word “feminism” a bad rep in our current culture. What is white feminism you ask? Good question. There are many different, yet similar definitions that encapsulate this form of feminism. In general, WF is feminism that blatantly leaves out the concerns and issues of women of color. One of my favorite quotes that best represent this, in my opinion, is from poet Rachel Wiley: “Intersectional feminism a.k.a. actual fucking feminism.”
This is not always a conversation to have and I find that many modern-day feminists avoid it in conversations. But it is am important conversations to have, and important to discuss with others. While many think this is a newer issue, it has actually been around since the conception of first-wave feminism. You would be surprised to learn that many feminist icons such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, were white feminists. They worked incredibly hard for the right for women to vote, but prioritized their suffrage over black men, so black women were not even in consideration. Feminism throughout time has failed to acknowledge the difficulties faced by women of color and transgendered women as they too have battled for equality – these difficulties include increased rates of abuse, poverty, racism, discrimination, and microaggressions. It is important to recognize that while climbing the corporate ladder and shattering the glass ceiling is important, feminist must start and continue to put the basic human rights many women are struggling for.
Many well-known women have been criticized for not have an intersectionality platform including Taylor Swift, Lena Dunham, and Rose McGowan. Recently, McGowan had a meltdown at a Barnes and Noble, when a trans women accused McGowan of excluding trans women from her feminism. McGowan was already not a fan in the trans community after her appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race where she said, “They (trans women) assume, because they felt like a woman on the inside, that’s not developing as a woman, that’s not growing as a woman, that’s not living in this world as a woman.” According to her the only things that characterize women and their struggles are their breast development and getting a period. The women also pointed out that trans women struggle with higher rates of sexual, and physical violence. This causes McGowan went into an insane rage shouting at the women and saying things like “We are the same.” However, what McGowan’s view is completely lacking is the fact that they are not the same. Feminism should not be about all being the same. A trans woman’s experiences are not identical to the experiences of a cis woman. White feminism is quite to disregard this, which deeply weakens the feminist movement.
Many women of color have criticized feminism throughout time for taking many of their platforms from the civil rights movement, without giving any credit to it and often completely disregarding it to push an agenda geared towards white women. WOC continue to feel pressured to check their race at the door by white feminists who feel sexism trumps sexism. What they fail to see is that true feminism must fight both white supremacy and the patriarchy, two systems that have a much harsher effect on WoC.
Feminism is not bad, but feminism with intersectionality is. Feminist, true feminist that is, must take concrete steps towards intersectionality.