Why I have no time for white feminism: Part 1
I can't believe I have to open with this but, no I'm not talking about white people who are feminists (before anyone gets snappy).
White feminism is basically a blanket term for feminists who don't give a damn about minority populations: mainly people of color, trans women, or women who are disabled. While it's a popular term now, it comes from women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement. During which white women were able to protest for their rights but didn't also make room for WoC. Things like white women wanting a spot in the workplace, but WoC are not granted those same spots and are also expected to work lower class jobs daily. White women fighting for the right to vote and Black women not being able to vote as late as the 60s.
Don't get me wrong, women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement will always be celebrated in my heart. Those were moments marginalized communities got the attention of the entire country. But don't expect me to give them that much credit, because it wasn't until 1965 that I was legally protected to vote (and in the 1940s there'd be some pretty racist stuff going down to prevent me from voting).
Today, white women still face plenty of sexism. I'm going to be really real, when I say white women are the teeny-tiny tip of the iceberg. I'm not trying to make this a competition of "who has it worse," but if I was, it's not straight, able-bodied white women.
Another fun definition for you, in the 1980s, scholar and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw developed intersectional theory about race and gender. Today, you see it applied to any crossover of gender, race, sexuality, ability, etc. Basically, the idea was like an intersection in roads. One being Gender road and the other being Race avenue. Now, a giant semi of society hits a woman on the intersection of Gender rd and Race ave. It's where these cross that the incident happened. Now imagine bystanders telling the ambulance and police that the incident happened on Race avenue. Gender rd is eliminated from the mix and police are analyzing the scene on Race avenue. What if the incident did occur on Race avenue and the wreckage slid into Gender rd. Police have no wreckage to analyze because the incident isn't on Race avenue! So now, this whole incident couldn't have happened because even if there was evidence of a collision, there's no evidence the woman in question was harmed. (Yes, I know CSI doesn't work this way, it's an analogy, just go with it) I know there is a lot to unpack, but that's intersectionality.
While I want to share all of Crenshaw's work with you, let's use an example a little closer to home for me. When men (I say men because I have yet to encounter a woman trying to use racism as a pickup line. Not to say it doesn't happen, it just hasn't happened to me yet) say things about my "exotic beauty" or think it's okay to put their hands on me because they had an Asian significant other once, that is a small intersectional interaction. I'm not being pursued because I am a woman, or because I am Asian, but because I am both. Many (WHITE) women have tried to argue this with me, saying that men aren't really interested in race like that. For a few reasons, this is not just a difference of opinion, but straight up incorrect.
One, people everywhere say things like "I could never date a Black person" or judge attractiveness on other racial attributes. Not to mention, race play is a thing. It's disgusting. I judge that kink hard. Another reason, Asian women used be mythical creatures with a sideways vagina. Lastly, Asian women are just exotified. What I mean by that is the idea of "The Orient" is literally from white people. When England did their thing and colonized every PoC they encountered, the idea of Asia was that of an exotic, foreign land full of commodities and alien to white civilization. Now, contrary to popular belief, even in the 1600-1800s, women weren't treated great. Translate that to the idea that Asia is for spices and tea and opium. Women were already an object, but a woman from the land of spices and colors (not just of skin) that was an exotic prize. And not like trophy wife prize; like disposable cereal box prize. Not that being a trophy wife is any better. Today, Asian women are still exotified. They usually fall into two tropes of Dragon Lady or demure, good girl. Asian culture is also portrayed in a way that is othering (I promise a blog post on Asian representation in the media). Overall, this is a societal pattern. Men regularly use my race as a pickup line, or judge me because of it. Not once, not in one place, everywhere.
Anyways, all this information leads to this: because of intersectionality, white feminism is problematic. It doesn't have room for problems that come up only for women of color with disabilities or bi women of color or trans women of color. Women of color have an entirely different history, and have their own cultures and values to preserve. In the group fighting for the rights of marginalized people, you can't pick and choose which are people worth fighting for.
White feminism is basically a blanket term for feminists who don't give a damn about minority populations: mainly people of color, trans women, or women who are disabled. While it's a popular term now, it comes from women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement. During which white women were able to protest for their rights but didn't also make room for WoC. Things like white women wanting a spot in the workplace, but WoC are not granted those same spots and are also expected to work lower class jobs daily. White women fighting for the right to vote and Black women not being able to vote as late as the 60s.
Don't get me wrong, women's suffrage and the Civil Rights movement will always be celebrated in my heart. Those were moments marginalized communities got the attention of the entire country. But don't expect me to give them that much credit, because it wasn't until 1965 that I was legally protected to vote (and in the 1940s there'd be some pretty racist stuff going down to prevent me from voting).
Today, white women still face plenty of sexism. I'm going to be really real, when I say white women are the teeny-tiny tip of the iceberg. I'm not trying to make this a competition of "who has it worse," but if I was, it's not straight, able-bodied white women.
Another fun definition for you, in the 1980s, scholar and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw developed intersectional theory about race and gender. Today, you see it applied to any crossover of gender, race, sexuality, ability, etc. Basically, the idea was like an intersection in roads. One being Gender road and the other being Race avenue. Now, a giant semi of society hits a woman on the intersection of Gender rd and Race ave. It's where these cross that the incident happened. Now imagine bystanders telling the ambulance and police that the incident happened on Race avenue. Gender rd is eliminated from the mix and police are analyzing the scene on Race avenue. What if the incident did occur on Race avenue and the wreckage slid into Gender rd. Police have no wreckage to analyze because the incident isn't on Race avenue! So now, this whole incident couldn't have happened because even if there was evidence of a collision, there's no evidence the woman in question was harmed. (Yes, I know CSI doesn't work this way, it's an analogy, just go with it) I know there is a lot to unpack, but that's intersectionality.
While I want to share all of Crenshaw's work with you, let's use an example a little closer to home for me. When men (I say men because I have yet to encounter a woman trying to use racism as a pickup line. Not to say it doesn't happen, it just hasn't happened to me yet) say things about my "exotic beauty" or think it's okay to put their hands on me because they had an Asian significant other once, that is a small intersectional interaction. I'm not being pursued because I am a woman, or because I am Asian, but because I am both. Many (WHITE) women have tried to argue this with me, saying that men aren't really interested in race like that. For a few reasons, this is not just a difference of opinion, but straight up incorrect.
One, people everywhere say things like "I could never date a Black person" or judge attractiveness on other racial attributes. Not to mention, race play is a thing. It's disgusting. I judge that kink hard. Another reason, Asian women used be mythical creatures with a sideways vagina. Lastly, Asian women are just exotified. What I mean by that is the idea of "The Orient" is literally from white people. When England did their thing and colonized every PoC they encountered, the idea of Asia was that of an exotic, foreign land full of commodities and alien to white civilization. Now, contrary to popular belief, even in the 1600-1800s, women weren't treated great. Translate that to the idea that Asia is for spices and tea and opium. Women were already an object, but a woman from the land of spices and colors (not just of skin) that was an exotic prize. And not like trophy wife prize; like disposable cereal box prize. Not that being a trophy wife is any better. Today, Asian women are still exotified. They usually fall into two tropes of Dragon Lady or demure, good girl. Asian culture is also portrayed in a way that is othering (I promise a blog post on Asian representation in the media). Overall, this is a societal pattern. Men regularly use my race as a pickup line, or judge me because of it. Not once, not in one place, everywhere.
Anyways, all this information leads to this: because of intersectionality, white feminism is problematic. It doesn't have room for problems that come up only for women of color with disabilities or bi women of color or trans women of color. Women of color have an entirely different history, and have their own cultures and values to preserve. In the group fighting for the rights of marginalized people, you can't pick and choose which are people worth fighting for.
Thanks for reading my post! Because this is a blog and I am a well-read feminist, I didn't cite my civil rights sources, but Google will tell you if you want more info. Part two will be up shortly to examine white feminism some more! If you think it's relatable or know someone who needs to read it (if you’re using it to call out someone's racism) feel free to share! 살있어
-thesometimesasian
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