White Feminism 101: A Discussion on Intersectionality

Miranda Corral Staff-writer, The Progressive Teen

Feminism — what comes to mind when that word is said? While many people may think that feminism is an all-inclusive, welcoming, well-rounded movement — and it can be — feminism can encounter problems due to its arguable lack of recognition to the problem of intersectionality.

The term white feminism refers to white, middle class, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied women who work only for the equality of just that — women who are white, middle class, cisgender, heterosexual, and able-bodied. White feminism has had plenty of media attention, as in the case that Patricia Arquette brought to light about the issue of the wage gap’s even greater challenge to those of different race and sexual orientation. Hispanic and Latina women were only paid 54 percent of what white men were paid in 2013, African American women were paid only 64 percent of a white man’s pay, and white women took home 78 percent.

While the argument against white feminism is not saying that white, straight, middle class, cisgender, able-bodied women do not face challenges regarding sexism similar to other women, the movement asks that the difference between the issues that white feminists face and other women face be recognized and included in the discussion. Although white feminism has the word “white” in it, one does not have to be white to be a white feminist, and not all women that are white and feminists are white feminists. The term white feminism is often used to refer to the idea of being blind to intersectionality. Intersectionality was a term coined by American professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. According to Crenshaw, intersectionality is “the view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity. Cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated, but are bound together and influenced by the intersectional systems of society. Examples of this include race, gender, class, ability, and ethnicity.” Therefore a white straight women may not be aware of the issues facing an Asian straight woman, and an Asian straight woman may have a blindspot in the area regarding a homosexual black woman’s issues regarding sexism.

So how can one avoid being a white feminist? The answer is quite simple: recognize that different women may have different issues having to do with sexism. Through educating oneself on the blindspots created by varying degrees of privilege, through trying to understand and be an ally to every kind of woman struggling with the issues brought on by sexism, and through continuing this conversation is a sure-fire way to do it.