Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere.” Denying justice to black women, Latina women, lesbian women, etc. denies justice to all women, destroying gender equality. This need for a broader view is a white light through a prism. A rainbow emerges of all the different circumstances of individuals. All of these colors are unique experiences shaped by opportunity and oppression. These colors represent intersectionality a broader perspective that allows for more than one experience of an issue to affect its solution.
Some white feminists have a way of directly contradicting the same point they support when standing up against men. The needs of women in terms of empowerment are very different to the needs of men. Furthermore, the needs of black women, Latina women, disabled women, etc. are very different to the needs of able-bodied white women. When looking at feminism, we need to look at it from so many different perspectives as one person’s experiences and oppression is very different to the next.
In her backstage press conference at the Oscars in 2015, Patricia Arquette spoke about the gender wage gap: “So the truth is even though we feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface there are huge issues at play that really do affect women. It’s time for all the women in America, and all the men that like women, and all the gay people and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for to fight for us now.” Are people of color not women? Are gay people not women? In fact, women of color and gay women experience even more oppression than white women, the demographic Patricia belongs to. Women of color and lesbian women fight battles for freedom from racism/homophobia that straight, white women will never have to experience. So it is wrong to ask them to fight for you when they are busy fighting for themselves.
Nicki Minaj voiced her disapproval of the lack of black representation at the VMAs in 2015. She tweeted, “Black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it.” Taylor Swift responded to this tweet by inviting Nicki Minaj up on stage to receive the award with her. I believe that this shows how little Swift, a self-proclaimed feminist, understands the depth of Nicki Minaj’s statement. Minaj wanted fair and equal representation for a culture that contributes so much to the modern day black pop culture. She didn’t need Swift’s “pity” action. This shows that Swift, a classic example of a white feminist, does not understand what appreciation towards other perspectives is or why one group of women is being more oppressed than another.
There are so many examples of feminism being misinterpreted by people with a platform, with issues like equal pay and pop culture representation being seen with the sole perspective of a white feminist. It is so vital to educate the population on intersectional feminism to ensure that all women benefit from the feminist movement.
Some (potentially white feminists) may say that black feminism excludes white women from the feminist movement and that they are dividing women when they try to advocate. They may even stamp out their attempt to challenge racism. White privilege is often blinding when trying to address issues that affect a wider spectrum of people, such as gender inequality. Many white feminists are unable to see that white, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, middle-to-upper class women do not experience the most oppression in terms of gender inequality. This belief is untrue, as the definition of black feminism is that class, race, gender identity and oppression are all factors that come into play when discussing feminism and equal rights. It does not exclude people from any race. It just states that race contributes to one’s privileges and oppression. It shows when an advocate does not fully understand all the perspectives of a topic and jumps to conclusions, they often end up discriminating against a different group of people who have experienced hate in a unique way.
In essence, it is evident that those who advocate for an issue that haven’t considered in its entirety end up harming the movement more than helping it. Social justice has so many dimensions. It is not enough to say, “it’s time for us” since many forget who “us” is. It is not an “us” versus “them” situation where an enemy – skinny people, men, the government, etc. – is to blame. There is an endless spectrum of those affected, and those affecting, so social justice cannot be about defeating an enemy but rather raising awareness about an issue and working as a community (while acknowledging intersectionality) to defeat the issue. Advocates should realize that issues such as body image and gender equality are so very complex yet so simple.
In the end, what I’m saying is that every individual has a unique experience and must be respected and acknowledged. Think critically and analyze statements made by those with a platform, as they may not always be fully informed. Fallacies become clear when one is cognizant of the many perspectives that come with issues such as feminism. We are all part of one global community, and true justice would mean respecting our differences while celebrating diversity. This is the only way to bring equality to all.
