white feminism
[wahyt fem-uh-niz-uh m]
Examples of white feminism
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Examples of white feminism
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Where does white feminism come from?
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A white woman might epitomize white feminism when she matter-of-factly tells a Muslim woman that she’s being oppressed by her religion, or when she dismisses the concerns expressed by a black woman. It tends to describe a brand of feminism largely practiced by white women that, while supportive of feminist ideals, might ignore the plight of minority or lesser privileged groups within the feminist movement.
The first two waves of feminism (the first dealing with suffrage, the second fighting for increased equality on all fronts) have been considered examples of white feminism: They largely excluded women of color and LGBTQ women.
reminder:
white feminism is dangerous.
white feminism oppresses BIPOC + LGBTQ.
white feminism is a weapon for the hetero-patriarchy.
white feminism enables systemic and structural racism.
white feminism is toxic.
white feminism is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. https://t.co/OWgnTHzHJ9— larissa nez (@canoecanoa) September 28, 2018
The phrase white feminism was used as early as 1986 in Paula Gunn Allen’s text Who is Your Mother? Red Roots of White Feminism. It continued to be used throughout the third wave of feminism (concerned with diversity, identity, and intersectionality) beginning in the 1990s. Writers like bell hooks notably wrote about the struggles faced by excluded groups, challenging white feminism.
White feminism experienced a major uptick in 2016–17, especially during the 2017 Women’s March protesting Donald Trump’s presidency. Critics felt that many of its organizers and marchers, while well-intentioned, overlooked or undervalued the concerns of marginalized communities–concerns based on race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
On the 3rd anniversary of the #WomensMarch I realize that @MsPeoples looks like she is from the future.
Happy Anniversary! s/o @lsarsour @TamikaDMallory @msladyjustice1#byCHuBBZ pic.twitter.com/ZTXnST2Vim
— Kevin Banatte (@afroCHuBBZ) January 20, 2019
Who uses white feminism?
Though some are woke about their unwitting participation in white feminism, it’s doubtful any white women would admit they practice white feminism. Of course, not every white woman who identifies as a feminist practices white feminism, but only white women engage in it.
White feminism is the LaCroix of social movements. No substance.
— I-love-my-friends-somuch (@Ilovemy85760014) February 19, 2019
The counter-weight to white feminism is intersectional feminism, which calls for total inclusion of different types of women within the feminist movement.
white feminism is the idea that things are good because I’m not oppressed while intersectional feminism is the idea that we still have a long way to go because, while I might not be oppressed, that doesn’t mean others aren’t. and we aren’t truly equal or free until everyone is. https://t.co/9RwkBxWlm0
— sai (@Saisailu97) July 21, 2018
During the late 2010s, many think pieces were published about celebrities who were thought of as white feminists. Taylor Swift, Lena Dunham, and Miley Cyrus faced heavy criticism for their attacks on, tokenizing of, or cultural appropriation from women of color and queer women.
i'm talking about mainstream white feminism popularized by the likes of taylor swift and emma watson by the way
— chrysanthemum tran (@chrystran) March 8, 2017
Alexia Sambrano
White feminism remains a bona fide academic term in sex, gender, feminist, and cultural studies.
Condemnation of “academic feminism” or what today we would call white feminism: feminism reliant on and benefiting from capitalist patriarchy at the expense of marginalized women.
— Writing in slow. (@jvinopal) May 13, 2018