When it comes to feminism, we need to see all women as the same race. All for one and one for all-
Jan 23rd, 2017:
The case for rebranding feminism - by a “feminist”
Here’s my issue:
The word “feminist” has become a label, and is serving to do nothing much more than dividing women and diminishing the message. That’s just me saying it.
(Look up Dr Abigail, a leading “feminist” and lecturer at George Fox University if you want a profound, in-depth look into the subject.)
I’ve always classified myself as an “advocate for gender equality” because the word feminist is a label. A label that can carry positive connotation, as well as negative.
When you look up the word ‘feminism’ in the dictionary, this is what you get:
The advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of the equality of the sexes.
After reading that, how could I possibly NOT consider myself to be a feminist? Right?
In my humble opinion, women are treated as second-class citizens STILL to this day, and to a large degree, is simply because we are so spiteful and downright hateful towards each other. Most often, for the most hideous and pointless of reasons.
If we all looked at each other as a united sorority where you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us - we’d go much further towards our goal of equality.
While sitting back and trying to figure out if I oughta own the word feminist or not, I came across this blog: https://medium.com/@whatchidid/an-unpopular-opinion-on-the-womens-march-on-washington-c3acc47f6ee#.jolt025pn
To paraphrase…
if you weren’t at a black lives matter march - then I do not stand with you, and you are not my sister.
I’m sorry (not sorry) but I just don’t see how that helps move anything forwards at all? I get the point. And of COURSE black lives matter. But really? "I do not stand with you, you are not my sister"…. that statement alienates more than it helps.
So again, we have this label dividing us.
When in reality, ok! Yes - a lot of white women had no interest in marching, or doing anything to achieve equal rights and have no idea the amount of suffering that had to take place before we were given a fraction of the rights we have today as women. But you know what? It’s better late than never.
By saying “you are not my sister and I do not stand with you” it’s - at best -unhelpful to the goals of equality. It is our job to help educate and unify ALL sisters.
Easy for me to say because I’m a “privileged, borderline white girl”? I certainly don’t know what it’s like to grow up being of colour.
But I do know what it’s like to have my body violated by a 72 year old man after being drugged at the age of 17. And I wouldn’t insist you have to be raped or go on an anti rape march to stand with me.
So I CAN buy into intersectional feminism as an idea. But first wave… second wave… intersectional… anarcho… multi racial… fourth wave…. Sometimes, aren’t these labels just getting in the way of the conversation rather than starting the conversation?
But what I DO know - is that as far as feminism goes - that label isn’t going to get us very far if we use it as a weapon against each other.
Yes, I stand for gender equality, and women’s rights, but I’m not going to sit back and debate with a “true feminist” who has an issue with me including transgender people in our community. If someone lives their life and identifies as a woman, I don’t really give a shit what lady parts you do, or do not possess. What I care about is that we are strictly here building unity. Building positive relationships of truth, love and light. And relationships where you fuck with one of us - you fuck with all of us.
That’s what I care about, not what label you do or don’t choose to use.
While we're on the topic of choice, I also think it's important that white women understand we can't pick and choose what we want to be passionate about. Feminism isn't a buffet. Sure, it's going to mean some areas are more important to certain races and nations. For example, a black mother is going to be far more interested in #BLM in comparison to a woman living in Iran who's pregnant with a baby girl. But the important thing to keep in mind is that ANY issue that pertains to the well-being of another woman, is something we ALL need to get behind. When it comes to feminism, we need to see all women as the same race. All for one and one for all-
In closing...
You know, over 80% of women identify with the statement that men and women should be social, political and economic equals, but only 20% self-identify as a feminist in the same research. That means 3 times as many women who want the same thing have rejected the label. If that was my brand, I’d be thinking about changing something when that many of your audience don’t like what you have to offer.
At the end of the day, regardless of where you stand with your beliefs on things like abortion being right or not and so forth, as long as we are divided, we will never achieve our goals of equality and to cease being treated as second class citizens. And if labels achieve anything…. It’s to divide us. It’s their primary purpose, right?
And I’d rather be righting the wrongs with the 80% than infighting with the 20%.
Namaste my bitchesssssssss!
And don't forget to take action: Write your senator. Go protest. Go volunteer. Fucking give back- it's the only way we are going to collectively heal and bond into the united sisterhood we were always meant to be.
