Ah… intersectionality. This is a term a lot of really strong feminists don’t even know much about, but it’s one of the most important, in my opinion. To start off, let me give you a basic definition.
Intersectionality (n): “the interconnected nature of social organizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.”
So, in the most general sense, intersectionality means that a group (like the feminist movement) includes all people regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, and more. We accept and must accept everyone because if we don’t, we are the oppressors (“we” as in the feminist movement). An interesting fact that popped up on Google when I searched for the term was that since the 1800s the term was never really used until a little earlier 2010. To me, this shows how much we’ve grown with acceptance and respect (however, we still have a long way to go).
A historical example of the lack of intersectionality starts with the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Sojourner Truth, an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, was involved with the movement by starting clubs for black women. However, the National American Women’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA) did not want the black women’s clubs to become associated with them because the white women of the NAWSA did not want black women to have the right to vote. Another unfortunate example of a lack of intersectionality within the suffrage movement is when the NAWSA asked black women to walk in a separate unit in the suffrage parade of 1913. To read more about the exclusion of the suffrage movement, click on this link.
Today, one can still see a lack of intersectionality, even though we have made major strides in the recent months and years. An example of this comes up in an article by Barbara Herman on International Business Times. The article entitled “TERF Wars: Radical Feminists Are Going After Transgender Activists, But Why?” (The acronym TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists.)
The argument that this so called “radical feminists” are making is that transgender women are not “real” women, therefore they cannot call themselves feminists and/or fight for women’s rights issues. This is a BIG no-no in the feminist world because as feminists, we (as said before) accept and include EVERYONE. We acknowledge and know that transgender women are indeed women and have the right to be a feminist and an activist for whatever they so please. As long as your kind, accepting, and respectful, you’re in. The women that are displaying this lack of intersectionality are not true feminists.
Another major point that contradicts the “radical feminists'” point is that if they are saying transgender women are not women and therefore cannot be feminists or fight for women’s rights, this also means that men or transgender men cannot either.
Intersectionality is SO important because I think it can make the bad connotation that comes along with “feminism” and show people that all feminism is is acceptance, kindness, and respect for all humans. That doesn’t seem so bad, right?
Ceci Richardsen says
This is an excellent point and I am glad you chose to focus on this topic this week. I think that feminism often receives a negative connotation when it is thought of as being entirely exclusive. People rarely consider the fact that men can support feminism, too. I think one of the biggest issues the image of feminism faces is due to a lack of education. People don’t understand what feminism is or why it is important. Hopefully with the spread of more educated information, like you provide, society will begin to view feminism is a new, inclusive light.
kkc5243 says
I really liked this post, and I would agree that the term (and concept) of intersectionality is wayyy underused in mainstream feminism today. It’s so important to make feminism an inclusive movement, that allows everyone to make their voices heard, regardless of sexuality, race, economic status, etc. I was also really surprised to hear about the intolerance of Woman’s Suffrage Movement. History books make the movement and the women involved in leading it seem like great heroes (and they definitely did do incredible things!)but it’s really disappointing to hear that they left out entire groups of women in the process. Great post, and I look forward to what you’ll post in the future!