I'm An Intersectional Feminist Because It's Not Just About Women | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

I'm An Intersectional Feminist Because It's Not Just About Women

There are things that we, as white women with no obvious religion do not understand. I, for instance, have never been "randomly selected" at an airport.

315
I'm An Intersectional Feminist Because It's Not Just About Women
Unsplash

I’m sure you’ve heard if the words "feminist” or “feminism”. Now, when you hear those words, what do you think of? Women burning bras? Women who refuse to shave? The Women's March? Snowflakes? Now, I don't mean to be picky or anything, but I haven't heard of a bra-burning in a while. To my ladies who are out there burning them, I would just like to point out that a good bra costs between $30-$40. I'm going to need y'all to help a girl out with some extra cash!

Now, shaving (or lack thereof) tends to be more cultural or simply a personal preference. Not shaving can be political, but generally not so much. And the Women's March you ask? Well, as someone who has attended one, the movement is filled with women and men striving for equality not just between genders, but between races...well for the most part.












I'm a white female and I'm not just a feminist. I'm an intersectional feminist which means I will not and cannot fundamentally support the original feminist movements (including the suffragettes...well at least the American Suffragette movement). You see, the American suffragette movement had two movements. One of which is never talked about. It was the black suffragette movement. You see the white suffragettes refused to allow the black suffragettes to march or protest with them.

Eventually, the black suffragette movement completely diminished. But black feminism hadn't been. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper lit the flam and sparked it. But it had been taken out of the mainstream news. Now, flash forward to the '50s and '60s. Civil rights movements were beginning to take place and equality was beginning to be taken a little more seriously. Feminists of color began to stand up and fight for their rights as well. Women like Mary Ann Weathers began conversations that began igniting a movement.


Now, let's think about this. When you think of feminists who do you think of? Anne Hathaway, Emma Watson, Amy Schumer? Don't get me wrong, they are wonderful women who do believe in equal rights for women, have strong opinions about them, and voice and defend their opinions. But there's a problem. They are white. I'm white. They (as far as I know) are cisgendered. I am cisgendered.

As far as I have gotten in my research they appear to be straight. I'm straight. None of us have religious attire that is very noticeable if noticeable at all. None of us have been, or will be (as far as I know) refused a wedding cake because of our sexual orientation or our genders. We have a privilege that many don't have and even those with the best of intentions can be a bit blinded.

There are things that we, as white women with no obvious religion do not understand. I, for instance, have never been "randomly selected" at an airport. I have never once feared what would happen if I were to be stopped by a police officer. And none of us have been discriminated against because of our race or religion. You could easily say, "Well men have to deal with those problems too!" and I would reply with, "Yes, yes they do. But, there is more to this movement than what men go through as well".

You see there is a gender pay gap here in the great U.S. of A. Actually, it's not just a gender pay gap, it's a racial pay gap too. I believe that it is the responsibility of everybody to fight to see that everybody, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. to be treated equally. It's not just about women. It's definitely not about women wanting to be treated better than men. It's about people wanting people to be equal. Not better, not worse. Just equal.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1163
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

708
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199837
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20650
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments