March is Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the contributions women in the U.S. have made to history, culture, and society. In high school history classes, this often meant learning about the suffragettes, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who are typically praised for securing women’s voting rights. However, this narrative often overlooks a vital reality: their fight was mainly for White women’s suffrage, excluding and even perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Black women.
The Limitations of White Feminism
As the name suggests, White feminism refers to an ideology that centers on the rights of White women while failing to address the distinct violations and oppressions faced by women of color. According to Koa Beck, author of White Feminism, this ideology does not challenge the systemic structures of patriarchy, capitalism, and imperialism. Instead, it focuses on helping women succeed within those oppressive systems, thereby benefiting primarily White women.
Bell Hooks, a feminist author and activist, explains that the goal of feminism should be to end sexism and combat systemic exploitation. True feminism, she argues, must target systems of oppression at an institutional level. In contrast, White feminism remains limited in its scope and fails to engage with intersectionality, making it ineffective and often harmful.
What is Intersectional Feminism?
Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, refers to the idea that individuals experience discrimination and oppression differently based on overlapping aspects of their identity, including gender, race, class, sexuality, and more. Intersectional feminism focuses on promoting gender equality while acknowledging the distinct and overlapping oppressions that people face. Unlike White feminism, intersectional feminism aims to address and dismantle these systems of oppression.
Dress Codes: A Case Study in Imperialism and White Feminism
A vital example of the difference between White and intersectional feminism can be seen in the debate over dress codes. In the U.S., many women advocate for the right to wear what they want, recalling memories of school dress codes that unfairly targeted girls. However, some of these same individuals may oppose the right of Muslim women to wear a hijab, reflecting the imperialistic mindset that non-Western attire is inherently oppressive.
An intersectional feminist perspective would recognize that the critical issue is choice and autonomy, not imposing Western ideals on others. Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, expressed this idea in a recent Instagram post. She explained that opposing the Taliban’s enforcement of burqas while condemning Indian authorities for forcing girls to remove their hijabs is not contradictory — both actions emphasize the importance of respecting individual freedom in matters of personal dress.
The Need for Intersectional Feminism in Education
To dismantle systems of oppression, intersectional feminism must be taught in educational settings. In high school history classes, the focus should not solely be on White suffragettes like Anthony and Stanton. Black suffragettes such as Ida B. Wells, a journalist and NAACP co-founder, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who openly criticized Anthony and Stanton for their racism, deserve equal attention.
Furthermore, educational institutions should incorporate the teachings of Kimberlé Crenshaw and Angela Davis, who have explored the intricacies of intersectionality and its role in combating systems like the prison-industrial complex. Without these teachings, students may never be exposed to the full scope of feminist thought that includes all women, not just a select few.
Moving Toward Radical, Inclusive Feminism
Beyond educational settings, more people need to understand what intersectional feminism is and why White feminism is insufficient. White feminism fails to address the systemic issues that oppress women of color and instead prioritizes the advancement of White women within those systems. This Women’s History Month, let’s commit to embracing a more radical, intersectional form of feminism that includes all identities and works to dismantle oppression at its roots.
By expanding our understanding of feminism, we can ensure that the fight for gender equality is truly for everyone.