Is This Really Feminism?
Though today many self-identified feminists would rather bicker about semantics, feminism has a long history of fully embracing all women and all people. There are debates over when “feminism” as we know it today truly started. Most, however, accept that any movement that sought out the advancement of women’s place in society can be considered feminist regardless of how the movement itself identified. These are generally called “proto-feminist movements”.
The feminism we are acquainted with today was born at some point in the 18th century when women in the West were facing violations of their most fundamental rights. They couldn’t work, vote, or be independent in any meaningful way. White feminism was based on the principles of gaining access to the labor force and voting rights, but it was an exclusive group. Picture the suffragettes, dozens of women meeting in secret putting together their fight, asserting themselves through civil disobedience, entering local government, and starting their own publications. Or Rosie the Riveter, the image of wartime womanhood, giving women a surprising entry into the workforce. Feminist organizations were fighting for women’s most basic rights but the fruits of that labour were only accessible for a particular group of women.
Intersectionality wasn’t introduced as a feminist issue until the 80s. Intersectionality expanded feminism’s purpose and intent - made it accessible to more women (and men). Since the black feminist theorist, Crenshaw, first introduced the idea of intersectionality, feminism has changed and expanded. It came to include trans rights, queer rights, and more women than ever before. Suddenly, feminism was for all women.
This radically changed who and what feminism stood for. Now it became more than just a bid for rights or access, it became a mission to uproot the patriarchy on all fronts. It made feminism for men; trying to extricate themselves from the toxic notions of masculinity that trap them. It made feminism for trans and genderqueer people; understanding that the gender binary exists only to exacerbate patriarchal oppression. It made feminism for black and brown women a world over; feminist principles had been wrapped up in the ideals of Western white women, but intersectionality pushed that envelope.
Intersectional feminism is an ever-expanding discipline because feminism is ever-evolving. Everyday women (and men) are identifying new facets of patriarchal oppression and finding new ways to tackle and approach them.
However, the expansive nature of this constantly changing school of thought is getting harder and harder for the average person to fully grasp. It makes answering the question: “who is a good feminist?” nearly impossible. There is an indispensable value to asking that question though because being a good feminist has meant a lot of things over the years. Today, while feminism has become a fully-fledged discipline with many academic papers, it is also easier than ever to learn about. With the advent of social media and free search engines, comes a wave of educational material that is readily available for a generation of budding feminists.
That being said, it is also easier to derail than ever. Feminism has become a more diverse movement since the introduction of intersectionality. It has a myriad of branches that offer a different perspective and reading of principle feminist texts. Moreover, in a turn of events that seems ripped from the 1960s, many feminists have taken to arguing over who feminism supports. Now, some would say there is no answer but to me, the answer is undeniable - feminism is for everyone.
It must be working towards the dismantlement of the patriarchy, and the simple fact is that the patriarchy oppresses everyone - including those who support it. There is no sense or basis to the question because exclusionary feminism isn’t feminism.
Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF), isn’t feminism (contrary to the beliefs of the famous author, JK Rowling). Trans men and women were crying out for their rights long before modern feminists accepted them. Their fight isn’t dependent on feminist support but it is emboldened and aided by it. Their oppression under a patriarchal system is undeniable, and we cannot claim to be feminists if we don’t support those who fall victim to this transnational system of oppression. Moreover, we cannot claim to be in opposition to the patriarchy if we uphold it in our organization. The gates of feminism should be open to everyone with feminist values and that includes trans women and men more than it does any TERF with a Twitter account.
‘Feminism’ that fails to stand with our black, Latinx, Asian, and indigenous brothers and sisters, doesn’t deserve the label. Women of color, both where they are a minority and when they are a majority in the world, face oppression for their gender and color. The fight that black indigenous people of color are facing is the greatest aim of feminist liberation. It is the all-encompassing condemnation of every form of colonial, capitalist, patriarchal oppression. There is no feminism without BIPOC individuals, just as there is no feminism without women.
Finally, while we think that the patriarchy doesn’t oppress white men (especially wealthy ones), it does. Machismo (or toxic masculinity), cages men in a prison of emotional seclusion and incites violence in them. It is easy to see this as benefits because undoubtedly white men are the biggest beneficiaries of patriarchal oppression, but they are also losing their own autonomy to identify themselves outside of this image. Feminism has to include men because feminism has to liberate everyone - not just a few.
“Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism” is a hoax in the same way that feminism that centers only on white femininity is a hoax. Feminists need to fight for more than the liberation of all women but for the liberation of all people. We need to show up for every protest because where there are rights being violated, there is almost certainly a patriarchal system violating them.
Centering whiteness or heteronormativity prioritizes palatability over people.
We are living in a time where feminist activism is supremely important to creating real and long-lasting change.
Evil is so loud right now, we can’t afford to be fighting each other when there is so much to oppose. We are living under governments that are benefiting from the inability of activists to unify and call out for their goals. Letting a few loud fake feminists derail the entire movement, at a time so close to revolutionary change, will be our greatest failure. We need to leave those “fake feminists” behind and keep seeking out the goals of feminism that isn’t palatable, that supersedes and goes beyond the demands we had before, that seeks justice for everyone, not just a few.
Hayley is an emerging writer and journalist who works hard to create work that is fiercely feminist, anti racist and anti oppression on a whole. You can check out more of her work and content on her instagram @hayley.headley