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.
