White Feminism
White Feminism
The women widely credited for their contributions to modern-day feminism share one common denominator -they were almost entirely white. Although it is common to idolize feminists like Elizabeth Candy Stanton, it is imperative to also spread awareness about the actions they took to exclude women of color from narratives. Many of the feminists we note for being trailblazers of the equal rights movement fought exclusively for the rights of white women, looking down on women of color and turning blind eyes to their needs. The movement where equal rights were fought solely for the rights of white women is referred to as “white feminism.”
Instead of highlighting the wrongs of white feminists, it’s important to recognize the steps women of color took to fight for their rights. Most suffragist organizations often used discriminatory practices to exclude African American women from participating in important decisions. These forms of white feminism are traced back to the beginning, where well-known figures like Elizabeth Candy Stanton took stands to stop black empowerment movements in effort to gain control for their own agenda. Stanton once frankly stated,“now, as the celestial gate to civil rights is slowly moving on its hinges, it becomes a serious question whether we had better stand aside and see “Sambo” walk into the kingdom first.” A system that advocated and used the argument of “equality for all” hypocritically perpetuated racial divides and white supremacy.
The names most commonly mentioned when speaking about impactful women of color are often those who advocated for rights other than gender equality. People often talk about Rosa Parks, whom was demanded to get up from her bus seat, yet refused to appeal to this man's comfort just because of the color of his skin. Because her activism was central to the racial equality movement and segregation practices, many people don’t know about her involvement in feminism as well. Mrs. Parks and her husband belonged to the League of Women Voters. This organization advocated not only for women’s suffrage but also for the education of politics and the Equal Rights Amendment.
In response to the harmful movement of white feminism, Black female activists banded together to sow intersectionality into the systems of activism. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper is an example of an African American woman who fought back against all systematic forces rooted against her and aimed to make real change. In addition to her fight for abolition and anti-slavery movements, Harper was devoted to the women's fight, specifically temperance groups. She documented her struggles and journeys, eventually publishing her short story, the first by an African American woman. In the 1860s, she responded to the racism rooted in the feminist movement and urged her white female peers around her to include African American women in the fight.
While feminism has consistently endorsed the virtue of equality in its practices, women of color had to work twice as hard to make their voices heard. When learning and discussing feminist icons, keep in mind the actions of some of these idolized women may have been performed with malicious intent. It is imperative that as we enlighten and educate future generations so intentionally share the full history - not just the white narrative.
