Are you with those blogs that think it's okay to be racist to white people?...There are several blogs against white privilege and many people agree, but if I made a blog against Indian privilege I'd get massive amounts of hate. What do you think?
Of course I said don't believe in racism against white people because to me a prejudice is only racism when it's oppression + power, and white people hold all the institutional power. Sadly, the result was a few (white) people calling me names, unfollowing, and saying stuff like,
Okay, I followed first because Im (sic) a feminist and could've gotten behind what you're trying to do here. But since then I've just seen a lot of hate on this blog, and now this argument about there being no racism against white people?? Racism is a belief or a discrimination, so of course there's anti-white racism!So I guess speaking out against oppressions is hateful? And then there was even the age old, "but the dictionary says!!1!" argument. SIGH.
It was a really rough day, but fortunately, the overall tone from my followers was very supportive of my stance and I actually ending up gaining many more followers through it than I lost (plus, good riddance, and all that).
But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel like slamming my head against my desk several times that day.
Ya know, I used to be someone who would get pretty indignant when the whole "white feminists are the worst" discussion would come up in social justice circles. I felt like I was trying so hard to be inclusive and understanding, so I couldn't see where this stereotype was coming from (a sure sign of my white privilege.) But damn if women like these aren't proving that stereotype right ALL THE TIME. It is beyond me to try to comprehend how someone can arrive in a feminist space and think, "I don't care about other oppressions!" but it really does happen. All the time. It happened in the comments above. It happens when white feminists call bringing race into a discussion a "derail." It happens when white feminists talk about the wage gap as purely a gender issue. It happens when white feminists ignore, silence, and talk over women of color. It happens when white feminists talk about "women" in an extremely narrow way.
So yes, I have come to realize that the bad wrap that white feminists have is totally deserved. How could it not be, when there are so many instances of the situation I just went through? And what's a better response on my part? Denial or helping address the issue? As I've said a billion times, I subscribe to intersectional feminism and Flavia Dzodan's iconic words, "My feminism will be intersectional or it will be bullshit!" so I'm going to keep expecting the same of all feminists. They don't have to listen, but I will not compromise on this stance.
Related reading:
Working on Anti-Racism
Intersectionalism 101
All Objections to Feminism Are Not Equal
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It's always bizarre to me when someone who feels marginalized for being a certain race or gender can turn around and be so completely racist or sexist in the same breath. I wish people would be more empathetic. Also this white feminist thing has recently made me feel like maybe I should shut up and stop complaining about sexism... cause i'm white. But that seems wrong too.
ReplyDeleteNah, it just means we shouldn't be the only ones talking in the feminist movement.
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