Intersectionality and Inclusion

 “From the very onset of the women’s liberation movement, these women were suspicious of feminism precisely because they recognized the limitations inherent in its definition.” - bell hooks

Feminism is an interesting term- without a very specific definition, especially not one that aims to help women also in other minority groups, it becomes harder to identify with. As Eddie mentioned, the well-known definitions of feminism only privilege white bourgeois women, who were content with such a definition because they did not see the importance of calling to attention their race and class privileges. As I mentioned in an older post, I’ve long struggled with identifying as a feminist—despite agreeing with most of “feminism”’s definitions, I feel like the connotation that Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) brought to the term and feminism’s exclusionary history has been a big factor holding me back from really embracing it, in solidarity with my own queer identity and my trans friends and my ideologies. Feminism has so many of these connotations, from racism to classism to transphobia, that it's not surprising that women are often hesitant to use the terms for themselves. Because black, poor, disabled, and queer women have intersectional struggles they’re facing too. It’s like Sojourner Truth said: “Ain’t I a woman?” Don’t these people deserve to be recognized and included too?

In Junior year, I wrote my history thesis on the history of black oppression in the feminist movement, which seems to tie in pretty well to what Eddie talked about in class. Much like with Seneca Falls, black women were excluded from so many marches and meetings held by white women that they had to gather on their own, totally separate. Which meant that instead of including black opinions, white bourgeois women heard only the voices of those like them. Similarly, many of the feminists who lead the movement had some severe racial biases, which wore off on the movement itself. I imagine part of the struggle intersectionality-wise for many people is trying to come to terms with the parts of one identity that clash with another. And, as Simone John said, by having these intersectional experiences, it might be hard to tell “am I experiencing oppression because I’m queer, a woman, or because I’m black?” It could well be many of the above.