Many of us pride ourselves on being feminists, but are we actually as inclusive as we may think we are? Perhaps we don’t always take into consideration women from marginalised groups when thinking about what feminism means to us. Here’s why it’s important.
What is Intersectional Feminism?
The term ‘intersectionality’ was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989. Crenshaw used the term to describe how characteristics such as class, race, and gender intersect. Crenshaw says it is ‘the idea that we experience life, sometimes discrimination, sometimes benefits, based on a number of identities.’ We can take Crenshaw’s definition of intersectionality and apply it to feminism, too. Intersectional feminism provides another lens for individuals and can give us perspective to help understand others’ struggles. The feminism we see in the mainstream media is often centred around the struggles of white, middle-class women, with no room for different experiences. However, through intersectionality within feminism, we learn more about different experiences and battles than our own. An example that remains prevalent currently would be the Gender Wage Gap: although women typically make less than men in the workforce, ‘women of minority groups make even less.’ Focussing on just “White Feminism” is not true to feminism as a movement. Simply listening to one another enables inclusivity within feminism and broadens our perspectives.
Why We Need Intersectionality Now More Than Ever
As internet ‘incel culture’ grows bigger and influences more and more young men and boys, it becomes clear that we need intersectional feminism more than ever. Videos on social media such as Andrew Tate’s misogynistic views that berate feminists and women have been becoming viral, and potentially influencing young boys’ minds as they infiltrate into their social feeds. Social media pages such as Tate’s do a good job of undoing everything the feminist movement has been working so hard for. His ‘extreme misogny’ fuels the internet’s ‘incel culture’ and there are hundreds of pages just like his, doing the same violent thing. It’s more important than ever that women come together and listen to one another, and uplift each other.