26 Intersectional Feminism

Intersectional Feminism

The term feminist has received waves of backlash since its inception in the social vernacular. People react differently based on their connotation of what feminist means or who a feminist is.

The conversation that needs to be addressed first and foremost is how feminism has historically been founded in empowering white women, first, often to the detriment to women of color and gender minorities. Feminism, as we know it, began in the 19th century. White women fought for the sovereign right to vote but did not include the women of color. When white women gained the right to vote in 1919, women of color had to fight for another 45 years before the same right was enshrined in law.

But gender equality doesn’t begin and end with the right to vote. Gender equality is “a situation in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by gender.”^[1]

Consider how a number of identity factors, other than gender, are affected by society’s biases and legislation.

Watch this video to learn about intersectionality.

Today, women and gender minorities continue to face challenges to their autonomy. Recent anti-abortion legislation and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation have both impacted women, women of color, and gender minorities in unprecedented ways.

Consider the generational repercussions of a society that limits autonomy.

Directions: Choose 2 articles to read and cite.

Coleman, Arica. “What’s Intersectionality? Let These Scholars Explain the Theory and Its History.” Time, 29 March 2019.

Cox, Kiana. “Black Americans and their views on feminism.” Pew Research Center, 16 Feb. 2023.

Gearon, Jihan. “Indigenous Feminism Is Our Culture.” Stanford Social Innovation Review, 11 Feb. 2021.

Srivastava, K.; Chaudhury, S.; Bhat, P.S.; & Sahu, S. “Misogyny, Feminism, and Sexual Harassment.” Industrial Psychiatry Journal, Jul-Dec 2017, vol. 26(2): pgs. 111–113. doi: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_32_18

Lowery, Tess. “9 Activists Bringing Intersectionality to the Fight Against Oppression.” Global Citizen, 6 June 2022.