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Original poster

To read How White Feminism betrays Women of Colour

61 replies

OneDrop · 18/03/2021 11:55

This book has just been suggested to me
White Tears Brown Scars

To read or not to read. I’m feeling exhausted and I’m in the middle of moving home but it’s an important conversation.

I’m a person of colour and was recently invited to an online allies group who will be discussing this book and ‘Whites’ on Saturday morning.

I was willing to go through a fair bit of discomfort at Greenham Common. Maybe putting time in here is more important to my children than unpacking...

OP posts:
drspouse · 18/03/2021 16:40

@rosetylersbiggun

drspouse you sound unhinged.

I'm very sorry you loathe black women so much but please don't spread your nasty vicious racism here.

Not sure why you're trying to drag trans issues into a debate about how racist many white women can be.

I see my post has been deleted. I'm pretty sure whoever reported it didn't actually understand it. I have also seen a lot of accusations of "white feminism" where the accuser was rounded on by Black women saying "hello, over here, we are Black radical feminists thank you". So some commentators think that only White women are radical feminists. I was curious as to whether this book was the same.
Original poster
OneDrop · 18/03/2021 16:34

I’m surprised this thread has been moved.

I was asking whether I should or shouldn’t put time into an important issue given my mental exhaustion with it and circumstances vs the long term impact on my children of avoiding this difficult issue.

This now seems to be a different thread altogether and the thread title means something completely different when not in AIBU.

Can anyone enlighten me? Have I misunderstood a rule?

OP posts:
tangerinelollipop · 18/03/2021 15:53

Why must we divide women?

^This

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 14:35

Audio book sounds good OP.

I've never tried it myself but also with work house kids I have a pile of books to read and never pick them up! My attention span seems rubbish as well. Used to be able to read for hours!

Sorry got sidetracked by the responses into posting stuff that wasn't really to do with your OP. Audiobook and meeting sounds good!

Greensidepark · 18/03/2021 14:34

This is a valid discussion to have, extending it beyond the book. I find that there is a class and colour blindness to feminism which is important to tackle. I will give you an example. I was part of discussions around increasing the participation level of women on boards. A very important issue. But this same women were very reluctant to engage the very companies on issues around a living wage, something that disproportionately affects women too.

You may think that of course we need to tackle issues one at a time, but the women leading this discussions were already women of a certain level of influence with these companies and in society. One may think that the issues considered of paramount importance were issues that benefited a certain class of women.

fivelemons · 18/03/2021 14:34

Feminism is largely promoted by white women and therefore mainly reflects the interests of white women

Firstly, why are there not more black women promoting feminism, and secondly, why would fighting for (say) maternity provisions or equal pay be presumed to be reflecting the interests of only white women? Surely those issues benefit all women.

Feminism is about promoting equality, not divisiveness based on colour.

BurgundyBells · 18/03/2021 14:33

Ah. A discussion on how white women are just as much to blame as men because their feminism doesn't centre woc.

Lovely. Can't see how this would be problematic or cause division at all.

ghostyslovesheets · 18/03/2021 14:33

feminism is a global movement but with in there are still issues of privilege and insular thinking - some times that leads to a some what colonial approach rather than an empowering one - I do agree OP

was also at Greenham! I'm old

Loopyloututu2 · 18/03/2021 14:31

I would unpack first and then read it - I couldn’t sit and read a book whilst there were boxes everywhere.

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 14:30

It's interesting though that this is the 3rd thread I've seen about white feminists and racism, on 3 different boards, in 2 days.

Seems like a very very hot topic all of s sudden.

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 14:29

I also agree that taking class analysis personally is what many feminists get angry about when men do it.

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 18/03/2021 14:29

Hi all

We're just moving this thread over to our reading topic.

If you see anything that breaks talk guidelines, please don't hesitate to report it to us.

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 14:28

But then on the other hand stuff like this.

'Feminism is largely promoted by white women and therefore mainly reflects the interests of white women'

That's a rather insular view. There are feminists and feminist movements all over the world.

It's important for a rounded view to understand that and what challenges, activism etc are going on, all over the world.

The idea that feminism only exists in X country/ countries is a bit racist in itself surely.

GreenSlide · 18/03/2021 14:27

@rosetylersbiggun

drspouse you sound unhinged.

I'm very sorry you loathe black women so much but please don't spread your nasty vicious racism here.

Not sure why you're trying to drag trans issues into a debate about how racist many white women can be.

The problem with responses like this, is that white feminists who have spent their lives studying and fighting for women's rights don't really deserve to be called racist for that. Young women who are learning the basics of feminism, and considering the type of feminist they are, are likely to be completely turned off when they see comments like this.

Encouraging continued education and discussion is the best path for all of us. And remember we all have the right to hold our own opinions on feminism, what it is, what it could and should achieve. Knee jerk accusations of racism and transphobia are offputting and unhelpful as well as just outright rude. You are encouraging division amongst women.

NiceGerbil · 18/03/2021 14:25

It's not unreasonable to read a book how could it be!

It's important to get lots of different perspectives and if possible understand why people have those perspectives. You can then consider them and think well I agree with this, that's a good point, I don't think that's true etc etc

If you want to read it then read it OP.

JingsMahBucket · 18/03/2021 14:21

@OneDrop +1 for reading books in audiobook format. I gave myself a break a couple years ago when I realized I wanted to start reading again but didn’t have the mental capacity or attention span to read actual dead tree-based books for periods of time. Definitely give yourself a break and get the audiobook.

rosetylersbiggun · 18/03/2021 14:20

drspouse you sound unhinged.

I'm very sorry you loathe black women so much but please don't spread your nasty vicious racism here.

Not sure why you're trying to drag trans issues into a debate about how racist many white women can be.

skippy67 · 18/03/2021 14:14

@OfaFrenchmind2

Ahh, those white people, aren't they just terrible?
Who is saying that?
roarfeckingroarr · 18/03/2021 14:10

Why must we divide women? Women aren't the enemy.

skirk64 · 18/03/2021 14:07

@fivelemons

What is so-called 'White Feminism' when it's at home? Never heard of it.
Feminism is largely promoted by white women and therefore mainly reflects the interests of white women. In the same way that we now expect men to call out misogynistic behaviour, BAME women question why mainstream feminism is mainly about white women's interests.

In other words, white feminists should accept that they are part of the problem because they are white, just as all men should accept they are part of the problem because they are male.

Original poster
OneDrop · 18/03/2021 14:00

Audio is a good idea. My capacity to think of these things is somewhat impaired.

OfaFrenchmind2 you have inspired me to find out that Simone de Beauvoir had some relevant things to say about how hard it is for those who are privileged to think about their situation.

OP posts:
PeteWicksSexyPirate · 18/03/2021 14:00

Sorry it’s not a thread about this book specifically but about how the feminist movement doesn’t resonate with black woman due to its focus on white women

Chicchicchicchiclana · 18/03/2021 14:00

Not unreasonable to read it at all op. Why do you ask if you are being unreasonable?

fivelemons · 18/03/2021 13:58

What is so-called 'White Feminism' when it's at home? Never heard of it.

PeteWicksSexyPirate · 18/03/2021 13:58

There’s a good thread about this currently over on black mumsnet if you fancy a read OP