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Original poster

How do we scourge out racism and classism in feminism?

434 replies

Treesybreezy · 31/05/2018 17:00

I need to apologize upfront - I am disabled and also looking after a baby so I'm not going to be able to check back on this thread as frequently as I'd like. I will be back tho.

I've just read this by sister outrider sisteroutrider.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/dispatches-from-the-margins-on-women-race-and-class/amp/?__twitter_impression=true . I know there have been other threads where black women (or other ethnicities) have said, racism is a massive problem and there's been a large, reflexive defensive reaction from white women here.

I'm too tired to articulate this properly now in support of what sister outrider has said, but I've definitely seen both racism and classism in action.

How do we set this right?

OP posts:
Original poster
Treesybreezy · 31/05/2018 18:49

I guess... I don't think that only middle class white women have the solution. But I don't think we should be passive? Why are we relying on the labour of others to point out problems they face, that we cause? We have eyes,ears, brains. (A bit like all those 'my DH doesn't see housework threads).

Maybe a lot more active listening? To start with?

OP posts:
JoanSummers · 31/05/2018 18:46

Exactly Mist.

MistAmougstElephants · 31/05/2018 18:26

Token gestures aren't needed what is needed is space and genuine welcoming into feminist spaces. Some voices are listened to more than others. Sometimes when people from working class backgrounds try to join in there shut down.

Our voices have less weight because we don't look like or sound like or behave like the white middle upwards classes.

JoanSummers · 31/05/2018 18:12

I think one of the first things to recognise is that both conversations (online) about race and class are dominated by perspectives from a) the middle class b) men c) academics and d) people from the US.

This flavours those discussions but is rarely acknowledged. The fact is that most voices outside of those groups are left outside of the conversation and policing the conversation and shaming/refusing voices instead of engaging them is one way that is done.

I'm not offering a solution to that, just noticing it.

QuoadUltra · 31/05/2018 17:41

The whole #WPUK debacle once again reinforces the idea that campaigners who ostensibly argue for free speech don’t in fact want free speech.

OP, while I agree with you in your wish to fight classism and racism, I take issue with any attempt to no platform the process of discussion.

And in this instance, that discussion is a massive side track and own goal.

2rebecca · 31/05/2018 17:37

I think middle class white people trying to solve racism and class prejudice is likely to lead to misguided tokenism the way "woke" politics often does and is like men trying to solve misogyny. In the same way that women have to be the main people countering mysogyny so those affected by race and class prejudice have to be the main ones opposing it and suggesting solutions.
Expecting white middle class feminists to have the answer is unrealistic and perpetuating the problem.

PeakPants · 31/05/2018 17:34

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QuoadUltra · 31/05/2018 17:26

We need to scourge our racism and classism everywhere.

But what we shouldn’t insist that every aspect of every cause must at all times be in harmony with each and every other cause.

That is the way of the Judean People’s Front.

MistAmougstElephants · 31/05/2018 17:21

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