To read How White Feminism betrays Women of Colour

[OneDrop]

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...

Ahh, those white people, aren't they just terrible?

perhaps better asked in the Feminism section?

I’ve bought this recently and am looking forward to. I found her guardian article interesting and relevant to things I had witnessed. The idea that sometimes intersectionality can be viewed as an attack is an important one to discuss.

It sounds like an interesting book, ive added it to my to read list so I am glad you raised this. Im pretty sure as a white woman its going to be an uncomfortable read but if I expect men to confront their behaviour I should expect myself to do the same

For you, I dont want to assume to know your feelings on this, but if you want to read it then do it, how old are the children, can they help pack? Ive moved house many times (12 I think) and packing needs to be broken up with non manual work.

That said if your mentally at capacity then dont feel obliged to read it, you arent the one who needs to do the work mentally on this, white women are (and white men etc etc)

If you think you’ll regret not participating in the discussion on Saturday you should read it. If you’re confident that come Saturday evening you’ll feel you made the right decision to prioritise unpacking and sleep then don’t.

It sounds like you want to though...can you get the audiobook and listen whilst unpacking? 7hrs 2mins and they always have free trials on audible?

@OlivePenderghast

If you think you’ll regret not participating in the discussion on Saturday you should read it. If you’re confident that come Saturday evening you’ll feel you made the right decision to prioritise unpacking and sleep then don’t.

It sounds like you want to though...can you get the audiobook and listen whilst unpacking? 7hrs 2mins and they always have free trials on audible?

I was going to say something similar, then read this post and figured I couldn't say it better.

hansgrueber and OfaFrenchmind2, give over! Your comments aren't exactly adding anything to the discussion.

@MangoBiscuit
My bad. I will reflect on my terrible actions and check my thinking.

It’s true that people can be terrible but also wonderful.

Breaks from packing and unpacking are indeed essential Toomanyradishes, I’m having one now. I will line up the kindle version of the book to begin next time I’m flagging.

Thanks for sharing, OP. I had a listen to the audio clip on the link you posted, and it sounds like an interesting read.

Would it be worth getting in audio format so you can listen and pack at the same time?

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

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

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

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

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.

@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.

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

@OfaFrenchmind2

Ahh, those white people, aren't they just terrible?

Who is saying that?

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.

@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.

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.

@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.

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.

Hi all

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

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