Feminism for women of colour...

[AnotherEpisode]

As a black woman, I quite often feel sidelined within feminism.

I don't feel feminism addresses the difficulties faced by women of colour in western societies and quite often I feel I am drawn to race issues over feminist issues because of this.

I absolutely have more difficulties in this society because of the colour of my skin than I do because of my sex.

I feel that the lack of understanding towards racism amongst feminist circles gives me a stance of one over the other in which racism usually wins, which is unfortunate really!

This article, although written in a strong, comical and sometimes rude tone, gives a good insight!

thegrio.com/2015/02/23/patricia-arquette-blacks-gays-white-women/

Not sure why I'm posting but I'm interested in a wider perspective especially people's thoughts on the article!

Sorry, I didnt make my point too well earlier. Reading back, I have realised that I missed a crucial bit out! Now, I cannot stand bibi but agree wholeheartedly that he is a self-serving skidmark and would have done whatever suited his own political aspirations regardless of anything else.

What I should have said was that Netanyahu AND REPUBLICANS snubbing Obama has just given me the rage. Politics aside, this would never have happened if Obama was white!

Bibi was basically called to address them because too many of them are uncomfortable with Obama's colour.

So yes, A part of me does believe that it would not have been possible for Netanyahu to do this, had the President been white. His crap about not trying to be disrespectful. He could have made his little speech on other platforms. He chose to side with the racists to further his own racist political agenda in his own home country.

As for American politics....its depressing how much racism there is, especially in the tea party and also amongst the republicans.

This article linked below just tells it how it is that there exists "deep-seated resentment of the idea of the black man with the Muslim name in the White House.”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/10/obama-axelrod-racial-fear-american-politics

Sorry again for the thread hijack! I shall stick to reading the thread instead!

I'm up to page 5 and just wanted to say thank you for this thread and give it a bit of a bump. It'll probably take me a few days to catch up, there is so much here to think about and follow up.

Happy IWD everyone! [fish]

I think I appreciate the overall sentiment while disagreeing with a few of the specific points.

Hello all I have read this thread with interest as a WOC found most responses heartening as sometimes when discussing my experience of life as a black woman I feel like I'm just not being listened to. I found this article about a hypothetical conversation between a man and feminist I think it sums up how I feel when speaking to some white feminists quite accurately bellejar.ca/2014/02/22/why-wont-you-educate-me-about-feminism/
Sorry am on my phone so grammar is appalling and can't link.

This popped up on my feed today, and I wondered what you lovely, inspiring lot thought of it.

Thanks Buffy for posting these gems which I just don't have time to find for myself.

We can quibble with details but broadly I would agree with it, particularly point 4 about sex workers.

I don't participate in discussions about prostitution/sex work here because, frankly, many of the FWR regulars (present company excepted) have created a 'party line' from a position of such overwhelming privilege that they might as well be on a different planet to me.

(even though I would also consider myself to be extremely privileged btw)

awadebumbo i can definitely see on this thread parallels between the frustrations WOC feel with feminists and those that feminists feel when men come along to be educated. it's that "right ladies, i've deigned to give you my attention, now educate me!" attitude. i'm embarrassed to think that i might have done that.

Hi Petula, it is only some that act like this some people are willing to listen to us and take on board what we are saying.
I do find it strange that feminist are unable to see that sometimes when it comes to women of colour they treat us no better than the patriarchal system they fight against. And when it is pointed out they use the same excuses and methods of deflection that have been used to keep women in their place. It makes me feel that for those women feminism is not about solidarity or improvements for us all but making sure they get a piece of the profits from the plantation.

It makes me feel that for those women feminism is not about solidarity or improvements for us all but making sure they get a piece of the profits from the plantation

Very much so. Many of the advances some women have been able to make have been enabled by the exploitation of weaker women, e.g. to do low-paid domestic work and childcare.

I also think it's not just WOC that are sidelined also women from poorer backgrounds I'm sure feel this too as the way a white women from a low-income background experiences the world is differently to the way a a white women from a Middle-class back ground experiences it.
Anyway I really don't want to get into a situation where it seems like I'm constantly having a dig (it's just refreshing to have a group of people actually listen to what you have to say). So would just like to say thanks to everybody that contributed to the thread it has been a really interesting discussion and I hope it continues.

Petula - yup, damned if you do and damned if you don't. Isn't it just as well that most blokes - as far as I can tell - have no or very little interest in this whatsoever.

Not sure what you meant by that remark there cadno, care to expand?

No need to align yourself with me cadno - I don't feel sorry for myself when WOC tell me I have got it wrong and I will acknowledge my own ignorance and stupidity. Certainly not damned from what I can tell if you approach things in the right way and take on board when you have got it wrong, always damned if you don't approach them at all. And no, I don't think that no interest at all is just as well.

(That post isn't for a cookie btw, just not keen to be aligned with a man who thinks it appropriate to make goady posts on threads where women are posting their experiences of rape)

Goddess, cadno, aren't you banned yet?

Peckham are you on the current thread in FWR about the Green Party and prostitutuon?

I'm so glad I didn't get the wrong end of the stick with cadnos post.
Wind up merchant duly noted.

Petula I think a quick clarification might help. I, in no way, seek to align myself with you. Although I not not recall much of your posts in particular, it seems to me, that like many other posters here, you harbour a strong dislike of men - and as such an alignment with you is neither sought nor offered.

My point was that the frustrations that you express to feel on those occasions when men 'come along to be educated', must not occur very often - as many men, in my experience are apathetic to feminism. Indeed there have been other threads on here in the past pondering why there is such apathy.

I think my point is fair comment. That you find it 'goady', is not however surprising - such is the strong desire on this board to take offence at the drop of a hat.

Knickerful - If you can read this, I assume I haven't been.