INtersectional Feminism
Feminism Without Intersectionality Is Not Feminism
At the time of writing this blog post, we are moving from Black History Month into Women’s History Month—two deeply connected celebrations that have been on my mind, wanting to share something that hopefully will inspire new learning and action.
I want to start by saying that as I share these thoughts on feminism, intersectionality, and Black feminist voices, I acknowledge that through my learning and unlearning process over the years I have and continue to make mistakes and get things wrong. And that is part of this process that I have embraced with humility. As a white woman writing about experiences that are not my own, I carry that responsibility with both humility and determination. The ideas and wisdom shared here come from Black feminist scholars, activists, and artists who have done this work for generations. My role is to amplify their voices, not to claim their experiences as my own.
I also want to acknowledge that much of what I am sharing here is based on historical movements in the United States, and I know that here in Canada, we have our own history—one that has systematically erased and marginalized Indigenous and Black women. While I know I still have so much more to learn about the realities of what has happened and continues to happen here where I call home – a land I live on as an uninvited settler, I wanted to start somewhere with the knowledge I have gained while also committing to life long learning and finding ways of action towards dismantling these systems of oppression that continue to keep women down, particularly Black and Indigenous women.
Feminism Without Intersectionality Is Not Feminism
When I was in university I took a lot of courses out of the Women’s Studies department, in fact I was one course short to declare a minor in Feminist Theory, and when I look back on that education I now recognize that SO MUCH was left out.
Much of what I am sharing in this blog post comes from my learning after my time with formal education, so let this be a reminder that education is often (if not always) filtered through a white lens.
As I continued to do my own learning I came across the work of Black feminist voices, and how the voices of Black women have been, and continue to be foundational to the fight for liberation. From Sojourner Truth to Audre Lorde, bell hooks to Angela Davis, Black women have shaped feminist thought in ways that challenge oppression at its deepest roots, reminding us that true liberation cannot be achieved through single-issue activism and that everything is interconnected, which I personally whole heartedly agree with, everything truly is connected, which leads us to the work of Kimberlé Crenshaw.
You may have heard the term: ‘Intersectional feminism’, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, which illuminates how systems of oppression are all interconnected and how in order to work towards liberation for ALL women we must acknowledge the intersections of our experiences.
Mainstream white feminism—which has centred white experiences while disregarding the layers of oppression such as race, class, disability, and queerness—continues to fail the majority of women, and this is why we need to approach feminism through an intersectional lense, as it’s beyond a frame work, it’s a call to action in support of ALL women.
Self-Care: Reclaiming Its Radical Roots
It was important for me to bring up the idea of “self-care” in this post as someone embedded in an industry that constantly promotes “self-care” and “empowerment,” I’ve witnessed firsthand how these terms have been stripped of their revolutionary meaning, which comes from Black women activists. I also know that many feminist will talk about the importance of self-care, but I am not sure if we truly understand the origins of it.
For Black women activists, this idea of self-care was about survival, and preserving energy to keep on fighting in a world designed to exhaust and erase them. I read not to long ago that the Black Panthers offered community programs such as free breakfast for children, healthcare clinics, and self-defense training, as acts of resistance against systems designed to deplete Black communities. This type of “self-care” went beyond the self and also supported community care, for those that were not being cared for by the systems they exist in.
As Audre Lorde powerfully said: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
This commercialization of “self-care” removed the revolutionary origins of self-care rooted in Black resistance led by Black Women, and in turn has harmed the very communities who created them. White-owned businesses, repackaged radical concepts of community care and resistance into marketable products—bath bombs, luxury retreats, skin care, and on and on and on. I can honestly say I also fell into using this distorted ‘self-care’ rhetoric until I saw what I was truly part of.
Self-care was not meant to be about consumption, but here we are today with a billion-dollar so-called wellness industry that is not moving us any closer to healing and care – but moving the corporations closer to their bottom lines.
I encourage you to learn and think about what “self-care” means for you and how you can honour the true roots of its meaning.
Body Liberation & The Anti-Black Roots of Anti-Fatness
The same industry that has commodified “self-care” has also done the same thing to body liberation, or often referred to as “body-positivity.” Discussion of body liberation must go beyond simple body positivity, and quite honestly I have ditched using that terminology since learning more of the history several years ago.
True body liberation requires dismantling the systems of white supremacy that created and sustained anti-fatness. It demands that we recognize how fatphobia has been used as a tool of racist oppression and continues to disproportionately harm Black women and other women of color.
Oh and speaking of anti-fatness, did you know it is rooted in anti-Blackness? You can learn more about this from Dr. Sabrina Strings‘ groundbreaking work in “Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia” which reveals this inseparable connection.
As someone in the photography industry, I’ve witnessed how these oppressive standards are actively reinforced through our practices, from the way we photograph people, to how we light them, to how we then edit them. As a photographer, I know that we cannot simply add diversity to our portfolios while ALSO continuing practices that erase and alter bodies to fit white beauty standards, I am so not here for that. All I can say is this: photographers, we need to do better because we are a big part of the problem.
The word empowerment has also become cringe for me, because there feels like such a disconnect between what it means and how it is often used. When I see all the excessive photoshopping happening I truly cannot wrap my head around how this is “empowerment”. I get it; we are an industry and quite frankly a society, obsessed with perfection, thinness and youth, which all leads back to upholding whiteness as the gold standard of beauty. The way I see it, these body-altering practices are an active participation in systems of white supremacy and anti-Blackness. When we alter bodies to fit white beauty standards or lighten skin tones, we’re not just editing photos—we’re reinforcing the same racist ideologies that body liberation fights against.
Honoring Contemporary Black WOMEN’S Voices
The below are Black women who I have personally read the works of, and all of their writings challenged me to examine how I show up in the work of justice, as a photographer, and what true allyship requires, and I hope these resources do the same for you. There are so many more I could add to this list so please feel free to send me an email and share the works of Black women that you have been inspired by. You can find wonderful interviews and Podcasts that feature all of these amazing women, so if reading is hard for you there are other ways you can engage with their important work.
Sonya Renee Taylor’s “The Body Is Not An Apology“ Her work shows how personal transformation and social justice are inseparable, challenging us to examine how we’ve internalized systems of body oppression and how we can dismantle them collectively.
Brittney Cooper’s “Eloquent Rage” reframes Black women’s anger as a powerful force for social change.
Dr. Sabrina Strings “Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia” The work of Dr. Strings reveals how anti-fatness is undoubtedly linked to anti-Blackness.
A Call INTO WHITE WOMEN: It’s time to DO FEMINism DIFFERENTLY
If you consider yourself a feminist and are new to learning about intersectionality, then welcome; I am glad you are here. We need to be honest with ourselves that if our feminism isn’t intersectional, then quite frankly, it’s going to continue to uphold white supremacy and all systems of oppression that our collective efforts should be working toward dismantling.
We need to understand how the language we use is harmful, and how what was created out of radical resistance, such as “self care” has been co-opted for capitalist gains.
The intention of this blog post was not to wag my finger at anyone because I too am still learning. The intention was to bring awareness and resources to help you rethink what feminism means, and seeing how everything is connected.
Finally, I encourage you to question EVERYTHING you have ever learned about feminism and get curious about your own biases because when you start to notice those, that is when the real learning happens.
A Reflection of Gratitude
To the Black women who have shaped my understanding of feminism, justice, and community—thank you. To the Black women in my life, I appreciate your patience when I stumble and make mistakes, your generosity in sharing your experiences and your unwavering friendship.
Resources for Continued Learning
For those beginning or continuing their journey of understanding intersectional feminism and anti-racism, these may these resources also support you in your learning:
Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism – Sara Blanchard & Misasha Suzuki Graham
Me and white supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor – Layla Saad.
