VOICE OF THE VOTELESS

There are about 3 and a half billion women on this planet. The feminist movement needs to be responsible for all of us.

I am white. I am cisgender. I come from a supportive family which has never struggled to support any of my needs and goals.

I am privileged.

I have more privilege than a lot of  people, and it would be naive for me to ignore that privilege in the context of feminism or any social movement. This, I know. Still, despite of this recognition, I struggled with confronting intersectional feminism for a long time for fear that I was doing it wrong. In practice, though, it doesn’t have to be difficult- as Laci Green says in this video explaining intersectional feminism, “all we’re really talking about is looking out for each other.”

So, what exactly is intersectional feminism?

To put it in simple terms, intersectionality focuses on how people with different privileges (or lack thereof) experience oppression. This includes gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, and many more areas of discrimination that determine how people of different backgrounds experience feminist issues. For example, the New York Times presented the results of a survey that reported about 20% of US women have experienced sexual assault. However, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 80% of disabled women are sexually assaulted. While both these figures are staggering and way too high, the point is that it’s unfair to address one without the other. We can’t just examine the issue of sexual assault without also examining how the lens is different for disabled women, or women of color, or trans women.

How can I make sure I’m practicing intersectionality?

Bad news- there is no perfect formula. Intersectional feminism, (just like feminism itself!) is a situation to situation practice. However, there are three main tips to follow to help make sure your feminism is intersectional:

1: Check your privilege

Everyone has privilege. Some have more than others. Being aware of where you’re privileged can help you to grasp a better understanding of where others might not be. Checking your privilege will help you to act not just through the lens of your own experience, but through a wider, intersectional lens. While not perfect, Buzzfeed’s privilege quiz is a good place to start. Keep in mind that the point of examining privilege is not a competition to compare who has more or less, but rather to widen your scope of awareness.

2: De-center your perspective

Feminism is about more than just equality for the sexes. It’s about ending interconnected systems that oppress different women in different ways. Taking your perception away from issues that simply affect women, and adjusting it to fit all women, (particularly those who belong to traditionally marginalized populations), will help you to view the feminist movement through a more inclusive lens.

3: Forgive yourself

In the wise words of Hannah Montana, “Nobody’s perfect.” You’ll probably mess up- we’re wired to work from our perspectives. Don’t get discouraged- intersectional feminism gets easier with time, and soon enough you’ll be thinking intersectionally without even realizing it.

Remember that this is important. Intersectionality isn’t about dividing women, it’s about uniting us so we can fight for each other on all fronts. One-size-fits-all feminism has no place in today’s world. In the wise words of Flavia Dzodan,

“MY FEMINISM WILL BE INTERSECTIONAL OR IT WILL BE BULLSHIT!”