White feminism is a type of feminism that focuses on the experiences unique to white women, often dismissing the challenges that other marginalized groups face, such as women of color and LGBTQ+ people. While these issues are undeniably important, critics argue that white women feminism has frequently overlooked or marginalized the struggles faced by women of color, working-class women and those from different cultural, religious or socio-economic backgrounds. The practice ignores the complex ways inequality affects people in different ways.
“People’s identities all intersect in different ways and thus create oppression that is felt deeper,” said Mimi Yu, the Treasurer of the Feminist Student Organization at Northeastern University.
She argues that being a feminist is about being inclusive and discussing issues that all women face. White women feminism really focuses on gender equality and neglects how race, class and other social identities compound the additional struggles faced by women of color, which leads to a less inclusive approach to feminist activism.
The #MeToo Movement started in 2006; however, it gained global attention in 2017. Black activist Tarana Burke originated the movement, but as it became more popular, it ignored the previous work that Burke did. This was especially clear when the #MeToo movement “silence breakers” were named TIME’s 2017 “Person of the Year,” featuring Ashley Judd, Susan Fowler, Adama Iwu, Taylor Swift and Isabel Pascual. Burke was nowhere to be found.
The #MeToo event is just one example of how white women will often be put on a pedestal for something that a woman of color will do.
Another example is the history of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). The NAWSA pushed for women’s suffrage, but excluded Black women. Similarly, in the 1960s they worked to address issues like workplace rights and reproductive rights, but overlooked the experiences of Black and Latinx women, some of whom still did not have the right to vote.
The white feminism movement relates back to white supremacy, as it tends to mainly prioritize the needs of white, cisgender women while dismissing the concerns of women of color, transgender or disabled women.
“You cannot be feminist if you’re not also anti-racist, anti-homophobic, anti-ableism,” affirmed Yu.
Similar to male privilege, white women can’t discern their white privilege because it is invisible to them; hence, they don’t understand the struggles that women of color and other marginalized groups face. This privilege is tied to systemic power and authority that women of color simply don’t have, and it leads to feelings of exclusion and frustration among marginalized women.