First off, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Women’s March. It was inspiring to see a vast amount of people marching to protect their rights.
Moving on from that, it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty. While the march was successful, with millions participating, I just don’t understand why so many people let it get to this point, or the irony that exists in the march itself. Where were the supposed “white feminists” when the equal rights movement was pushing for marriage equality? Where were they when Black Lives Matter was in full swing? Instead of standing together in solidarity, we saw the “All Lives Matter” movement in response to Black Lives Matter, which was mostly pushed by white people. The point is, they weren’t there for other issues that intersected with women’s rights, and are only out there protesting now, because the orange monster is impeding on their own lives and issues. Instead of working together with men and women across all races to fight for women’s rights, stories have begun to flood the internet about some of the plain ignorance the white feminist movement has caused.
I recently came across a Native American woman’s experience at the rally on Twitter. @synderain recounted some of the straight up deplorable actions she and her friends encountered while they showed up to the protests. Dressed in traditional garbs, the Twitter user and her fellows held a prayer circle before the march. She continued to say that many white women questioned if they were “real Indians” (sidenote: calling an indigenous person an Indian is actually offensive), and many took pictures and saw it more as a show instead of a cultural ceremony. Many even tried to walk into the prayer circle, and seemed to not care about their actions. Perhaps the most disgusting part of the Twitter recollection is that when the march started, two white women beside the Native American women said “Guess we are real Indians today!” as they giggled. When confronted that you can’t just choose to be a race, one responded: “I’m from Minnesota. I know a lot of the lakes around me and they are all in Indian. I even know some tribes too.” When they were asked to leave, they said “It is unfortunate Indians can’t take jokes.”
Nothing beats the classic phrase “I know X, or my friend is X, so I can’t be racist!” This phrase, and all its variants, have seeped their way into the white feminist movement, and clearly show how ignorant people are. Just because you may be friends with someone who is a different race does not mean you are not racist. Just because you have “experienced” another culture does not mean you can appropriate it, and slander those who are a part of said culture. Racism has always been a toxic mechanism of human history, and the so called progressive white feminists have placed themselves in an echochamber where only their problems are heard, and their casual racism cancels out any concerns people of colour have.
When it comes to fighting for the rights of others (including your own) it is paramount to understand that while your rights are important, the way you see your rights is different from others. In order to be a successful feminist, you absolutely have to be educated on the issues your compatriots are facing. By standing for your rights only when it affects your turf, and those who have struggled for ages have to accept only your terms, your voice is dampened, and your credibility is lacking. When I say becoming educated about others, I don’t necessarily mean a university education. It’s pretty obvious that some who have worked for their degree are clearly inept at dealing with contemporary issues. Empathy goes a long way when it comes to understanding other people’s lived experiences. If that means having a difficult, emotional conversation, or recognizing some of the privileges you may have, that’s one of the best ways of educating yourself on the struggles of others.
Lastly, it is important to point out the ironies of the Women’s March. It shouldn’t come as a shock to hear that a whopping 42 per cent of female voters voted Republican, according to the New York Times. The rhetoric behind it was that “Trump won’t do that.” Plot twist: he did. The fact that so many people live in a delusional world where they thought that their Cheeto Jesus would save them is worrisome. He literally ran on a campaign of hate and ignorance and yet people just said he was pandering. They thought they were fine because their safe little havens weren’t directly at risk, and that their blissfully ignorant utopias would be untouched. Here’s a thought: a known adulterer, who has historically treated women horribly, and was caught saying he likes to grab women’s genitalia without consent is now signing executive orders to impede on women’s rights. If that level of ignorance is not rectified soon, then the fight for equality will soon become a very, very difficult battle.
My thoughts on white feminism, and the lack of empathy seen in others traces back to an old poem I grew up with. Martin Niemöller, a Protestant pastor and outspoken public enemy of Adolf Hitler was quoted during a lecture that soon became a cornerstone of my beliefs.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
When Mango Mussolini inevitably continues to strip the rights of others, will you sit and watch, or will you be a part of the change that needs to happen?
