AIN'T I A WOMAN?

Illustrated by Tyler Feder

In 1851 Sojourner Truth gave the now famous 'Ain't I A Woman' speech, in which she questioned both the maltreatment of women and highlighted the significance of the maltreatment of black women within this. Truth raised the point that the definition of a 'woman' at the time somehow managed to overlook her because of her race; that she, unlike white women at the time, was not a recipient of courteous, gentlemanly treatment that women so rightly 'deserved' as the society she lived had decided that her dark skin made her less of a woman. Over 150 years later and the same issues still stand, women of all different races, genders, sexualities and even abilities are discriminated against accordingly and still ask, "Ain't I a woman?"

Modern feminism is commonly broken down into 'waves', time periods that feature a particular series of movements conducted with the goal of establishing women's equal rights. These waves of feminism are strongly ethnocentric, focusing solely on the efforts made and troubles faced by white cis women of the Western World.  Considering the waves of feminism begin in the late 19th century, it's no surprise that the recordings of conscious activism circulates around the acts of  these women, or that the issues raised were those affecting them. Since then our society has evolved significantly, we have become more diverse and therefore need to modify the movement to ensure that it supports all women through the introduction of intersectional feminism:

The view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity. Cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated, but are bound together and influences by the intersectional systems of society. 

The main aim of intersectionality is to overcome the white, middle class, cis-gendered, able-bodied face of feminism, a face that fails to represent all women. As women we are subjected to multiple forms of oppression on a daily basis, ranging from transphobia to racism, homophobia to ableism, and so on. Intersectional feminism calls for the recognition of the fact that different women face different issues and therefore a 'one size fits all' feminism can't possibly exist. For example, my experiences as a young black girl will not correspond with those of a white trans woman. Where I face systematic racism, she would be a victim of transphobia and although we are both oppressed through sexism we simply cannot be represented by one generic voice.

It would be unrealistic to suggest that all oppressive situations are directly correlated to sexism, but it would also be unrealistic to say the complete opposite. With this in mind intersectional feminism simply states that raising other societal issues when discussing feminism is necessary and does need to be spoken about. Many people have become accustomed to the all-too-quick dismissal of important subjects that may not affect them directly. However if feminism is for all women, then we must be prepared to listen to and support all women.

This diverse approach to feminism does not mean that the struggles faced by white women are of any less importance, but that the voices of all other groups of women must be amplified for feminism to progress. Without the introduction of intersectionality, the movement will be nothing but divisive and ineffective for the majority.

We, as women, have a duty to support each other; we are not to ignore the troubles of others and shouldn't have to put up with others ignoring troubles of our own.

"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again. And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them" - Sojourner Truth

Posted by Melissa