Doing Feminism: Spoken Word, Race, and Intimate Violence
Caitlin
· 11 months ago
Derek, I totally agree with what you're saying. Race is a big issue in the feminist networks purely because a lot of people don't regard it as such!
We're currently trying to set up a gender equality society at my uni and are trying to work out how to advertise it/get people interested. Obviously we don't only want to appeal to white middle class feminists, so any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
Samara
· 11 months ago
I definitely agree with what you are saying... but I guess the problem for me as a white feminist is that it is hard to deal with the issue of race when its not something that I personally experience, when the majority of the people I know are white, when I'm concerned but don't want to sort of... prescribe a solution if I don't know if it's actually what people of colour would want or agree with. I don't want to be "telling" people of colour what they need when I'm really not in a position to know. Of course I need to try my best to learn about these problems, but it seems like such a vicious cycle sometimes. To know what issues should be addressed I feel like I need women of colour to show me... but to attract women of colour to the over-white feminist movement, those issues need to already be being addressed.
I don't know, I'm not disagreeing. I'm just saying that it's difficult (not an excuse! just a comment) and that... even if we don't deserve help, us white feminists would really benefit from being told and instructed and enlightened about what the issues surrounding race and gender really are.
Till
· 10 months ago
You know, Samara, you just described *exactly* how many men feel about feminism.
Derek
· 10 months ago
Samara,
I can definitely relate to your answer, because I believe that's how a lot of people think. The solution to the problem that you and many others hold isn't for WoC to tell you what they need. Rather, it's important for white feminists, IMO, to talk to WoC and ask what they can do to help, and, perhaps most importantly, listen. There are tonnes of marginalised people out in the world who aren't being listened to. I think if you search around a bit, (blogs are a great resource for this) you're bound to find loads of helpful information without having to ask anyone at all.
A Crip
· 10 months ago
This iz da SHIZnit man! But why U never post anymore?!?! Peace bro.
All Comments
We're currently trying to set up a gender equality society at my uni and are trying to work out how to advertise it/get people interested. Obviously we don't only want to appeal to white middle class feminists, so any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
I don't know, I'm not disagreeing. I'm just saying that it's difficult (not an excuse! just a comment) and that... even if we don't deserve help, us white feminists would really benefit from being told and instructed and enlightened about what the issues surrounding race and gender really are.
I can definitely relate to your answer, because I believe that's how a lot of people think. The solution to the problem that you and many others hold isn't for WoC to tell you what they need. Rather, it's important for white feminists, IMO, to talk to WoC and ask what they can do to help, and, perhaps most importantly, listen. There are tonnes of marginalised people out in the world who aren't being listened to. I think if you search around a bit, (blogs are a great resource for this) you're bound to find loads of helpful information without having to ask anyone at all.
- A Crip