Womanism/Feminism…Feminism/Womanism
When we look at labels to describe activism by women we commonly use the term womanist, or feminist. Words mean something despite how casually we toss them around. They are how we order and understand our world. In an effort to be inclusive when we write about activism many will often write feminists/womanists. This acknowledges that some WOC have to some degree separated themselves and have taken on the label of womanists because of the history of racism within the feminist movement.
The problem with using these labels is that they often appear in a certain order. Most will write feminists/womanists rather than womanists/feminists. This may seem like a small insignificant point but what it does is that it once again sets up a hierarchy about what counts as real activism when it comes to women. If feminism is routinely placed first it sets up womanism as a ridiculous offshoot. When we consider that womanists largely identify as such because of racism in feminism, routinely placing it behind feminism only reaffirms the idea that white women still see WOC as secondary bodies.
Even though writing feminists/womanists is an attempt at inclusion, the order of the words appear means something because it speaks to who has power and privilege. Often unconsciously we reaffirm power dynamics in our society. Privileging certain bodies has become a naturalized phenomenon and it takes a conscious effort to decolonize your mind. These small slights do not go unnoticed even if they are unremarked upon.
Many WOC are rightfully distrustful of white women. There is a long history of betrayal and silencing. I have watched time after time as we are assaulted and our issues ignored. We are told that we focus to much on race in an attempt to destabilize our organizing. Womanism speaks about our lives, our needs and our existence in a way that feminism never has. It validates our experiences and places us in the center of the conversation. To place feminism before womanism continually only reifies the need for womanism.
The rift between WOC and white women needs to be healed. Each new slight just adds to the bitterness and contempt and is the equivalent of pouring salt into an open wound thereby further dividing us from each other. When there is such a large history of betrayal we cannot afford to continue to fuel the negativity as it only detracts us from our common enemy: patriarchy.
WOC are always going to have issues that are unique to us, and yet we share many issues in common with white women. The anger and bitterness often causes us to ignore their valid commentary and make sweeping assumptions. There will never be one monolithic woman that can represent us and the “sisterhood” will never cure all the hurt, but we need to think about how we speak to each other if we are going to move forward.
Our future lies in unity and not in separation. It is important that we leave room for forgiveness and it is essential that white women acknowledge the ways in which they have wronged us. This is a problem that we need to tackle together with patience and love. Both WOC and white women essentially want to see women succeed, we just don’t always agree with what constitutes “woman”.
Cross Posted from Womanist Musings
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Feminism is a strong word in itself. Thus Avery weightier in the article
I being a woman myself completely agree with the fact that “Our future lies in unity and not in separation”.
Hmmm… I've never heard womanism used broadly. Interesting point.
This is quite an interesting post, I liked reading it, keep posts like this coming, i am impressed with your work!
It is hard to be a woman! This is all i can say
This is a broad point of the author! Just like womanizer of Britney spears.. LOL!
I think we agree mostly on what constitutes a woman, just not on the equality of humans regardless of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, or any other arbitrary distinction. We can't seem to break out of the pecking order mentality. Men don't get it, and women don't get it either.
Funny thing is I didn't realize until now that “womanist” is a term embraced by women of color. I just thought a womanist was someone for women's rights who distinguishes herself from mainstream feminists, regardless of race. Never thought much about it, rarely reading blogs of this sort (outside of this one, of course -wink-).
Nice article, I don't even know that womanism is broadly used now a days.
“Our future lies in unity and not in separation”. I definitely agree to this statement.
Yeah really i completely agree to this statement.
I'm really glad you wrote about this. I'm a year away from a degree in Women's and Gender Studies and while we have spent a fairly substantial amount of time looking at the intersections of race and gender, the break between womanism and feminism is something we've talked about only minimally.
As part of my feminism and as a white woman I have begun the (never ending) process of grappling with how I can be responsible for my privilege; inclusive in my language, writing, actions, and activism; and a vocal ally for people of color without making all of that about me, or expecting anyone to do the work for me, or doing all of that in the name of being a 'good' feminist. So;
Without asking you to do the work for me, if you (or any readers) are willing to ponder the concept, I'm curious to hear what you think would be a better and more inclusive turn of phrase. It seems like womanist/feminist is one option, but is that sufficient? Is it tokenist? How much time will be spent (maybe rightly so?) talking about the difference between the two vs. whatever the original subject is? Maybe that should be the original subject? Is it co-optive for white women to call themselves womanists? Or might that be a way to express solidarity, and a commitment to being an active ally?
Is it time for a new phrase that acknowledges and includes people of color, all sexualities, genders, abilities, classes, ethnicities, religions? Or can we reclaim a term and redefine it?
This is definitely something I will be pondering on my own as well.
Thanks for starting the conversation!
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Good work….ur posts are really very informative n thought provoking
Good work….ur posts are really very informative n thought provoking
I think we agree mostly on what constitutes a woman, just not on the equality of humans regardless of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, or any other arbitrary distinction. We can't seem to break out of the pecking order mentality. Men don't get it, and women don't get it either. club penguin cheats
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A interesting debate on Womanism/Feminism…Feminism/Womanism…I am women…today I feel greatness now people takes serious of women’s. Both words give superlative strength to women. This debate not end, but interesting.
Feminism is a strong word in itself. Thus Avery weightier in the article
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