“So the truth is, even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface there are huge issues that are applied that really do affect women. It’s time for all the women in America, and all the men that love women and all the gay people and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for to fight for us now.”Her comments sparked outrage, of course, as they imply that people of color and the queer community, are fighting for entirely separate causes and that feminism inherently is an issue for straight, white women. Though Arquette did later clarify her intentions, this quote demonstrates what is perhaps the biggest flaw with the feminist movement, it excludes people by omission.
Intersectional feminism is the goal, but we have a long way to go before we get there, especially when celebrities like Arquette receive the most media attention and therefore define what feminism is in pop culture. To change these white-centric, cis-centric biases, we first need to change the discourses about feminism; inclusion, sensitivity, and awareness are essential.
On April 8, UCB comedian and Fusion writer Akilah Hughes, took changing the discourses surrounding feminism into her own hands, by posting a YouTube video explaining intersectionality in terms which we can all understand- fast food:
"While it's great and delightful to have such broad discussions about sexism and feminism on the Internet, it's pretty clear that the majority of the issues deemed worthy of discussion seem to only highlight the plight of White women."The video comes with a handy key in the description, detailing the metaphors Hughes uses.
**KEY**:
Burgers = Men
Pizza = Women
Cheese Pizza = White Women
Deluxe Pizza = any combination of gay, bi, trans, POC etc., women
She explains, in her own clever way, how it is hard to be a pizza in a burger world, but it is even harder to be a deluxe pizza when cheese pizzas are the only pizza ever addressed in the discussion surrounding pizza rights.
Intersectional feminism is not difficult to understand, but it will take some serious conscious-shifting to be successful.
Hughes sums it up best in her video,
As great as it is to uplift cheese pizzas, the world could use a lot more flavor.
Deluxe pizzas! I know a lot of people who need to watch this video. But overall, something that should not be overlooked is how Akilah describes what happens when "deluxe pizzas" advocate for themselves and then they are shamed by white women. So, even though there is a shared identity here this supposed alliance and collective is at the expense of "deluxe pizzas" who endure the harassment and bullying of white women when they are not at the center of the conversation. So, I mention this to say, who does solidarity help and at whose expense? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis video is so awesome! I think it's so accurate that creating any separation at all amongst people fighting for the right's of women is only going to cause greater segregation among lines that should not matter, such as race and sex. By making the fight for gender equality seem like it's only a fight for white women to have, Arquette silenced a large population of individuals who are already participating in the feminist conversation! This reminds me of the He for She campaign that Emma Watson started which basically aims to encourage men to join the feminist movement as well, rather than solely utilizing women to fight for their own rights. Gathering as many individuals together as possible is the best way to ensure success, and taking anyone out of such an important and necessary conversation about feminism will only hurt equality of the sexes and of all people moving forward.
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