White Feminism vs.

Intersectional Feminism
Daniela Perla, The Weekly Lion, Freelance
October 31, 2015
From Beyonce's iconic VMA performance, to the Patricia Arquette's Oscars
speech, to Taylor Swift, feminism is rapidly becoming a popular topic in today's society.
However, there is a lot of controversy on what exactly feminism is and what should be
considered 'real feminism.'
Feminism is, by definition, "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of
political, social, and economic equality to men." There are, however, two types of
feminism: intersectional feminism and 'White feminism.' Intersectional feminism is
feminism that applies to all women and human beings that face varying degrees of
oppression, including race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. White feminism, on the other
hand, is feminism that only advocates for rights of the "average American woman": a
middle class, cis-gender (a person who identifies as the gender they were born with),
White woman.
Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a friend about which type should
be considered 'real feminism.' They strongly disagreed that White feminism should not
be seen as a definition of feminism, claiming that it is more selfish than helpful.
Feminism, in their opinion and mine, should not just apply to a group you identify with. It
should benefit all people that have been affected by any form of systematic oppression.
Social media has become a popular platform for supporters of intersectionality in
feminism. On sites like Twitter and Tumblr, its really common to see people of color,
different sexualities, etc, embracing their differences and teaching others to do the same.
It also common to see intersectional feminists support other social causes, such as
#BlackLivesMatter, #JusticeforMuslims, and #MMIW (Missing Indigenous Women &
Girls). Intersectional feminism brings people together, advocating for the equality and
equity of all people.