Thank you for penning this well-researched primer on how we can expand the feminist movement, as well as including trans women. I found it interesting how you describe how feminists of color are less likely to view men as the enemy versus the hegemonic structures that oppress us all, to varying degrees, and to make the connections, in the case of your example of Black women in the church and in large-scale family gatherings, that many communities of color descend from strong matriarchal societies. The section where you mention how there are opportunists who leverage their brand of feminism to uplift themselves in capitalist society, along with the cases you make at the beginning of the piece, leads me to believe that there are those who do not truly wish for liberation of us all, but rather, some seek to market their feminism, and, perhaps, other forms of identity politics, to access power from one, or more, of the streams of the kyriarchy.
I think also, if you are part of the hegemonic structures, you don't quite see as fully as when you outside of those structures, thus enabling you to use those structures to your personal benefit (because those outside are less visible to you).
Such valid points! I very much appreciate your work, and, based on what you described in your response, I would love to know if you have any insights from the analyses of Black trans feminists, as well as other trans feminists of color. For now, I have Marquis Bey's "Black Trans Feminism" on my to-read list. c:
Two books I'm planning to read in the near future are : Nawal El Saadawi - Women at Point Zero, and Suryia Nayak - Race, Gender and the Activism of Black Feminist Theory: Working with Audre Lorde. Not Black trans feminism, but Egyptian and South Asian feminists, taking inspiration from feminists of color.
It has a lineage distinct from white, Western, heteronormative feminism, I believe.
I don't know if you've read the essays I wrote before this one ('Why So Many Feminists Believe the Myth of Dangerous Black Men' and https://unknownliterarycanon.substack.com/p/the-entangled-roots-of-racial-superiority ; both about feminists of color and homophobia and transphobia via imperialism), but they seem in-line with topics you're interested in.
Oh wow—those seem like amazing works, nonetheless. Also, thanks for sharing that essay! I've read a few others, but I'll make sure to save that one for reading. Thanks for taking the time to share!!!
If you haven't read it yet, bell hooks 'The Will to Change' is a great book about that topic (getting men to see how the patriarchy is damaging to them). A male friend of mine who coaches men recommended it to me, and I've found it very insightful.
Another great piece! I often resonate with your work because you acknowledge the performance of so much feminist thought. I struggle to define my own form of activism because the most conflict I have had is with liberal women that define themselves as intersectional. My own experiences, research and conversations continue to see the same bias repetition and often by those purporting to be the most open and willing to change. Feminism became a marketing strategy not necessarily a social movement and that continues to play out even here in the stacks. Glad to be supporting your strong voice in a moment that feels like it is being run by a well oiled PR machine. Thank you once again for my first read of the day!
This was so well written and so thoroughly researched! I've been looking for new avenues to engage with hooks' work and will hopefully check out a few of these soon
I'm so glad you liked it! I've been writing more of these (the researched, long form essay over shorter book reviews) lately. They're more challenging, and I'm enjoying them a lot.
If you want, there's a synopsis of hooks' 'The Will to Change' - chapter by chapter, that I've written up and linked in this essay. Might get you started on hooks' writing :)
Really amazing piece. I agree that branding men as “just evil” is a terrible strategy. Trying to get white men (liberal too) to understand that the patriarchy hurts them as well is difficult if coming from a woman. I think deep down they enjoy their privilege and might be more open if the message comes from other men.
Ah! The subject of being an abject object in a culture of intimidation, humiliation and internalized loathing has to be part of our holding mirrors us to ourselves. The SMBD aspects need to be unpacked in this current rash of misogynistic attacks on women’s rights much less lesbian rights which are always in contention and up for grabs in more ways than this forum allows.
Yes. The attacks are one of the reasons I think I'm writing more directly about feminism/feminist books this month; eg, I think the right to marriage will be lost, given the make up of SCOTUS right now :(
This was amazing, as usual. As I am currently writing a paper on the policing of lesbians in 20th century America, your section on political lesbianism was so well-versed, and I'd love to expand on your take concerning the romanticization of lesbianism. This topic may be triggering, as it discusses topics of violence in relationships.
I recently sat in a lecture that discussed the silent epidemic of violence in the lesbian community, which is rendered invisible by the romanticization of lesbianism by those who partake in political lesbianism as a refute to engaging in heteropatriarchy. Legal frameworks assume a male perpetrator and female survivor, meaning lesbian survivors are left outside of legal protections. Most laws only define marital r*pe in heterosexual contexts, and dynamics of abuse in lesbian relationships are not understood by legal discourses.
I would need to do more research on this, but I'm sensing a pattern of this same kind of framework used by feminist thinkers who want to reject heteropatriarchy for a lesbian life that they can romanticize simply for the reason that their struggles are not acknowledged by this heteronormative society.
Just a half baked thought but this essay definitely prompted my brain.
Thank you. RE: the section on lesbians - I was thinking about our 'conversation' about lesbians enforcing in-group behaviors.
And yeah, your paper sounds absolutely needed. When I try to bring this up with lesbians (or smaller behaviors, like boundary-pushing), the push back I get is in two forms: (1) there are so few of us, be expected to put up with bad behavior if you want to date or have friends (so the behavior is silenced, and grows), and (2) silence out of fear of increased homophobia.
I think you could probably do something that's outside of the technical legal frameworks, though that's also improving (eg., the definition of rape is penetration - penetration with an object is still rape).
You'll also notice I use the words/don't trigger warn. This is because I think it's absolutely essential for us to be willing to talk about these difficult topics if we're going to be able to stop them.
"not read for that reason is to do what hooks experienced in person: to silence because of discomfort. Because hooks is much more direct than I was in this essay. She’s at times accusatory toward white, middle- and upper-class women in the West (eg, of silencing Black women and act narcissistically)." I feel bell's support when I read this. My own book --a writing workbook for women who want to unsilence themselves, opens with this very call to my white sisters. We have been (consciously and unconsciously) complicit in our own silencing. And we have been willing to participate in silencing our sisters of color out of fear of losing the little bit of privilege we have. We're rewarded for excluding them and punished for speaking up. I'm grateful for the research you've done here. Thank you!
I disagree with your analysis. Strongly. Ask yourself: have you spoken to women of color about their experiences before you came up with that analysis, to be able to better analyze the situation?
White women do not "participate in silencing our sisters of color" - white women too often actively silence women of color. In her book, bell hooks relates multiple times when, in college, white were were NOT "complicit in our own silencing" - but loudly, vocally removiing her from the classroom and from speaking, and then further spreading rumors so that other would not work with her or speak to her. It left her very isolated at times.
Look into "white women tears" - again, how, loudly and vocally, white women will cry and complain to white men to silence and ostracize women of color. This isn't being 'punished for speaking up", to use your words - it's white women actively being rewarded for speaking up.
Personally, I've experienced far more racism from white women in my lifetime than I have from men. And here? All of the trolling, mean, curse-me-out comments I get are from women, not men. It's not MEN who are silencing me, I assure you.
Yes, it sounded (to me) like you were saying white women were silent & at times complicit so as to avoid getting on the wrong side of the patriarchy, but not that there was also racism at play as well.
Of course. I knew you weren't a troll/racist, I thought this was an opportunity for discussion/discourse. I also read your comment twice before responding.
As an aside, when I shared my book with my writing group (all white women), I was chastised for calling out the racism that's been present in our interactions. It was an eye opener, and it's made me aware that I might need to prepare for push-back (or worse) when it's published. But, it's also made me more determined.
Thank you for penning this well-researched primer on how we can expand the feminist movement, as well as including trans women. I found it interesting how you describe how feminists of color are less likely to view men as the enemy versus the hegemonic structures that oppress us all, to varying degrees, and to make the connections, in the case of your example of Black women in the church and in large-scale family gatherings, that many communities of color descend from strong matriarchal societies. The section where you mention how there are opportunists who leverage their brand of feminism to uplift themselves in capitalist society, along with the cases you make at the beginning of the piece, leads me to believe that there are those who do not truly wish for liberation of us all, but rather, some seek to market their feminism, and, perhaps, other forms of identity politics, to access power from one, or more, of the streams of the kyriarchy.
oh, there definitely are :)
I think also, if you are part of the hegemonic structures, you don't quite see as fully as when you outside of those structures, thus enabling you to use those structures to your personal benefit (because those outside are less visible to you).
And well, opportunists abound in the world :)
Such valid points! I very much appreciate your work, and, based on what you described in your response, I would love to know if you have any insights from the analyses of Black trans feminists, as well as other trans feminists of color. For now, I have Marquis Bey's "Black Trans Feminism" on my to-read list. c:
Two books I'm planning to read in the near future are : Nawal El Saadawi - Women at Point Zero, and Suryia Nayak - Race, Gender and the Activism of Black Feminist Theory: Working with Audre Lorde. Not Black trans feminism, but Egyptian and South Asian feminists, taking inspiration from feminists of color.
It has a lineage distinct from white, Western, heteronormative feminism, I believe.
I don't know if you've read the essays I wrote before this one ('Why So Many Feminists Believe the Myth of Dangerous Black Men' and https://unknownliterarycanon.substack.com/p/the-entangled-roots-of-racial-superiority ; both about feminists of color and homophobia and transphobia via imperialism), but they seem in-line with topics you're interested in.
Oh wow—those seem like amazing works, nonetheless. Also, thanks for sharing that essay! I've read a few others, but I'll make sure to save that one for reading. Thanks for taking the time to share!!!
Thank you so much for reading & supporting my work here!
Another fantastic piece, Jo. As a man, it's baffling to me that more men don't see that the patriarchy is damaging to everyone, not only women.
I'm so glad you like it!
If you haven't read it yet, bell hooks 'The Will to Change' is a great book about that topic (getting men to see how the patriarchy is damaging to them). A male friend of mine who coaches men recommended it to me, and I've found it very insightful.
I’ll look for it. Thanks!
Another great piece! I often resonate with your work because you acknowledge the performance of so much feminist thought. I struggle to define my own form of activism because the most conflict I have had is with liberal women that define themselves as intersectional. My own experiences, research and conversations continue to see the same bias repetition and often by those purporting to be the most open and willing to change. Feminism became a marketing strategy not necessarily a social movement and that continues to play out even here in the stacks. Glad to be supporting your strong voice in a moment that feels like it is being run by a well oiled PR machine. Thank you once again for my first read of the day!
" Feminism became a marketing strategy not necessarily a social movement " 101%; I have two essay topics planned, this is one of them.
No PR machine, no classes or paid help on how to make a successful Substack -- just me behind the scenes, posting between work things.
Thank you for your support!
This was so well written and so thoroughly researched! I've been looking for new avenues to engage with hooks' work and will hopefully check out a few of these soon
I'm so glad you liked it! I've been writing more of these (the researched, long form essay over shorter book reviews) lately. They're more challenging, and I'm enjoying them a lot.
If you want, there's a synopsis of hooks' 'The Will to Change' - chapter by chapter, that I've written up and linked in this essay. Might get you started on hooks' writing :)
Really amazing piece. I agree that branding men as “just evil” is a terrible strategy. Trying to get white men (liberal too) to understand that the patriarchy hurts them as well is difficult if coming from a woman. I think deep down they enjoy their privilege and might be more open if the message comes from other men.
Oh, agreed on men! And thank you :)
Ah! The subject of being an abject object in a culture of intimidation, humiliation and internalized loathing has to be part of our holding mirrors us to ourselves. The SMBD aspects need to be unpacked in this current rash of misogynistic attacks on women’s rights much less lesbian rights which are always in contention and up for grabs in more ways than this forum allows.
Yes. The attacks are one of the reasons I think I'm writing more directly about feminism/feminist books this month; eg, I think the right to marriage will be lost, given the make up of SCOTUS right now :(
This was amazing, as usual. As I am currently writing a paper on the policing of lesbians in 20th century America, your section on political lesbianism was so well-versed, and I'd love to expand on your take concerning the romanticization of lesbianism. This topic may be triggering, as it discusses topics of violence in relationships.
I recently sat in a lecture that discussed the silent epidemic of violence in the lesbian community, which is rendered invisible by the romanticization of lesbianism by those who partake in political lesbianism as a refute to engaging in heteropatriarchy. Legal frameworks assume a male perpetrator and female survivor, meaning lesbian survivors are left outside of legal protections. Most laws only define marital r*pe in heterosexual contexts, and dynamics of abuse in lesbian relationships are not understood by legal discourses.
I would need to do more research on this, but I'm sensing a pattern of this same kind of framework used by feminist thinkers who want to reject heteropatriarchy for a lesbian life that they can romanticize simply for the reason that their struggles are not acknowledged by this heteronormative society.
Just a half baked thought but this essay definitely prompted my brain.
Thank you. RE: the section on lesbians - I was thinking about our 'conversation' about lesbians enforcing in-group behaviors.
And yeah, your paper sounds absolutely needed. When I try to bring this up with lesbians (or smaller behaviors, like boundary-pushing), the push back I get is in two forms: (1) there are so few of us, be expected to put up with bad behavior if you want to date or have friends (so the behavior is silenced, and grows), and (2) silence out of fear of increased homophobia.
I think you could probably do something that's outside of the technical legal frameworks, though that's also improving (eg., the definition of rape is penetration - penetration with an object is still rape).
You'll also notice I use the words/don't trigger warn. This is because I think it's absolutely essential for us to be willing to talk about these difficult topics if we're going to be able to stop them.
thank you for so much for reading!
Love it! Feeling angry about some parts (asking white women to be inclusive is too much etc) but it’s good to be angry too
Oh, yessss...I can see that (re both white women, and men).
But looking at in a practical, action-based way is necessary too. I think of bell hooks' work more as instructive than asking.
And thank you for reading!!
"not read for that reason is to do what hooks experienced in person: to silence because of discomfort. Because hooks is much more direct than I was in this essay. She’s at times accusatory toward white, middle- and upper-class women in the West (eg, of silencing Black women and act narcissistically)." I feel bell's support when I read this. My own book --a writing workbook for women who want to unsilence themselves, opens with this very call to my white sisters. We have been (consciously and unconsciously) complicit in our own silencing. And we have been willing to participate in silencing our sisters of color out of fear of losing the little bit of privilege we have. We're rewarded for excluding them and punished for speaking up. I'm grateful for the research you've done here. Thank you!
I disagree with your analysis. Strongly. Ask yourself: have you spoken to women of color about their experiences before you came up with that analysis, to be able to better analyze the situation?
White women do not "participate in silencing our sisters of color" - white women too often actively silence women of color. In her book, bell hooks relates multiple times when, in college, white were were NOT "complicit in our own silencing" - but loudly, vocally removiing her from the classroom and from speaking, and then further spreading rumors so that other would not work with her or speak to her. It left her very isolated at times.
Look into "white women tears" - again, how, loudly and vocally, white women will cry and complain to white men to silence and ostracize women of color. This isn't being 'punished for speaking up", to use your words - it's white women actively being rewarded for speaking up.
Personally, I've experienced far more racism from white women in my lifetime than I have from men. And here? All of the trolling, mean, curse-me-out comments I get are from women, not men. It's not MEN who are silencing me, I assure you.
I think we are saying the same thing, although I might not have been very clear. Yes, white women are quite racist. Exactly what I mean.
Yes, it sounded (to me) like you were saying white women were silent & at times complicit so as to avoid getting on the wrong side of the patriarchy, but not that there was also racism at play as well.
Thanks for clarifying.
I'm glad you spoke into this. Thank you.
Of course. I knew you weren't a troll/racist, I thought this was an opportunity for discussion/discourse. I also read your comment twice before responding.
Thank you for being understanding, also.
As an aside, when I shared my book with my writing group (all white women), I was chastised for calling out the racism that's been present in our interactions. It was an eye opener, and it's made me aware that I might need to prepare for push-back (or worse) when it's published. But, it's also made me more determined.