Intersectionality – specifically, the intersection of feminism and race as it pertains to Black women – has become a bit of a Tumblr buzzphrase that is generally applied to major social issues. But it has a real and important place in fandom as well, and while that is generally accepted on the surface, it has come to mean (to folks to don’t actually get it) simply acknowledging the existence of Black women.
Here’s the thing, though. Intersectionality isn’t white women reblogging photos of black women with the caption “omg so beautiful!” It isn’t fancasting Lupita in everything or having “poc” headcanons of white characters. It doesn’t even necessarily mean supporting existing Black women characters (though that’s a start). Those things are inclusive, but they’re not necessarily intersectional.
To understand the intersectionality of feminism and race in media (and, by extension, fandom), one must understand the fundamental differences between what is considered empowering for white women vs. what is empowering for Black women. (Hint: due to many years of dehumanization of Black women while white women have been portrayed as The Ideal, these two perceptions are almost diametrically opposite.)
Take the Strong Woman who isn’t there to be loved. White women love this trope, because white women in media are so often primarily seen as love interests. I can understand how that can be frustrating, and how it can be refreshing to see, say, Furiosa in Mad Max. But – and this is important – the Strong Woman trope, applied to a Black woman, reads entirely differently, and to ignore that ignores intersectionality altogether.
Black women have almost never been the ones who need protecting in media. Black women aren’t sick and tired of always being love interests. The Strong Independent Woman (thanks in part to fandom repeatedly using the term to try and keep women of color in their romance-free place) has become virtually a slur when it comes to Black women in media in the same way the Damsel in Distress makes white women’s skin crawl. If you care about intersectionality at all, it’s important to understand that. The experience of Black women in media is the Bizarro World version of white women’s experience.
Most “inclusive” feminists can see the disparity between Scarlett O’Hara and Mammy, and (I hope) understand that Mammy was dehumanized and otherized. The Scarlett and Mammy trope lives on today, with only the most un-PC parts of the Mammy character removed. Otherizing Black women is not yet widely considered un-PC. It still continues in the media we consume every day. And just because they’re often glorified for being so strong, so tough, and so independent it doesn’t make it OK.
Abbie Mills is a tough, independent badass – but Katrina embodied “womanhood,” precious and pure. Michonne is a tough, independent badass – but Jessie embodies “womanhood.” And on and on.
It has been said so many times, but it hardly ever seems to sink in: It is progressive and feminist for Black women to be the precious ones, the love interests, the damsels who need saving.
So if you instinctively ask why a Black woman can’t just be strong or get upset if she is “reduced to a love interest,” allowed the kind of romantic storyline you take for granted and spit on, the answer is: Your brand of feminism doesn’t apply here.
And, you know, that doesn’t negate that brand of feminism. Intersectionality (of all kinds) asks you to look at feminism as something that is complex, not a set of one-size-fits-all rules.
the whole culture that has grown around making fun of girls for literally everything never fails to amaze me….oh you like to paint? you’re a pretentious art hoe. you like reading? god, i bet the only thing you’ve read is cheesy romance novels. you like music? lol yeah right have you ever even heard of – insert boring white rock band from the 70s -. you wear makeup? you’re fake as fuck. no makeup? damn you look sick, at least put some foundation on. snapchat filters? basic. small boobs? gross, you look like a guy. big boobs? ew why are they sagging and why do you have stretch marks ugh. haven’t had sex? what a prude, loosen up. oh you have had sex? you’re a fucking slut!! you can’t win. you literally can not win.
All the more reason not to be victims of patriarchy, but do all we can to dismantle it completely.
Anti woman radicals are hoping that Trump will be able to stack the court with anti choice justices, just as they’ve held up Obama’s Supreme Court pick for a year they’ve managed to hold open 105 federal judgeships some for years on end
When I think about the suffering that I have seen of women around
the world…I’ve been in hospitals in Brazil where half the women were
enthusiastically and joyfully greeting new babies and the other half were fighting for
their lives against botched abortions. I’ve been in African countries where 12 and 13 year old girls are
bearing children. I have been in Asian countries where the denial of family planning
consigns women to lives of oppression and hardship. So we have a very fundamental disagreement and it is my strongly
held view that you are entitled to advocate and everyone who agrees
with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world and so are we. We happen to think that family planning is an important part of
women’s health and reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal and rare. I spent a lot of my time trying to bring down the rate of
abortions and it hasbeen my experience that good family planning and good medical care
brings down the rate of abortion. Keeping women and men in ignorance and
denying the access to services actually increases the rate of abortion.
During my time as first lady I helped to create the campaign
against teenage pregnancy and while we were working to provide good information,
access to contraception and decision-making that would enable young women to
protect themselves and say no, the rate of teen pregnancy went down I’m
sad to report that after administration of eight years that undid so much of
the good work. The rate of teenage pregnancy is going up so we disagree and we
are now administration that will protect the rights of women including their
rights to reproductive health care.
Why are some people who ship Lena and Kara so vicious to supercat shippers? I don’t understand that at all. Is it because we were here first? Is it because our favourite character left the show and we’re left vulnerable and heartbroken and make easy targets? There is so much hate coming from that direction it’s absolutely baffling (and I don’t even set foot into the supercat tag anymore, because they tag their hate, but it still reaches me).
Like… they’re both non-canon f/f ships. Why all these attacks on the ship that carried pretty much the majority of season one? Why are people so… angry?
Did the actress who plays Lena bring a specifically cruel kind of fandom with her (I don’t know where she’s from)? What’s going on?
Like… I come from the J/7 days, and I was good friends with Janeway/Torres and Janeway/Kes (and Janeway/prehensileplant) folks.
I second this. I don’t understand the vitriol.
Neither ship is ever going to become canon. It doesn’t matter which one you ship, but because of the hate and the childishness I have seen from some of the Lena/Kara shippers, I will never read or write for that ship. It has turned me off the character completely (an unintended but understandable consequence of these actions).
It’s unnecessary division in a world we’re already fighting to keep together.
Just ship and let ship.
I ship Supercat. I will always ship Supercat.
I won’t read or write for Lena/Kara, but those that do are free to ship them, write for them, read them to their heart’s content.
What I will do, though, is stand up to hate. There’s enough of that in the world at large; why does it have to be in our ships, too?
See, this is just messed up. There is indeed enough vitriol in the world. What happened to fandom spaces being safe and fun?
And, yes, I pulled a jerk move and lost a pal, though not by either of these pairings. (Squick/almost trigger or no, I should have kept my mouth shut) Trust me, it’s not worth it, people.
Oh, wow. I haven’t seen this yet. But I am not overly surprised. (And I was already really sad for the folks who were shipping Kara and Jimmy.) I think it maybe has something to do with a lot of shippers being young. Or perhaps it has something to do with a lot of shippers being young in terms of their interpersonal and political ethics. We certainly ARE NOT living during a strong wave of feminism. We’re living in an era of backlash against feminism. One thing about this time period that freaks me out the most is how lesbianism often takes forms that simply aren’t feminist. Like, how can you say you love women, then basically treat women the way that men treat women? How can something so incredibly threatening to patriarchy become so apolitical? The most respectful fandom I’ve ever been a part of was the Xena fandom, and I think that was because it had a lot of older feminists and older lesbians in it, and they diligently talked to members of the fandom about how to treat other shippers and basically gave clear guidelines on solidarity. Hopefully, folks can cycle some posts about how folks can say whatever they want, but they shouldn’t tag those posts with “Supercat.” That’s plain meanness.
Interesting. I’ve not seen this, either, though we’ve noted (small) divisions in the Clexa fandom, as well (though what divided many of them is better known). I think @yesbothways has the gist of it: we’re not living in a strong feminist period. With the UK/US elections revealing unsettling truths at how deep racism and misogyny and homophobia go in our collective cultures, it is definitely time that a new movement sparked itself and wakes those who are sinking in grooves worn deep by running in unfettered circles.
This sort of thing should be taught while we’re still young. Shouldn’t have to learn it in Women Studies at uni (if you get that at all). It’s not a ‘specialised’ area of history. It IS history, period.
It’s a little hard to write a fluffy chapter in mwtw when Lexa’s victory speech in the previous chapter resembles so much of Hillary’s concession speech. Ergo apologies for the delay.
BUT I’m instead funneling my rage and distress into a trope-y President!Lexa AU. So there’s that… 🙂
Current status: scrolling through dozens of photos and floor plans of the presidential bedroom. Just for funsies.
I found that speech – the whole chapter really – to be incredibly inspiring, moving, brilliant – and I’ve said before, this should be a cherished work on young women’s bookshelves (would that I’d had a book like this when I was teen).
If you’re feeling low about all that’s happened, I recommend giving this story a read, especially chapter 21. It’s the sort of story women can be inspired by to help rouse themselves to action (as well as find comfort in).
Honestly the best piece of advice I can give to younger girls trying to figure life out is to completely ignore men. I’m not being quirky or cute when I say that, I mean it seriously. Ignore men’s judgments of you, ignore their insincere compliments, ignore their half-assed romance. Focus on developing yourself. Practice your art, play sports, do theater, volunteer, spend time with your friends, but do not put substantial effort into pleasing men. They’ll be there for you to pursue when the time comes and if you want to. But nothing will waste your youth more than fighting for male acceptance.
The Doctor Is Out 