I recently wrote an article on systemic oppression and intersectionality to be featured on The Uncommon Magazine. Uncommon is an online magazine that is launching soon. It's written by the youth and for the youth. I'll put a link up soon once the magazine has launched. For now, here is my article:
What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is the study of the interlocking and intersecting of different social identities and different systems of oppression. Gender, class, race, age, sexuality, religion and other aspects of one’s identity simultaneously interact. Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and other systems of oppression do not act alone. Within racism is the oppression of gender, age, etc. Within sexism is the oppression of race, sexuality, etc. All forms of oppression relate and interlock with one another. When a young, black male walks into a designer store they are immediately judged based on their appearance. This even includes what they are wearing: jeans, a hoodie and some beat up sneakers. Society says that young adolescents are more likely to shoplift than older adults. Society says that a black male is more dangerous than a white male. Society says that if somebody looks like they can’t afford the products in the store, they are more likely to shoplift and should be watched throughout the store. This young, black male has just experienced racism, sexism, ageism and classism all at once. Black men got the first vote in 1870. Women got the right to vote in 1920. Well, white women got the right to vote in 1920. Now where do the black women come in? Women of color have been left out and marginalized all throughout history. Not only are women of color subject to gender discrimination, they are marginalized based on everything that forms their identity. This is where white feminism comes in. What is white feminism? An intersectional feminist and a white feminist are opposites. A white feminist does not take into consideration the other forms of oppression whilst dealing with gender discrimination. A white feminist prioritizes straight, cisgender, white women’s issues over a queer woman, a colored woman and any other woman who is anything different from them. White feminism issues can vary from hair care products in your local drugstore mainly catering to white women’s hair with a tiny section for those with “other” types of hair to simply not acknowledging one’s privilege as a straight, cisgendered, white woman. It’s very important to acknowledge your own white privilege and check your position when addressing issues of oppression.