"There was an all-consuming focus on race. We women were expected to put all our energies into [the March on Washington]... there was a low tolerance level for question about women's participation." This quote was taken from an interview with a woman who participated in the March on Washington. A leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference told all the women to simply focus on race, not their gender.
This issue comes up a lot with people who experience multiple layers of oppression. During early waves of feminism, many of the issues were whitewashed and ignored women of color. Because of this, black women felt that they must stay loyal to their race, not their gender. As the movement has become more intersectional, however, women of color have created their own space to discussion oppressions unique to their experiences. We discussed Rosa Parks researching all the horrific sexual violence enacted against women of color, this is exactly the kind of unique experiences I am talking about. Despite this, women were often silenced during the civil rights movement.
The issue of intersectionality came up during a discussion about disability rights and Rhodes United. A student said that his professor expressed the disbelief that all oppressions can be unilaterally dealt with. His professor argued that when you try to deal with too many issues at once, something has to be lost. While part of me agrees with the sentiment that you can't take on too much at once, I think about how the more marginalized groups are often the ones left in the cold when other rights are being fought for. Do you agree with the professor? Is true intersectionality impossible? Does someone have to be left out?
A blog for the Civil Rights Movement class at Rhodes College, Fall 2014
I agree with professor everything can't be given adequate attention at once. However, I also feel as if this is the excuse used oftentimes to avoid addressing issues that may be harder to fix than others. Too frequently this issue involves race . This is usually the issue that gets put on the back burner in favor of other issues. I feel like this is because of our unwillingness as a society to own up to and evaluate our history. Also, I feel like America is aware that to address the race issue, or rather to actually try to fix it means disrupting some fundamental aspects of our society. There would have to be some major reconstruction and I don't think America is ready for it or simply doesn't care enough.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as a whole, not all intersections cannot be given the same attention, but on a personal level they are quite achievable. This analysis might not quite be historical, but from a personal stand point. I realize how hard it is to give each of my identities equal attention on a public level, but I make it known to myself and others that my identities are mine and should not be erased. So while some parts of a persons identity may be put on a lower level in the overall Civil Rights agenda. They are not erased and will be dealt with by a different organization or at a later time.
ReplyDeleteWe must first understand the history of the word intersectionality, as it was a feminist term coined because women typically had to deal with multiple states of active oppression, being back, being a woman, possibly being gay, etc and that this would happen amongst their peers that they are fighting with at one time. What this is talking about is in fact collectivism, and the Professor is not wrong in suggesting that it is a bad idea to try fight every single oppressive force at once, as it is only natural for some voices to become drowned out over others. It is however not impossible, and with proper cordination a collective front could work.
ReplyDeletefrom Tyler Jones
DeleteI agree that it will be difficult to fight all forms of oppression at once, but it is not impossible. However, this fight must be lead by individuals feeling these different forms. For example, you cannot try to fight against sexism without the help and perspective of females and feminists. Without the perspective of the oppressed, trying to fight oppression will be fruitless.
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