Feminism
"Feminism, and feminist social movements, identify patriarchal power as a fundamental source of injustice and inequality, and hence call to transform gender power relations in all domains." -Rudo Chigudu, Beautiful Trouble
Effective and inclusive feminism adopts an intersectional analysis. It must therefore be anti-racist, decolonial, anti-homophobic, anti-transphobic and against other forms of oppressions that oppress persons, with a particular emphasis on those most negatively impacted by, and who do not benefit from, the patriarchy (this being those who do not identify as cisgender males).
"If feminism is about defending women's [and non-binary, intersex, two-spirit and many other gender identities that are not 'male'] rights and equality, intersectional feminism is about understanding how women's [and non-binary, intersex, two-spirit and many other gender identities that are not 'male'] overlapping identities - including race, class, ethnicity , religion and sexual orientation - influence how they experience oppression and discrimination.
In terms of privilege, a white woman is penalized by her gender, but has the advantage of her racialized identity. A black woman is disadvantaged by both her gender and her racialized identity. A Latino lesbian woman is discriminated against because of her ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation .” -Alia E. Dastagir, USA Today
Examples of Feminism
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Disposability discourse |
Much discussion around the severity of COVID was lessened by expressing how it mainly sickens and kills elderly, chronically ill, and disabled people. This discourse suggests these groups are seen disposable. |
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Loosened restrictions too early |
When governments loosened COVID restrictions in response to business demands, political pressure, and public impatience, rather than scientific evidence, high risk populations (the chronically ill, disabled and elderly) were subsequently told they are disposable yet again. |
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Working through illness |
Regulations around how many sick days should be required when someone falls ill with COVID also demonstrated ableism. In relation to these regulations, and in favour of profit above health, many politicians including US President Joe Biden, praised themselves for working through COVID, instead of encouraging people to rest and recover if they'd fallen ill. |
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Individualism |
Individuals have been encouraged to make 'personal' choices on vaccines (without legitimate health restrictions), masks and gatherings. "There is no individual safety without collective safety and collective safety requires that no one is safe unless everyone is safe." - Mia Mingus [1] |
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