6 Conservative, Eco-, Anti-Racist, and Intersectional Feminisms
6 Conservative, Eco-, Anti-Racist, and Intersectional Feminisms
Rebecca Yoshizawa
It’s very common to assume that feminism is just one specific way of thinking. It is sometimes associated with “hating men” and other negative stereotypes. (By the way, anyone can be a feminist, including men). Often, people understand that feminists critique sexism, or that they seek equality; however, many people don’t know much more about feminism than that.
Properly, we need to develop our concept of feminism into “feminisms”; there is more than one way to be feminist, and many different definitions of feminism. There are many different types of feminism, and some of them deeply contradict or actively critique one another.
For example, where liberal, socialist, and radical feminisms see that sex/gender inequality is rooted in problematic assumptions about women and the feminine gender, conservative feminism embraces femininity and stricter gender roles for women. However, conservative feminism critiques the lack of value that society has for the roles and work of women. Conservative feminism can take the position, for example, that women are designed for or particularly talented at mothering, and that in order to create a just society, this role should be recognized, supported, and celebrated. Child support laws and reinforcement of child support orders might reflect conservative feminist values as much as they do liberal and socialist feminist ones. Conservative feminism may also be associated with religion: for example, Christians advocating for a greater role of women in their churches.
Some feminisms expand the scope well beyond sex and gender. Ecofeminism pairs a critical gender analysis with environmentalism. Ecofeminists identify the the causes of environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change as having the same origin as the oppressions of patriarchy, racism, and classism. For instance, ecofeminists argue that racialized and impoverished communities are more likely to be polluted by industry and more severely affected by natural disasters. Ecofeminists also sometimes suggest that women have a special relationship to nature, illustrated by a “Mother Earth” figure.
Other feminisms look at the intersection of gender and race. Anti-racist feminisms identify that feminism has focused on and most benefitted women in the west, particularly as it has lacked an understanding of how racism intersects with sexism. For instance, post-colonial feminism argues that colonialism disproportionately marginalizes women. Feminist activism should be developed indigenously, instead of by feminists with “white saviour,” ethnocentric ideas about gender equality. For example, where liberal and racial feminists would critique the Muslim practice of women wearing veils (hijab, burqa) as internalized misogyny, post-colonial feminists identify how veils can form a basis of shared identity, signify faith, and provide protection.
Ultimately, this workbook is informed by a in