White Feminism, Hannah Olund

White Feminism Collage and Analysis By Hannah Olund

The concept of feminism is foundationally Euro-centric, and as a result, modern-day feminists have to actively work to breakdown the barriers of white supremacy instilled in the movement, to reach the ultimate goals of feminism. This piece was inspired by Elisabeth Armstrong’s article, “Before Bandung: The Anti-Imperialist Women’s Movement in Asia and the Women’s International Democratic Federation.” In this piece, my goal was to highlight the nature of transnationalism in the context of feminism and to provide a critic of White Feminism.

As a White Feminist, I can see how the euro-centric feminist movement was built by women who look like me, with my concerns and comforts at the forefront. Historically, European and American women’s issues are the primary, if not the only, focus of the feminist movement. As a result, the global South was considered a passive beneficiary of White Feminism. Of course, this is not an accurate portrayal of reality. The parallels between euro-centric feminism and colonialism can result in a deep mistrust of feminist principles. However, social reform feminist

(non-white feminist) ideals have taken root in the global South on their own, focusing on access to education, health care, social welfare, and updated cultural and religious practices. Additionally, social reform feminists advocated for equal rights for women in all independent nations and women’s full access to public life. While these goals may sound similar to the goals of euro-centric feminists, they are starkly contrasting. Social reform feminist organizations are not interested in solving the white women’s problems when they themselves have always been seen, and treated, as “none white”. Their organizing strategies were unique because they were forced to innovate to fight against colonial rule. The White Feminist movement of today has only further silenced the voices of social reform feminists in the global South. White Feminists effectively further the rule of colonialism, by claiming the work and ideas of women in the global South as their own. The empirical powers, both white men and white women are the perpetrators of oppression that we must rally against.

“Leftist women’s movements across Asia and Africa shared four common tenets to their internationalism: anti-imperialism, mass-based organizing, a membership dominated by rural women, and anticapitalism.”

To create this piece I dug through the quintessence of White Feminism: high-end fashion magazines. Initially, I was searching for a depiction of a woman wearing a hijab, I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised when she was nowhere to be found. The incredible lack of diversity within those magazines is striking when you start to open your eyes to it. As I was looking through those piles of magazines, looking for the women in a hijab, I realized that the majority of the world would flip through these magazines see only light skin, only white skin. Nobody who looked like them. Nobody they can relate to. This dichotomy of a worldwide brand curating euro-centric fashion ideals is the perfect metaphor for White Feminism. In this piece, I dismantle the aspects of white supremacy that I found and created a visual representation of social reform feminists using unique shapes, colors, patterns, and models. From the rubble of White Feminism, the diverse experiences of social reform feminists are represented.

“I appeal to you, women around the world, to mobilize public opinion in favor of freedom and democracy, and to proclaim your desire to see it established in all colonial countries.” -Elisabeth Armstrong