“‘White feminism’ forgets all about intersectional feminism”, Blanchard writes.
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Disney Channel’s 13-year-old Girl Meets World star Rowan Blanchard has posted a three-part essay illustrating the importance of intersectional feminism on Instagram, which her fellow child star, and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson wasted no time in sharing on Twitter.
“This is such an important thing to be discussing”, she wrote in a series of Instagram posts.
“The way a black woman experiences sexism and inequality is different from the way a white woman experiences sexism and inequality”, Blanchard posted. The actress specifically wanted race and police brutality to be included as issues that feminists should discuss. The actress pointed out that the discrimination women from different ethnic and racial backgrounds experience is not the same.
The star goes on to shine light on the way trans women are treated by writing that trans women are “robbed of their souls when they are told they are not “real women”.
Over the weekend, the actress used her platform to discuss the topic of White Feminism.
In her essay, Rowland cites law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg, who has spoken frequently about cultural appropriation and the double standard surrounding black female sexuality. “The fact that when Amandla Stenberg wrote this lovely and truthful piece she was automatically labeled the “angry black girl” says enough”, Blanchard wrote.
“We are so quick to applaud white women for commenting on race issues/discussion like #BlackLivesMatter, and #SayHerName, but when a black girl comments on it – she is told she is overreacting or being angry”, she added. “I have personally seen men get called gay/f**/pu*** for wearing anything even remotely feminine”. “Gay is simply not an insult”, she said.
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We could all take a page from Rowan’s book and try to do as she does and not “only acknowledge feminism from a one-sided view”. The actress had previously talked about gender equality at the UN Women US National Committee 2015 Annual Conference in June.
