an intersectional international women's day

International Women's Day is a trending on all my social media feeds right now. As people and organizations take a minute to celebrate women, I want to encourage everyone to think a bit about (1) tokenism and (2) intersectionality. Let's celebrate people by thinking about bettering their lives year-round. 

I’ve been teaching myself about intersectionality surrounding gender and racial issues on and off for the last few years. Not an expert but enough to get a deeper understanding of the world and why things sadly are the way they are. I’m quite proud of myself for doing so because it’s really opened up my mind in regards to systemic and individual factors that impact identity.

Intersectionality refers to the intersection of racism and misogyny that women of colour face. ‘It is a school of thought which argues that sexism, class oppression, gender identity and racism are inextricably bound together’. The term intersectionality theory was first coined by legal scholar Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989.

It is impossible to advance gender equality without dealing with other dimensions of diversity and identity. “Gender equality” will not be achieved if it upholds the elitist, racist, cissexist, heterosexist patriarchy. It’s not enough to simply elect or promote “more women” when those women are white, cis, middle class or above, heterosexual, and maintain the status quo. This happens often in Women’s Resource Groups — they are focusing on the issues affecting white (dominant culture) women, and are uncomfortable addressing how they themselves, as white women, are benefiting from a system that oppresses or excludes women of colour, LGBTQ women, etc.

Women of colour (WOC) are at the intersection of misogyny and racism. A WOC doesn’t experience racism and sexism in isolation. The two are interrelated. Acknowledging intersectionality isn’t division – it’s acknowledging reality and lifting up those who need it. It is essentially all about INCLUSION! Inclusion in both society and the economy.

‘Did you know: the pay gap between white women and women of color is the fastest growing income inequality there is, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute.’

To truly ‘leave no one behind,’ we must consider the intersectionality of discrimination & ensure that workplaces, marketplaces & communities are inclusive.

Black Lives Matter. Indigenous people deserve the right of land and culture. White supremacy kills, murders, bombs, destroys, appropriates, erases black and brown bodies, black and brown lives and stories, cultures and histories. There can be no liberation for any of us without smashing White Supremacy – but not with the purpose of replacing it with an equally fascist ideology. To replace it with an ideology of equality, humanity, gender liberations, empathy and one where community matters, and no individual is considered more worthy of these ideals than another simply because of their skin colour or religion or gender or sexual orientation.

Power structures that favor cis men don't just affect women, and they don't affect all women equally. What can you do to promote the careers of transgender women, non-binary people, women of color, etc.? And when you celebrate, are you celebrating a season with great representation for lots of different kind of folks, and opportunities that nudge at historical imbalances? Will you keep on talking about those inspirational, badass people you're highlighting right now all year long? If they're alive, can you recommend them for jobs, commissions, panels, juries? If they're dead, I wonder if anybody else like them is yet unknown and worth finding? Please also take a minute to ask yourself what could be improved. Who don't you see in your scene, and what might you do to help encourage people to join? Who might you accidentally exclude when your shows are: not wheelchair-accessible, late at night, at a fancy venue? Who do you signify is your tribe when your event is at a gentrifying bar? In a wealthy neighborhood? Without a program?

Intersectionality should be at the heart of all feminist and feminist activist action. We stand with you and with all women, in their diverse, multi-faceted and nuanced beauty. Here’s to breaking the glass ceiling and shattering dreams of racial progress at the same time.