Women of color feminism is a branch of feminism that centers on the experiences, perspectives, and struggles of women of color. It emerged as a response to the mainstream feminist movement’s historical focus on the issues of white, middle-class women.
Women of color feminists recognize the intersecting systems of oppression that affect them, including racism, sexism, and classism. They advocate for social, political, and economic justice that addresses the unique challenges women of color face. This perspective emphasizes inclusivity, empowerment, and solidarity among women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to achieve equality and liberation for all.
Often, “white feminism” is more prevalent, which means “feminism that prioritizes achieving equality for white women, insisting that their equality will open up doors for all other women“ (Ezaydi, 2023). The opposite of this is intersectional feminism, which “considers the intersecting social structures of gender, race, social class, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and age, among others, as interrelated and shaping one another” (Guy, 2023).
Women of color feminism recognize diverse struggles and address intersectional oppression, offering inclusive perspectives beyond white feminism’s limitations.
See more resources
Ezaydi, S. (2023, March 13). What is white feminism and how does it harm women of colour? Mashable. Retrieved August 4, 2023, from https://mashable.com/article/white-feminism-explained
Guy, O. (2023, April 20). What Is Intersectional Feminism? Simply Sociology. Retrieved August 4, 2023, from https://simplysociology.com/intersectional-feminism.html