Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Women of America, unite! - please

The big Women's March on Washington DC, timed for January 21st, just after Donald Trump's inauguration, should be an occasion to galvanize all American women of all stripes and backgrounds, even those foolish females who actually voted for the pussy-grabber-in-chief.
What seems to be happening, though, is that the organization of the march is splintering into factions, the most distinct schism being between black and white. In fact, it is turning into something of a female pissing contest of the worst sort, amid more-feminist-than-thou assertions and allegations of "privilege".
Claims are being bandied around that white organizers of the march are merely racist latecomers to the civil rights movement, and that they should defer to the black contingent, who have "real" issues that privileged white women could not possibly understand. Some white feminists have pulled out of the March completely, complaining that they feel unwelcome. Even some of the smaller "sister marches" are foundering as a result of the kvetching of racial sub-groups.
This is unfortunate to say the least. So much for the much-vaunted feminist values of tolerance and inclusivity. Just because the initial organizers of the march happened to be white shouldn't mean that they do not deserve full credit for the work they have put into it, nor that they are somehow less worthy. Neither should some black feminists (who happen to be late-comers to this particular event) be allowed to take it over and dictate its terms, for example by brandishing that buzz-word of the times: "intersectionality".
Surely this is a time to put such wranglings aside, and focus in the job in hand. But then, what do I know, I'm just a privileged middle-aged white guy.

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