sign in sign up
<<
Home , Womanism

If It Isn’t Intersectional,

It Isn’t by Makena Huey with special reporting by Brianna Willis and Maria Belen Iturralde

art by Caitlin Roark 13 She was the only African and human rights activist. American in her high school At its beginning, the femi- class of 63 students. Her nist movement was intertwined friends often invited her to so- with the abolitionist move- cial gatherings to protect them ment. When male delegates at because she looked scary; she the 1840 World Anti-Slavery was always placed in the back Convention in London refused of the dance team; the admin- to let female delegates partic- istration chose a white student ipate, Lucretia Mott and Eliz- for homecoming queen, even abeth Cady Stanton vowed to though she unanimously won make a change. They launched the vote; her counselors ad- the Women’s Rights Conven- vised her against applying to tion in Seneca Falls eight years many universities. later. No women of color were Because of her race, gen- in attendance. der and socioeconomic status, Well-educated, middle- McKayla Moy said there are and upper-class white women countless endeavors she has — many of whom believed that been discouraged from trying. Black men should not earn The junior sociology major the right to vote before white from Louisiana is not alone. In McKayla Moy women — led the women’s suf- a world where the white male frage movement. This created view is made normative, being 1989 to describe how individ- a racial divide in the fight for both a person of color and a ual characteristics such as race, , ultimately alters one’s lived expe- gender and class interact with prompting women of color to rience. one another to compound dis- distinguish themselves from “As a Black woman, there crimination. the self-aggrandizing move- are many struggles that I have “It’s the idea of wanting to ment, especially in the early to face on a regular basis, so see who you are and your like- 1970s. you have to have a lot of integ- kind represented in its truest rity and you have to be secure,” form without having to leave Pushed to the margins of Moy said. “... It’s very important something out,” Intercultural feminism for me that I have this identity Affairs Director Rebecca Cam- because there’s nothing else I pos said. Experts emphasized that can be or would want to be.” enables even within a movement creat- There is no doubt that fem- the women’s movement to ed to empower women and de- inism has historically excluded prioritize the oppression that construct hierarchies, women women of color. Three experts occurs when multiple systems of color still feel unrepresented and 14 students shared their collide. and alienated. One must sep- insight into and experiences “When racial injustice con- arate the intent of feminism — with intersectionality and fem- nects with , women of inclusion — from the impact of inism. color find themselves in unique feminism — exclusion. structures that bind them in “It’s an unfortunate thing Origins of intersectionality ways that white women do not when intersectionality starts to experience because they don’t occur and you reproduce the Legal scholar Kimberlé have the added layer of racial privileges that you’re trying to Williams Crenshaw coined injustice,” said Roslyn Satch- escape from in the first place,” the term ‘intersectionality’ in el, a communication professor said Bert Ballard, communi-

14 Hunter-Hernandez said. Cuban-American theo- “If we fight Equality involves ensuring logian Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz that people of color can com- coined the term ‘mujerista’ to fortably navigate a space that describe a type of liberation to defeat isn’t created for them, whereas theology that emphasizes Lati- equity involves creating a space na women’s struggle to free racism, we intended for everyone. Hunt- themselves from everyday op- er-Hernandez said she believes pression. are also that promoting diversity and Womanism and mujeri- inclusion is trendy — but only smo developed from women fighting when it benefits those who are of color experiencing gender doing the promoting. inequality compounding with to defeat “Are you really inclusive at racial inequality and feeling as your core if only a set group of though their ethnicities were people at the top are the ones disregarded in favor of their sexism.” dictating who gets to be heard?” gender, Campos explained. Hunter-Hernandez said. “There is a need for a wom- —Roslyn Satchel Moy said society still cares anist movement, there is a need more about white women’s cation professor and former struggles than ’s SEED trainer and facilitator. struggles. However, this need for im- “The phrase ‘the most hat- provement does not necessitate ed person in America is a Black a complete rejection of the en- woman’ can sometimes be very tire movement, Satchel said. true because there are crimes “True feminists who are against Black women almost intersectional recognize that if every day and they are com- we fight to defeat racism, we pletely overlooked because of are also fighting to defeat sex- their skin color,” Moy said. ism because they are related,” Satchel said. “... Ultimately, Womanist and mujerista feminism as its final mandate movements is to end all oppressions.” Every Black student inter- African American author viewed agreed that feminism coined the term has historically excluded wom- ‘womanist’ in her 1979 short en of color. story “Coming Apart,” later de- “I’m a woman, yes, but I’m fining it in 1983’s “In Search also Black,” said senior theatre of Our ’s Gardens” as major Peace Ikediuba, whose “a black feminist or feminist of family is from Nigeria. “I think color … committed to survival in conversations regarding and wholeness of entire peo- women, Black women specifi- ple, male and female.” cally are often forgotten.” Womanism acknowledged Sexism is not a woman is- that the suffrage movement sue or a Black woman issue. was built upon the achieve- Sexism is a human issue, senior ments of the abolitionist move- political science major Heavin ment, Satchel said. Cindy Kim

15 for a mujerista movement, be- caused her to doubt whether cause there still is — even with- she even believed in gender in this oppressed population of equality before realizing that female — further oppression,” she was less focused on her Campos said. gender because she was more Unlike feminism, these two focused on her race. movements do not prioritize “Maybe I’m still a feminist, sexism over racism, and they but I have other issues I have to seek to empower women not as deal with before I can be a fem- individuals but as members of inist,” Kim said. a larger community. Senior international busi- ness major Emily Tran often Lack of prominent Asian feels conflicted between fulfill- movement ing the Asian role of the eldest son and proving herself as a While there are Asian woman. She said because Asian feminist writers, Asian women women have had to prioritize have not formed a well-known combating racial inequality, movement for women’s rights. they have not had the freedom “The fact that I don’t know to combat . of any Asian feminist move- “They’ve been excluded ments is a telltale sign of the from feminism because we, in fact that this is something in so many ways, are focused on so Asian cultures that is still so many other aspects of our lives hush hush and taboo to even that we need to improve,” Tran talk about,” senior communica- said. “… It’s almost a privilege to Katia Lehnhoff Llarena tion major Cindy Kim said. be able to fight for feminism.” All four Asian students in- Cheng Zheng, a junior high school. terviewed said they believe in computer science and mathe- “Living and growing is part the principles of feminism but matics major from Wenzhou, of understanding all of these do not identify as feminists, pre- China, said she believes that a aspects of who you are with the ferring to advocate for equality in China hopes that you will find who in their everyday interactions is impossible due to you truly are as a whole, re- instead. and government control. gardless of where you’re living As a child, Kim never ques- or where you’re placed,” Lehn- tioned her family’s patriarchal Living intersectionality hoff said. culture. But as she grew up and Hunter-Hernandez did witnessed the different dynam- While several students not understand the effects of ics of other American families, rarely consider intersection- intersectionality until she stud- she struggled to introduce the ality because it is such a natu- ied abroad in Buenos Aires and conversation of feminism to ral part of their identity, Katia compared her experience to her parents, who are still deep- Lehnhoff Llarena, a senior inte- that of her peers. As a Black ly rooted in the South Korean grated marketing communica- woman, she said she considers culture from which they emi- tion major, said intersectional- herself part of “a double mar- grated. ity has always been in the back ginalized group,” which can She said seeing all of her of her mind — especially since make navigating everyday ex- white friends go out of their she was born in Guatemala periences difficult. way to support the movement and moved to the U.S. during “I never know if I am being

16 discriminated against for be- rate than themselves.” to be in a Black woman’s body ing a woman or if I am being For many Black students and to exist in this world, in this discriminated against for be- who view their race and gen- realm, as someone divinely cre- ing Black,” Hunter-Hernandez der as equally important, the ated as a Black woman.” said. feminist movement has been a The ‘model minority’ ste- Olivia Robinson, senior “slap in the face.” reotype renders being Asian a IMC major and Black Student “I’m going to be disregard- privilege. Asians are portrayed Association co-president, cited ed because I’m a woman and as intelligent and hardwork- the wage gap as a quintessen- because that’s how society op- ing, often possessing high-pay- tial example of intersection- erates, but I’m also going to be ing jobs, Zheng and Kim said. ality at play; women earn less disregarded to a higher degree However, this perception also than men, but Black and Latina because I’m a Black woman,” has its drawbacks. women earn even less. Ikediuba said. “... If we want to “That really broke my heart “White women can under- face the facts, women in gen- because, in a sense, I felt like I stand that there is a difference eral aren’t hurting as much as was still part of a minority com- between how men and wom- Black women specifically.” munity but there was even a en are treated,” Robinson said. disparity within the minority “But they also need to take into Privilege — everyone has it community,” Kim said. consideration how Black wom- It is difficult to break down en, Latina women or other Several Latina students these stereotypes when the cul- women are going to experience said they view their race and ture itself supports them, and things at an even more severe gender as a privilege, especial- Kim said she has found it de- ly in academic and profession- jecting to discuss her struggles al spheres, because others want as an Asian woman amid Black to hear their voices and unique and Latina individuals, who are “I never perspectives. often portrayed more negatively. “I have had more blessings know if I being Latina and a woman be- Experiences with cause people want to include microaggressions am being me more, and I’m really grate- ful for that,” said Maria Fernan- Transitioning from the di- discriminated da Chavez Mendoza, a sopho- versity of Long Beach, Califor- more IMC major who was born nia, to Pepperdine was difficult, against for in Mexico and moved to Cali- Chavez said. From one profes- fornia at age 5. sor telling her she might know Even though colorism can the visiting gang members being a still separate people of color to another speaking Spanish from one another and distrib- whenever addressing her, be- woman or ute advantages, every student ing the only person of color in expressed pride for her ethnic- a classroom can be uncomfort- ... for being ity. able. “It’s powerful to be a Black “People at Pepperdine are woman, it is strong to be a Black trying to learn how to talk to Black.” woman, and it is a rich experi- people that are different, … and ence, but also it’s a different ex- I’m trying to navigate and learn perience than anyone else has,” how to respond,” Chavez said. —Heavin Hunter- Robinson said. “And so I feel Several students cited the Hernandez privileged to be in this position recent immigration policies

17 and rhetoric about people of inson said. “... There’s no real color under the administration privilege Olympics, so while of President Donald Trump as a people may have certain priv- source of racial discrimination. ileges, that doesn’t necessarily For Valentina Crespo, a junior negate what they’re underpriv- economics and international ileged for.” studies major from Bolivia, this has resulted in a constant state of uneasiness. “I wasn’t always super “The majority aware of my skin color or being Latina and how people interact has already with that,” Crespo said. “After Trump was elected president, I determined definitely noticed a significant shift.” who I am and Lehnhoff said people would treat her differently what I am once they noticed her accent, respect her more when men accompanied her and belittle worth.” her when she shared ideas in the workplace. —McKayla Moy “When I came to the Unit- ed States, I did feel discriminat- ed not only by being Hispanic Moy, whose socioeconom- but also by being a woman be- ic status decreased throughout cause people wouldn’t take me high school, said her peers as seriously,” Lehnhoff said. judged her for what she did not As a first-generation college have in addition to judging her student, Karina Valenzuela, a for being a Black woman. junior public relations major “No matter what I do, I’m whose parents emigrated from always put in a category or in Mexico, said she often feels too a box, and it’s not necessarily intimidated to speak up for my fault,” Moy said. “And it’s herself when her male peers just really annoying because I discredit her in class. Even her can’t really do anything about relatives tell her she should get it because the majority has al- married soon or pursue a more ready determined who I am female-dominated career. and what I am worth.” Robinson described mi- Zheng said she has faced croaggressions as a part of her more discrimination in Asia as daily experience and said op- a woman than she has in the pression can be invisible and U.S. as an Asian. But for Kim, coexist with privilege. being Asian has always been “To be in a Black body is to more of a disadvantage. It was Maria Fernanda Chavez Mendoza be in an oppressed body,” Rob- only when she and a white

18 female student were denied is your dictionary to just walk a lot more strong, beautiful, entrance into a Hindu temple around and constantly educate and it just makes it really pow- that she realized her gender is you,” Campos said. erful in the end.” also a disadvantage. Robinson agreed and said Ignoring or invalidating “I started looking back in those with privilege should not the concept of intersectionality retrospect thinking about all depend on those without it to results in self-serving stereo- of the other hardships that continuously recall their own types and a denial of equality I’ve encountered and kind of trauma for others to better un- in communicative spaces, ul- categorizing it as, ‘Oh, was it derstand. timately making movements because I was Asian or was it “There is a point of exhaus- against sexism and racism nec- because I was a woman?’ and tion we get to in trying to edu- essary, Ballard said. some of it ended up turning cate the world while also sur- “If you’re a true advocate because I was a woman,” Kim vive and protect ourselves from for gender equality, you should said. the world,” Robinson said. be an advocate for all forms Both Hunter-Hernandez of equality,” Moy said. “... You Pressure to speak and Moy said they have often can’t pick and choose what you been used to promote diversity speak out for if you are label- Depending on the student, where there is none. ing yourself as a warrior for a speaking up on behalf of their “I have been a token all my particular social justice move- identity can either feel like an life,” Moy said. “A token is your ment.” opportunity or a burden. one go-to to get you the pass Crespo said she tries to be into this particular lot, so I’ve more vocal in her mostly male been the token Black friend, economics classes because she I’ve been the token female, I’ve “Something aspires to prove that women been the token everything.” are equally capable. Valenzue- that’s in my la said she, unfortunately, can- Blind spots not avoid representing her race and gender in class due to the Students and experts blind spot lack of diversity on campus. agreed that the beauty of in- “Pepperdine makes you tersectionality is that it enables someone else think about [intersectionality] human beings to fully see one because I guess there’s so few another. A person can’t under- sees because of us that you always have to be stand one aspect of identity put in spaces where you have without understanding the they have to represent each and every others. thing,” Valenzuela said. “Something that’s in my different People are often afraid blind spot someone else sees to discuss the experiences of because they have different groups with which they do not perspectives, because they perspect- identify. Campos emphasizes come from a different back- the need to be willing to inde- ground, because they have ives.” pendently seek information. different experiences than I “Educate yourself and have,” Chavez said. “I think don’t expect that the person that just ultimately comes to- —Maria Fernanda with the minoritized identity gether and it makes something Chavez Mendoza

19