Good Feminism
Mikki Kendall's Hood Feminism is an eye-opening read that gets straight to the point about those who are left out of the mainstream feminist ideals. In Hood Feminism, Kendall highlights many issues and topics which are prevalent in marginalized communities which have feminine members who are not thought to be a part of the mainstream feminist movement. This exclusion de-legitimizes and limits the scope of the feminist movement at the expense of those who stand to be strong attributes. Hood Feminism provides a compelling case for including those who are left out in order to make the movement truly inclusive, credible, and "accomplished".
In reading Kendall’s Hood Feminism there is a clear definition and understanding that the mainstream feminist movement consists of white feminism and only middle class white women issues. Kendall makes it apparent that this is not an effective approach to gaining equity for women and making feminism inclusive. Kendall recalls a time when she created a hashtag #solidarityisforwhitewomen and the backlash she received. Standing out and being thought to be counterproductive to the “movement” was not new to Kendall so it was no bother. Her point was made. The point being that the women in the feminist movement push those agendas that advance some women at the expense of others. The others are categorized as such because of socioeconomic position, race, gender, sexuality, education, etc. Kendall writes, “No woman has to be respectable to be valuable.” One would think such a statement is unnecessary because that should be common sense. However the saying goes, “Common sense ain’t so common” and that is true in this case. In supporting the divide and exclusion of marginalized women and issues, feminist tend to rely on respectability politics. The idea that a certain type of person has a voice worth hearing and issue worth solving is unfortunately counterproductive. In accepting the ideals of respectability determining who is deserving, the feminists actually uphold the white supremacists and patriarchal ideals. This is problematic for those who do not have the shared demographics as those in the movement and can discourage people outside of the movement from wanting to participate. Marginalized women face problems which are specific to their identity and excludes white women specifically because they are white. Many of these issues should be a part of the greater feminist movement but at this time are not. White women in mainstream feminism do not want to openly admit that their whiteness places them in a position to oppress other people, including other women and men. This position excludes them from experiencing some issues that are specific to others because of race and culture. A marginalized woman has to live up to the standards which are set to protect and praise the image of the purity of white women. All women outside of this identity then have to live with a standard to which they must live and also live through the stereotypical projections of their own identity based on their race. This is not something that white women have to deal with because they are the standard and they can entertain themselves by dressing up and mimicking other cultures. In the statement, “The same imagery they claim to find sexually empowering is rooted in the myth of white women’s purity and every other woman’s sexual availability” Kendall explains how acceptance of these standards plays into the convenient positioning of white feminist. These same feminists uphold these standards/stereotypes and buy into the “exotic” fetishizing of other women. This minimized worth is carried over to other facets of the movement and supports the patriarchy and white supremacy. White feminists are blind to the impact of their actions and lack there of. It happens often when there is a cause and all women are expected to support and uphold this cause because it’s for the women, but when it comes to causes specific to those outside of the “mainstream” feminist ideals, then those people are left to fight on their own. It seems hard for feminists to accept the responsibility of their actions and also to take on the responsibility to make sure that each of their own members are at least having their most basic needs met before caring about a CEO position. In addition to ignoring those issues which do not impact whiteness or white femininity, mainstream feminists also ignore those issues which also impact them and others who look like them.
Mainstream media will have one believe that violence only occurs in urban neighborhoods and is an issue that is exclusive to minorities living in these areas. Realistically it is an American problem, one as a whole. There is violent crime reported in the “hood”, rural areas, and the suburbs just the same. The occurrence of mass shootings can be in any of these areas in any type of public place, making victims of white, black, brown, male, females, and everyone in between. Gun violence does get highlighted as an innately urban issue. There are many women who live in the hood who have no support from their feminist sisters to combat gun violence. There is no coalition fighting the guns in the “country”, “hood”, or suburbs. At this pace all women are eligible to become victims of gun violence. Instead of working to address the issues of gun violence, domestic violence, mass shootings, etc. the feminist lay quiet and allow the narratives that blame minorities to be scapegoats for gun violence. Kendall writes, "It’s internal oppression that whiteness enacts on itself that helps create a narrative that the world is out to get working class white people-and that people of color are specifically at fault for their problems.” This is a greater application of the “why me” plague that seems to infiltrate any “conflict” with a white woman, whether feminist or not. Feminists need to honestly identify problems and work to address those problems, not blame someone else for them. Ignoring gun violence further endangers all women especially those in high risk situations. Another specific struggle from which white women are excluded is the danger of the white woman’s tears and fears. A white woman and her tears has the power to end the life of a person of color. As a marginalized person especially a black person, there is no guarantee that you will survive the repercussions of a white woman’s disdain. There are so many examples of white women who weaponize their identity against that of a person of color, including other women. This is not something other white women need to worry about only marginalized people, men and women alike. There is not any effort being made within the movement to address this reality and to stop these occurrences. Fearing harm by guns and physical altercations are realities faced by many marginalized women in reality, but not as many white women. Action to protect white women far exceed any actions taken to protect or show interest in marginalized victims. This is based solely on race, more specifically white supremacy.
The politics involved in maintaining the current systems of patriarchy and white supremacy are as old as the country. The benefits of these systems have always and continue to provide protections for white women at the expense of all other women and men. Mainstream feminism has both liberal and conservative feminists who claim to be working toward the same goals of equality from different angles. The statement "conservative feminists" may appear to be an oxymoron to some but there are others who genuinely believe this to be an accurate representation of themselves and their values. This can be represented by the women who are anti-choice on the abortion issue and also the 53 percent of white women who voted for the current American President despite him being a rapist among other things. Kendall writes, “This voting phenomenon isn’t just about money or racism or sexism, it is about all of the above, and in many ways, the problem exists because of a refusal to reckon with American history.” This quote shows how fear and maintaining status quo lead the decision making for many white women and mainstream feminists. To be transparent, the popular vote did go for Hillary Clinton, but still in that popular vote there were 53% of white women who voted for this president. Maintaining control in government and politics keeps a limit on what can be accomplished and allocated for marginalized people. Control in politics literally impacts every facet of life and to want to have an actual change in patriarchy and white supremacy, there needs to be a change in politics. There are too many “old school” white men making decisions for marginalized people without giving a thought to what is best for them. These men have unwavering support of women who see themselves closer to them than some other women. Politics is one of if not the oldest and strongest “boys club” in America, and this is where true change can actually happen. Just think of the waves made by the freshman representatives elected to Congress in 2018. There are women of all backgrounds who do their best to challenge the system and status quo because the status quo is not working for most. This is where I recognize a little bit of potential which is yet to be fulfilled.
My personal reflections of this read are mostly positive and grateful because I have certain points of reflection when reading some of the essays. Essays like Of #fasttailedgirls and freedom, Pretty for a..., The Hood Doesn’t Hate Smart People, and others. These essays highlighted some things which were the same in my personal experience and added additional perspective. To be clear, I have never thought of myself as a feminist or a black feminist. It just was not one of the titles I really gave thought. I mean I have always had the desire to be equal to a man, independent from a man, but also was raised with some patriarchal beliefs, mostly concerning marriage. Politically I am liberal and believe in social safety nets and policies for the people and not for profit. I say all of this to say I guess I was/am one of the women who Kendall says a movement forgot. In my growing up, there were no places for me to feel like I needed to join the movement. In my struggles there was not a support system which reached out to help, that was separate from help being allocated based on my location and race. Maybe if there was some "feminist support" I might be a self-identified feminists, at this point all I can say is I am a black woman. The most important quote in this read is, “If we’re going to say that this is a movement that cares for all women, it has to be one that not only listens to all women but advocates for their basic needs to be met.” This is a summation of the whole point of this book. Kendall writes each essay to focus on one issue which is being ignored by mainstream feminism and ends each essay with the ways feminism can approach and address said issue. There are 18 essays, so that is at least 18 issues which impact marginalized women which are being ignored by mainstream feminism. Needless to say there is quite a ways to go for the movement to be truly inclusive and effective. The fact that there is a mainstream movement which ignores those needs of the very women needed to make that movement impactful is truly representative of the American way. Unfortunately race is still first and forefront for policies and that can explain why there are so many issues being ignored.
Mikki Kendall’s book Hood Feminism is an honest read reflecting on the lack of effectiveness of the current mainstream feminist movement. There are millions of marginalized women who are left out of the current feminist movement's agenda only to be misused to further the predetermined objectives to service middle class white women. In Hood Feminism, author Mikki Kendall provides a compelling case for including those women who are currently left out of the movement to make the movement truly inclusive, credible, and "accomplished".
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