Racialized Women and Feminism

Thought I would start a thread to try and explore women's viewpoints, in particular, racialized women's viewpoints on what they see occuring in regards to women's rights and current actions occuring in Canada, and what they want to happen in regards to feminism and creating a meeting place between all Canadian women.

Though I am a racialized white woman, and have experienced the sharp brunt of discrimination beyond my gender, I still cannot know what WOC want from a united fight to gain women's equality and what they support, or do not support. Nor can I understand personally how being raised with this discrimination feels to one as an adult still experiencing it, nor how it has impacted development.

Understanding that each persons POV will be diverse as there is no 1 voice, but I feel illuminating a general perception of differing communities on issues that face us all, such as; Bill C484, or abortion rights, or affirmative action for women in political parties, would be a good place to start.

The reason why I specify issues that face us all, as opposed to a more narrow dialogue about things that face only certain segments of women in society, is to build a foundation of understanding between us, as it seems we need to start again with the basics. Plus, of course is the recognition that individual women's community issues must be addressed by them, with other women only giving a supporting role if needed.

** This is a women only thread please

I am a firm believer in getting more women into parliament. On the News last night they zeroed into Mr. Harper speaking. Behind and around him a bunch of mostly older white men is suits. When they zeroed into Dion there was I believe one woman to be seen and when they went into Layton there were several women.

Does this not speak to how important women are to our leaders?

Interesting observation margrace, and I concur, it does show what party does know gender equality and IMV, more action needs to be taken to get more women into parliament. It would also be helpful if they were actually feminist women of course. I would not like to see the likes of more Betty Hintons for example.

Here in BC, the BCNDP, now have a cap of 30% women replacements for incumbent ridings with a 10% cap for other minorities. Though unpopular with some men in the BCNDP, I believe it is a good move.

An interesting book review on the topic of racialized women and reproductive rights struggles:

quote:Nelson's key thesis is that black and Latina women were essential to developing a feminist movement for reproductive freedom in the 1970s and early 1980s that extended beyond the fight for legalized abortion to encompass a broad right to reproductive control, including the right to bear children. As Nelson writes, "Black women seldom receive proper credit for the work they have done for reproductive rights. Nor have white feminists often acknowledged the extent to which black women shaped the feminist reproductive rights movement" (56). In the late 1960s feminist reproductive rights advocates centered on gaining fertility control for women by extending access to legal abortion and birth control. Nelson chronicles the dramatic transformation of this agenda over the course of the next two decades to include opposition to sterilization abuse and other forms of population control. Her first chapter describes the evolution of Redstockings, a radical feminist organization in New York City that was founded in 1967 and burst on the political scene by disrupting the first New York State legislative hearings on abortion law reform in 1969. Nelson explains how Redstockings shifted abortion activism from the movement for birth control to a central aspect of the feminist struggle for women's autonomy, including control over reproduction.

Although she criticizes Redstockings' "political blind spot" in failing to recognize the different experiences (and I would add political status) of women of color and poor women, Nelson helpfully elucidates the group's radical defense of abortion rights that distinguished it from mainstream liberal women's organizations such as NOW. In the process she brings the contentious period to life through fascinating details about Redstockings' rhetorical and organizing strategies as well as confrontations with its adversaries. Nelson's careful attention to political nuance among people who are often conveniently lumped together, from white women's liberationists and birth control advocates to black nationalist men, is a particular strength of this book.

Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement

I've been reading a bit recently (just articles and some internet research, no huge scholarly tomes or anything) about how women of colour have felt alienated by a predominantly white pro-choice movement that focuses mostly on abortion and the right for a woman to restrict her own fertility through birth control and abortion.

Whereas women of colour have had to fight for the right to bear children and to fight against the racism they experience as a result if they have children, and stereotypes of themselves as overly fertile and their children as unwanted by society.

Another interesting historical note:

quote:First, she explicates black women's distinctive understanding of reproductive rights by chronicling their activism in relation to white feminists and to men in the black liberation movement. As Nelson puts it, "In listening to black women, one discovers that they offered a more complicated view of reproductive control than did either Black Nationalists or white women's liberationists" (56). Black women placed reproductive rights in a social context that made government provision of family planning contingent on improvements in general health and living conditions.

[ 26 February 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]

Thanks Michelle, that is a reality that I would very much like to see discussed, from many parameters actually. and how WoC see abortions, and how, or what is:

quote:family planning contingent on improvements in general health and living conditions.

quote:and how WoC see abortions

Many factors contribute in shaping women's views on abortion. The colour of their skin is not one of them.

quote:Originally posted by adam stratton:

Many factors contribute in shaping women's views on abortion. The colour of their skin is not one of them.And you know this how?

Because there is no reliable and convincing scientific data that indicates any correlation between the two: skin colour and thought process.

On the other hand, I see mounting evidence for a relationship between pallid skin colour and lack of thought process in some guys... [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]

[ 26 February 2008: Message edited by: martin dufresne ]

Hi guys. Please respect the request at the beginning of this thread for a women-only discussion. Thanks.

Thanks for interjecting Michelle I don't want to see another thread derailed especially when there is a great dialogue happening and the potential for more interesting developments.

Several very good and important threads growing lately ESPECIALLY when they are not derailed and disrespected by silliness.

My apologies, I should know better!

[img]wink.gif" border="0[/img] No prob. Thanks!

I just found this article on one of my favourite blogs. It refers to a few other blog discussions recently that have been deleted or shut down, but you can follow the arguments by the WOC in the comments, and actually see, reenacted, the issues that WOC struggle with against white feminists regarding reproductive health issues in general, and Planned Parenthood specifically.

There's also tons of info about Planned Parenthood, some of which I already knew, some of which I didn't.

quote:
It’s dangerous to not know the history of an organization–even more dangerous to not know its present. Yes, PP has done some absolutely amazing and brilliant things. PP has also done some detestable and horrific things–and it is WRONG to let the detestable and horrific things pass because of the good things. It’s even worse to call a woman of color who has had a bad experience with her reproductive life “stupid” because there is no critical analysis of how a historically “population control” centered institute is currently conducting its business.

La Chola: brownfemipower

Women with disabilities tend to have a different "slant" and different experiences of these matters as well. However, since that's not the topic of the thread, I'll say no more.

[ 02 March 2008: Message edited by: RosaL ]

RosaL, there are many connections between racism, disability and the historical eugenics movement, mostly involving enforced sterilization (that continues to this day). This has also historically (and currently) included poor women, of all racial backgrounds and abilities.

quote:Originally posted by bigcitygal:
RosaL, there are many connections between racism, disability and the historical eugenics movement, mostly involving enforced sterilization (that continues to this day). This has also historically (and currently) included poor women, of all racial backgrounds and abilities.

yep. That's some of what I had in mind.

[ 02 March 2008: Message edited by: RosaL ]

My daughter and some coleagues have been doing a study of the treatment of Native Women in BC by the medical system. I don't believe it is published yet but I read some of the stories and they are heart breaking. About Native Women going into immerg for treatment and being vertually ignored.
When this is published I will be happy to pass it on to anyone who wants to read it.

I know it a old thread n men aint supposed to be in here just gonna say a couple things then Im gone.

1 Where did threads like this go on this site? These kinds of threads where shit actually discuessed are missing like fucc

2 There been cases of WOC going for a operation and being "accidently" sterilized as well as US, NATO, etc funded sterilization programs in much of the 3rd world

3 Remind what did you mean by racialized white woman? Ur mixed? Or did you mean something else?

4 Ye there are differences between the white feminist movement and WOC that are ignored and in the liberation movement from men ur most likely to hear things (which many times could be true) like one reason they want sterilization etc is to kill us off/reduce numbers but the sistas perspective which much more wide and open ended tends to get ignored.

Seein my way out the thread now Peace

Rexdale, please do not post in threads where it is clearly specified that a women-only discussion is wanted.  You clearly noticed this request because you said so at the beginning of your post.  It's also clear that if you're asking a bunch of questions, then you're not simply posting one little thing and then "being gone".

Please respect this space.  Thanks.

commercial spam removed by moderator

maysie  "Hi guys. Please respect the request at the beginning of this thread for a women-only discussion. Thanks."

how can you tell?  and what if a transvestite shows up how do you decide? the concept of a public site where only one sex can have a conversation is an interesting one though, so i will give you that...

Hey sandstone.

Actually Michelle said the quote at post #10 that you incorrectly attributed to me.

This thread was reactivated by a troll this afternoon.

Friendly suggestion: How about we have comments related to the actual content of the OP rather than oblique musings about gender, "sex" and taking up space on an online discussion board?

maysie, that makes the most amount of sense and of course is not something that is reliant on what sex one is either... when someone figures out what '''sex''' by brain is, let me know... thanks...

Introducing new and improved SPAMBEGONE!!!  at your friendly neighbourhood oldgoat.

Spam!!!

Hmm. Well. Since this has been reactivated again, I'm going to add in some content to the original question remind asked in the OP.

From: The Angry Black Woman: Intersectionality

How it shows a today post on TAT after maysies but I cannot get it to load?

There is something in the  internal workings wonky about this thread, as it showed a Krista, or some name like that, who posted in this thread but I could not get it to load, and then when I asked the question about it, it would not load either and  then it was  posted x2 later

That would be my doing remind.  Lately we've had a rash of commercial spammers.   I used to delete the content, leaving the post up with a note saying what I had done.  I still do that if the spam is not in the last post because to just delete can bugger things up.  If it's the last post though, I just delete the whole thing because it's easier.  It stays on the TAT though. 

FYI, Lately I'm probaly spending all my paid mod time and more dealing with commercial spam.  You never see most of it because I can catch a lot of it on the users list before they post, and when they do slip through I'm on it pretty fast.

Oh, okay thanks old goat.....thought I was losing it.

Well now let's not rule that out...

True enough.... :D

This is the second time in two weeks this particular thread has been activated by the essay spammers. I find that way weird.

There is one over in the Peruvian Rainforest thread as well.

Thanks Caissa, i got rid of it.

Make that three.

I'm betting it's the thread title - essay writing spammers probably look for terms they consider "academic", and "racialized" is probably considered one of those anti-racist feminist academic type terms.

My theory is the bot/spamming company has this thread bookmarked.

Since we aren't talking about the thread topic anymore I'm gonna make the radical decision to close the thread. If anyone wishes to start a new one someday, hopefully the bots will have moved on to colonizing Mars or something.