You searched for centering whiteness - Page 8 of 22 - Everyday Feminism

There are all sorts of ways to be a feminist in today’s world. If we erased all the ways in which we are different, we would lose so much strength in the movement. We won’t end sexism without addressing all oppressions; we can’t work together until we agree that none of us are free until we’re all free. But how can we work together at this point?

Do you feel like it’s unfair to accuse you of being oppressive if you “didn’t mean” to cause harm? If the impact of our actions is the furthering of oppression, then in the end that’s what matters.

These common gestures can have good intentions, but they cause more harm than good. If you want to appreciate a culture, make sure you’re not actually appropriating it in one of these ways.

Often, colonized peoples shame those who are less “Western” and more “FOB-y” when, really, we should be shaming our colonizers.

“We should be able to feel our own beauty on our own terms.” Let’s unpack how our beauty norms reinforce racism – so we can heal from the impact.

Do you think saying that you “don’t see race” means you’re not part of the problem? These points will make you think again about taking a “colorblind” approach.

Silhouette of a person holding up a huge heart shape against a sunset

This author never imagined she’d get to this magical place – a place of self-love. She’s powerful, beautiful, talented, and loveable. But unfortunately, in our society, she’s subject to shame for being fat, Black, bisexual, and a woman with unconventional looks. Read on for her journey in fighting for herself, and you might find some self-love for your own journey.

Young person looking toward the camera in a sunny room

Have people tried to define your race, make assumptions about your identity, or call you “racially ambiguous?” Your race is yours to determine. In a society that invalidates multiracial identities, reclaiming your identity is both an act of preservation and a political act. So here are some affirmations to help you come back to your own skin, your own identity, your own self.

A pair of tweezers rests on a light-paneled floor.

Has anyone told you that you “should” get your eyebrows done? Here’s an affirming perspective from one woman who’s rejecting the pressure to pluck.

Person in a meeting at work, looking happy

The Starbucks #RaceTogether campaign came and went faster than you could finish a latte. Can we learn anything positive from it? Let’s talk about how you can actually create cultural change around racial justice issues – by starting with your own workplace (and without talking to under-caffeinated strangers). What would you change to make a less oppressive workplace?

Decolonizing nonprofits means decentering whiteness and honoring difference within our organizations. It means discovering how our ancestors took care of their communities before nonprofits existed and learning from their practices.

A person sits against a brick wall, staring off to the side.

Does colorism affect your life? These statistics on privileges for light-skinned Latinxs in the US show how our culture really values whiteness – and that can really make a difference in our lives.

Here’s what two prominent Black intersex activists want the whole community to know about addressing racism in white-dominated spaces.

A person putting on lipstick

Can you relate to her struggle to feel beautiful? Read this and you’ll be appalled at the terrible ways beauty companies put down women of color – and you’ll understand why this matters.

Women and people of color already fight to get into spaces we aren’t usually welcome or seen in. We have to work twice as hard to get what we want, and harder to maintain what we get.

Just this weekend, 26 people, half of whom were children, were murdered in a church mass shooting, marking this year as the deadliest year for mass shootings in modern U.S. history. The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, a 29-year-old white man, was dressed in all-black tactical gear and armed with a rifle when he attacked the…

If American people are truly worried about terrorism and the safety of their country and people, then we need to shift our focus onto white terrorists, as they increasingly seem to be the real threat.

People of color can lead the charge, but it’s going to take white people getting out there to actually make the change.

This article originally appeared on Wear Your Voice and was republished here with the author’s permission. If you think that race does not have an impact on the way that an educator teaches school children, please come on in and take a seat. I, a Black student, owe a lot of my academic intelligence to…

What does “feminine energy” mean to you? Many white feminists find it to be a liberating concept, but here’s the harm behind it.