A Feminist or a Womanist?

Dear Elsa Barkley Brown,

6 months ago, I was a proud feminist. I come from a city with a female mayor and one pf the largest LGBTQ populations in the country. We pride ourselves on being progressive and represent one of the most liberal areas on the west coast. Like the other 175,000 female Seattleites who marched for women’s rights last year, I have identified a as a feminist for quite some time. I believe very strongly in the equality of the sexes, which is the definite of a feminist, right? For a long time, I failed to see that the political movement championing feminism and the actual term “feminist” are separate entities.  Recently, I participated in a discussion with my college dorm-mates, over 50% of whom identify as black, about whether or not they identify themselves as feminists. To my honest surprise, many of them identified themselves as womanists, not feminists. At the time, I was almost offended, even thinking that they were sexist. After hearing their reasoning, (largely that the feminist movement ignores many of the plights of black woman), and coming to understand what the word womanist means, I struggled fully understand my association with feminist politics. Thanks to your article, I have a better idea as to where I stand. I agree that looking at politics requires a nonlinear wat of thinking and being able to embrace the “multiple rhythms” instead of chaos. Though the struggle for gender equality for the black woman and the white woman is not completely unrelated, black women’s history and struggle for equality should not be simply bundled with the struggle of white women, but instead valued in a different way. Deracializing women’s experiences works to downplay the plight of black women. I realize that feminist politics do in fact clump all women, regardless of race and for that reason, I am no longer certain that I identify as a feminist I today’s day and age. I completely agree that all men and women should have equal rights, though I am reluctant to align myself with the feminist political movement. Perhaps a more appropriate term to describe my feelings is actually “womanist” after all. I thank you for providing me with a greater sense of perspective and understanding.