Intersections of Sexism and White Supremacy in White Women’s Anti-Oppression Development

ççççççççççç HEGEMONY ó LIBERATION èèèèèèèèèè

Oppression Balance / Immersion
Racism/Internalized White Supremacy Intentional
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Internalized Sexism Active / Capitulation
Racism/Internalized White Supremacy Passive
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Awareness of Internalized & Institutional Sexism / Defense
Awakened Awareness of Racism/White Supremacy
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Heightened/Hyper Awareness & Defensiveness about Sexism / Projection
Heightened/Hyper Awareness of Individual & Institutional Racism/White Supremacy
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Denial of Importance of Internalized Sexism / Balance
Understanding of Anti-Racism/Internalized White Supremacy
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Understanding of Individual Internalized & Institutional Sexism / Integration
Actualization of Integral Connection
Between
Anti-Racist Practice and
Liberation from Sexism
Identifiable Behaviors / ÜWork to maintain status quo and power for white men.
ÜAllow white men to use them to deliver message of white supremacy.
Ü Deny existence of sexism and/or the role it plays in their lives.
ÜAttribute lack of equality for women and people of color to deficits of individuals or groups.
Ü Actively perpetuate stereotypes of women and people of color.
ÜCompete with other white women for the attention of white men.
ÜJudge self by relationship to, and approval of, white men.
ÜView racism as individual, intentional bad actions. / ÜSee the advancement of white women as paramount.
ÜCreate models for white women that replicate white, male hierarchy – rights for clubs, jobs.
Ü Assume experiences and behaviors of white women are “normal” as compared to those of women of color.
ÜClaim to be colorblind and may engage in cultural appropriation.
ÜUse an alternative story to explain racism, eg. They just lack a strong father figure, or, It’s all about class.
ÜUse passive-aggressive behavior to express anger and/or displeasure.
ÜCry when challenged; stopping all conversation.
ÜDesire for consensus and “safety” in conversation.
Ü See self as good and loving and racism as bad prevents introspection. / ÜUnderstand that racism exists on an individual level and impacts people of color.
ÜRefuse to see they could be racist, because they suffer from sexism.
Ü Articulate clear understanding of institutionalized sexism.
ÜNo clear analysis of institutional racism/white privilege.
Ü Claim to speak for “all women” when actually representing the interests of white women and possibly creating more barriers for women of color.
ÜAmbitious – get what they “deserve”, and believe in Meritocracy.
Ü Limited resource view of fighting oppression: women must choose between racism and sexism; don’t have the capacity for both.
ÜPleased to have people of color join them, but not willing to share power.
ÜVerbally sharp, direct, and “right”.
ÜDefensive about white privilege because of guilt, helplessness, and the challenge to who they are and what they’re doing. / Ü Understands institutional racism and white supremacy and examines own role in perpetuating this system.
Ü May feel guilt or anger about previous ignorance and lack of action regarding whiteness.
Ü Sees racism as trumping all other forms of oppression and believes all mention of sexism is a way to avoid conversations about race.
Ü Relies on “rules” of being a good, anti-racist white person and look to people of color for validation.
ÜCrying is against the rules so tend toward intellectualizing personal hurt.
ÜMistrust & compete with other white women for the attention of people of color.
ÜDo this “work” for people of color.
ÜInability to articulate analysis under pressure.
ÜFrozen at the intersection of sexism and racism, eg. May justify sexism by men of color.
ÜExternal, rigid dogmatism & perfectionism protects from real internal change / Ü Clearly articulated understanding of institutional white supremacy and institutional sexism.
Ü Internalizes understanding and reflects on own socialization and behavior.
Ü Identifies intersections between racism, sexism and other forms of oppression.
Ü Delineates differences between the experiences, behaviors, and needs of white females, females of color, white males & males of color.
Ü Believes movements will be strengthened, not harmed, by an intersectional analysis.
Ü Names how some white women’s responses to sexism can interfere with anti-racism work.
Ü Internal dialogue active
Ü Able to creatively and deliberately respond to racism and sexism and keep people engaged.
Ü Acceptance of dissonance.
ÜMay cry during difficult moments – and stays present.
Ü Actively bring other White women into social justice work. / Ü Understanding, identifying, and living with the intersections of white supremacy and sexism is a way of being, rather than just knowing.
ÜAble to align identity with values: congruency.
Ü Draws people to self, limited inner struggle
ÜAuthentic in presentation and relationships
ÜAble to show Revolutionary love and compassion.
ÜHold responsibility for furthering this practice.
ÜAcknowledges their own pain in order to heal internalized sexism and white privilege, without using it to excuse, minimize or justify racism.
Ü Interconnection
Ü Beyond a place of guilt, not thinking of or situating self as the center
Ü Genuine humility
Models / Phyllis Schlafly
Michelle Bachman
Sarah Palin
Paula Deen / Ayn Rand
Gloria Steinem (70’s)
Lilith Fair
Camp Fire Girls / Susan B. Anthony
Hillary Clinton
Ani DiFranco / Jane Elliott / Anne Braden
Peggy McIntosh
Suzanne Pharr
Mab Segrest / Momentary
Occasional
Comments / Ü“All of this nonsense about sexism is just an excuse by women who don’t want to work hard.”
Ü“Playing the race card is a way to get out of personal responsibility.” / Ü”Oh, life’s unfair…we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.”
Ü “Racism is just so sad.”
Ü”All people are a part of the human family.”
Ü”Girl Power!” / Ü”How can I be racist? I have no power!”
Ü”Patriarchy is the greatest block to equity everywhere.”
Ü”We need data to illustrate that people of color have it worse than white women. I don’t think this is true.” / Ü “If we focus on sexism, we’ll dilute our anti-racist efforts. This is what happened with the women’s suffrage movement.” / Ü”After I realized the extent to which men work from a base of unacknowledged privilege, I
understood that much of their oppressiveness was unconscious. Then I remembered the frequent charges
from women of color that white women whom they encounter are oppressive. I began to understand why
we are justly seen as oppressive, even when we don’t see ourselves that way. I began to count the ways
in which I enjoy unearned skin privilege and have been conditioned into oblivion about its existence.” (McIntosh)
Gesture / Chin up, looking down nose, wink / Hand on hip, looking in mirror / Fists up / Point out and down / Standing on one foot, then the other, hands holding both oppressions / Deep breath, solid on two feet

©Ilsa Govan, Mary Grace Lentz, Tilman Smith 2012 ¯ Copies of this model may be made with permission of the authors only ¬