Womanism and Feminism: Why They Are Not The Same and Why We Should Know The Difference
Written by #RebelGirl Tiffany Green
Feminist theory today attempts to pride itself on the inclusivity of all women while challenging patriarchal ideologies. It strives for women to have equal space in the uprise of gender equality. But, has this creed always been true?
Feminist activism traditionally has been dominated by middle and upper-class white women advocating for rights to vote, labor equality, reproductive rights, and more. The formal emergence of this movement between the 19th and 20th centuries included many women of color, but it was not without the resistance of white activists, men, and women.
Even famous feminists such as Susan B. Anthony separated themselves from and projected prejudices onto other black activists with the fear of black men’s rights superseding their own. What many suffragettes failed to realize is their counterparts fall within an intersection of gender and race.
Black women are working to tackle sexist systems while simultaneously being undermined by the ideals of white supremacy that traditional feminism failed to address. Hence, there is a dire need for a movement for black women to address their experiences and engage their issues.
So What Exactly Is Womanism?
Alice Walker, the renowned author of The Color Purple, coined the term “womanist/womanism” in the 80s in her book In Search of our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. This charismatic tetrad definition sets the pace of womanism for women of color who are historically excluded from feminism. In a more straightforward attempt to explain such profound tenets, Walker’s womanist principles look as follows:
Black or WOC feminist involvement
“A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually…loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually...”
Has a soulful connection with music, dancing, struggling, and people
“Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.”
Womanism encompasses the existential nature of the black woman’s livelihood, intersecting culture, tradition, struggles of black womanhood, and complex spirituality. It allows the prioritization of black woman’s space in issues of not only gender inequality but race and class discrimination, as well. Womanist theories have transcended into and intermingled with various conceptions, including black feminism, queer theory, and womanist and queer theologies.
Why are these differences significant?
Feminism has usually been more issue-based with the goals of gender equality amongst the comfortable middle class. At the same time, womanism manifests as an intricate system to address black women’s specific encounters with classism, racism, and gender inequality.
Although intersectional feminism is becoming more apparent in its current wave, it is essential to note that its previous campaigns have fallen short on the inclusion of minority women’s distinct experiences with oppressive systems.
Womanism takes the time to universalize feminist ideology and create space for WOC’s presence, especially black women. Going forward, it is imperative to maintain and grow comprehensively for women’s rights and also recognize separate movements for women facing intersectional marginalization.