Over the last few years, feminism has come under intense scrutiny for its relevance to the lived experiences of women of colour. Like any other movement or ideology there are nuances that exist within feminism, but too often these nuances that are sacrificed for “the greater goodâ€. In a series of tweets, writer and columnist Siyanda Mohutsiwa expl ains why mainstream feminism fails to address the issues women in Africa experience and how they are inherently different from those faced by women in the West.
popular feminism is rotten at the core, white and privileged, mainly cossetted women clinging to the illusion this structure keeps them safe
— All The Mince Pies (@allthepie) January 5, 2015
LRT: I’ve said it before, popular feminism is inherently destructive. It is out of touch with the reality of most women and dillusional
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
The localization of feminist movements should be an imperative task for 2015. The creation of relevant, parallel philosophies is key.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
I see no use in African women investing too much emotion in http://t.co/wKeLIhKfSM-feminism when damning inequality remains a reality.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
To subscribe to popular Western feminism is to view feminism as the pink-tinted landscape of first-world issues.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
We can talk about sexual liberation with Western feminists, but lets also discuss public health short-comings that endanger African women…
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
We can talk about placing gender quotas in science schools, but lets also discuss how we will work to better our entire education system
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
Our feminism, CANNOT, WILL NOT, MUST NOT, remain a pink blurb in the top corner of the Huffington Post. Ours must be a movement of action
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
When we participate in hashtags about the troubles of puberty, let’s remember to elevate the girls in rural Africa with no access to pads
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
Let us say in 2015, we will no longer only participate in a feminism of privileged rhetoric. Let us say we will make African feminism ACTION
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
The problem with western popular feminism, is the non-Westerners that participate in it, become out-of-touch with reality.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
Western Popular Feminism, promises a good time. None of the messy business of African problems. Activism without leaving your Twitter page
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
It’s not the worst thing but its just not particularly useful in a region where feminist action could be the difference b/twn life and death
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
As long as we accept Western Popular Feminism as “Global Feminism” we will remain victims of cultural condescension.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
The problems of Western Popular Feminists are very, very, very, very, very, very, different from the problems of other feminists. That’s ok.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
Fundamentally, we all want equality. But what that means depends of cultural context of movement. That’s OK.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
We also have to remember economic realities. That is imperative.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
Emma Watson being a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador is the last proof that our feminism is often not the same.
— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) January 5, 2015
– Image by Afzal Sofi