Feminism: a movement that aims for the social, political and economic equality of women and men. Its very name — which shares a root with “female” — indicates that it is by and for women. Why, then, does there appear to be discrimination within the feminist movement?

TEDWomen is a feminist-minded conference that addresses issues within the women’s movement. On Feb. 12, Kelly Stoetzel, content director and TEDWomen co-host, said in an article in The Nation that she thinks issues like abortion do not fit into the organization’s “wider issues of justice, inequality and human rights.” This mindset is dripping with elitism and is a strong example of intersectionality within the feminist movement.

Intersectionality is the notion that one can face multiple forms of oppression. Within the feminist movement, this means not all women are oppressed in the same way, and that some may face additional or different oppression because they are a minority, disabled or improvised, in addition to being a woman.

TEDWomen and organizations like it are doing amazing things by giving women a platform to discuss issues faced within the community. However, its denial of abortion as a wider issue of human rights is a slap in the face to a large portion of women around the world. For an organization whose slogan is “worth sharing,” its stance, or lack thereof, on issues speaks volumes.

Organizations like TEDWomen fail to address and recognize this issue. They address issues faced by white, middle-to-upper-class women — the same women who pay membership fees of $975 and make up a majority of conference attendee lists. Because the small sect of the elite upper class has control of the TEDWomen organization and countless others like it, it gets to decide what is important and what isn’t. Because some of these women may not face issues like the denial of their reproductive rights, it isn’t an issue for anyone.

The reason why these women do not face these forms of oppression is not because they have overturned them; it is because they have privilege. Privilege is not something that can be earned; it is something our society gives to different people because of their class, race and other socioeconomic standings. The fact that they have privilege is something many feminists have a hard time grasping. It can be hard for women who are aware of the oppression they face to see the privilege they receive for their race.

This self-denial is hurting a lot of women, as well as the entire feminist movement. It is silencing women who do not fit the conventional mold. Don’t get me wrong, issues like workplace equality are very important. However, for a lower-class African-American mother of two, these issues may take a back seat to issues of safety from physical or sexual violence.

The problem is not TEDWomen or any organization like it. The problem is not even intersectionality. The problem is the denial of intersectionality. Yes, as women, we all face the same oppression and discrimination. However, many of us face other types of discrimination because in addition to being women — we belong to another disenfranchised group.

True feminism acknowledges and embraces the differences among all women. It works to end the oppression all women face, not just the oppression faced by a select few. Because feminism is concerned with the empowerment of all women and the equality of all people, there must be a space for more than just white, middle-to-upper-class women.

Mandisa Shields is a freshman newspaper and online journalism major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at meshiedl@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @mandisashields.  

Published on February 17, 2014 at 3:56 am