White Feminism vs. Intersectional Feminism: What's the Difference?
Understanding the Divide in Feminism
Feminism is often discussed as a unified movement, but in reality, it has long been divided by race, class, and privilege. At the heart of this divide is the distinction between white feminism and intersectional feminism. While both claim to fight for gender equality, only one truly acknowledges and challenges the multiple layers of oppression that different women face.
For feminism to be meaningful and effective, it must be intersectional—a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to describe how various forms of discrimination (such as race, gender, and class) overlap and create unique experiences of oppression. Yet, despite decades of discourse, mainstream feminism still struggles with centring the voices of marginalized women.
So, what is white feminism, and why is intersectional feminism the future of real change?
What is White Feminism?
White feminism refers to a brand of feminism that primarily centers on the experiences and priorities of white, middle-class, cisgender, heterosexual women while ignoring the struggles of women from marginalized backgrounds. It focuses on issues that disproportionately affect privileged women—such as the glass ceiling and corporate leadership—while sidelining or overlooking problems like racism, police brutality, transphobia, and economic inequality.
Examples of White Feminism in Action
The Suffrage Movement – The early feminist movement in the U.S. and UK fought for women’s right to vote, but many prominent white suffragettes, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, deliberately excluded Black women from the movement.
The #MeToo Movement – Originally founded by Tarana Burke, a Black activist, #MeToo became widely recognized only when white celebrities like Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan amplified it. Black women’s experiences with sexual violence were often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
Mainstream Feminist Campaigns – Many feminist campaigns focus on issues like equal pay without addressing the racial pay gap. In the U.S., white women earn about 82 cents for every dollar a man makes, but Black women earn only 70 cents, and Latina women earn even less.
White feminism does not mean all white feminists are bad, but it refers to a version of feminism that refuses to acknowledge how race, class, disability, and sexuality affect different women's struggles. It is feminism for the privileged—and that’s why it is not enough.
What is Intersectional Feminism?
Intersectional feminism is the recognition that gender inequality is deeply connected to race, class, sexuality, ability, and other identities. It understands that the struggles of a Black trans woman are different from those of a white cis woman and that feminism must fight against all systems of oppression—not just sexism.
Key Principles of Intersectional Feminism
Acknowledging Privilege – Recognizing that not all women experience oppression in the same way and that some women also hold privilege (e.g., a white woman may face sexism but not racism).
Amplifying Marginalized Voices – Ensuring that feminism includes and prioritizes the voices of Black, Indigenous, disabled, LGBTQ+, and working-class women.
Addressing Systemic Issues – Fighting against all forms of oppression, including racism, transphobia, ableism, and economic inequality, rather than focusing solely on issues that benefit privileged women.
Challenging Mainstream Narratives – Critiquing how the media, corporations, and institutions co-opt feminism for profit while failing to support real systemic change.
Examples of Intersectional Feminism in Action
Black Lives Matter & Feminism – Supporting the fight against police brutality, which disproportionately affects Black women.
Trans Rights & Feminism – Challenging TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) ideologies and fighting for the rights of trans women within feminist spaces.
Reproductive Justice – Recognizing that abortion rights impact marginalized communities differently (e.g., restrictions disproportionately harm Black and low-income women).
Fighting for Domestic Workers’ Rights – Advocating for better labor protections for women of color who are often exploited in domestic work and caregiving roles.
Why Intersectional Feminism Matters
Feminism should be about dismantling all forms of oppression, not just the ones that affect privileged women. White feminism focuses on individual success—getting a seat at the table—while intersectional feminism asks why the table exists in the first place and who has been excluded from it.
How to Practice Intersectional Feminism
✅ Listen to marginalized voices – Follow activists, writers, and organizations that advocate for intersectionality.
✅ Acknowledge privilege – Recognize that privilege exists in feminism and use it to uplift others. ✅ Support diverse feminist movements – Engage with feminism that includes racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and disability activism.
✅ Call out performative activism – Don’t support brands or individuals who use feminism as a marketing tool while failing to enact real change.
✅ Advocate for policy changes – Push for legal and systemic reforms that address all women’s struggles, not just those of the privileged.
Final Thoughts
Feminism should be for everyone, but for too long, mainstream feminism has ignored the struggles of marginalized women. White feminism offers a narrow, privileged perspective that fails to challenge the deeper systems of oppression that affect different women in different ways. Intersectional feminism is the only feminism that truly fights for all women, and it is the only path toward real, lasting change.
It’s time to move beyond feminism that only benefits the few. The future of feminism is intersectional—or it’s nothing at all.