Navigating the Divide: Conservative Feminism vs. Radical Left-Wing Secular Feminism

Introduction
Introduction to feminism spans centuries and continents, from the early suffragettes to contemporary activists. However, within this broad movement, divisions have emerged, most notably between conservative feminism and radical left-wing secular feminism. These two streams reflect different approaches and, consequently, divergent visions for achieving gender equality.

Conservative Feminism: Founding Vanguards

Historically, conservative feminism finds its roots in the work of champions such as Mary Wollstonecraft, the suffragettes, Simone de Beauvoir, and Germaine Greer. These early advocates fought for basic human rights and dignity for women, where such fundamental freedoms were non-existent or severely restricted. Women were denied the right to vote, own businesses, or possess bank accounts. They were excluded from higher education and treated as minors throughout their lives. These foundational struggles for basic rights underpin the conservative feminist approach, emphasizing universal female empowerment rather than intersectional issues.

This early feminist movement, often referred to as first and second-wave feminism, was characterized by a broad, inclusive focus. Conservative feminists could not afford to make fine distinctions between the experiences of women based on race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Instead, their movement was united in combating the common injustices faced by all women due to their sex. This viewpoint is reminiscent of Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of antisegregation: a world where people are judged not by their sex but by the content of their character.

Radical Left-Wing Secular Feminism: Intersecting Identities

With the lifting of major injustices, primarily post-World War II, the feminist movement paradoxically fragmented into various subgroups. This evolution can be attributed to the increasing awareness of intersectional issues, which added complexity to the feminist narrative. As Malin Strobel noted, feminism became more focused on the unique experiences of women from different backgrounds, including race, gender, and class.

Radical left-wing secular feminism, also known as intersectional feminism, emphasizes the interplay between different aspects of identity and how they collectively shape discrimination and privilege. For instance, a woman's identity is not solely defined by her gender but also by her race, class, and other factors. This approach acknowledges that the experiences and struggles of women are multifaceted and require a more nuanced understanding. Intersectional feminism seeks to dismantle systemic oppressions and reframe traditional gender norms and stereotypes, aiming for a more equitable society.

The Divergence: A Personal Reflection

Reflecting on my active involvement in the feminist movement during the 1960s and 1970s, I am dismayed by the current state of feminism. What once was a unified struggle for basic human rights has transformed into a more fragmented movement, with each subgroup emphasizing different aspects of the broader feminist agenda. The emergence of radical left-wing secular feminism, or intersectional feminism, has shifted the focus from universal rights to intersectional identities, creating a complex and sometimes opposing landscape for the feminist movement.

Defining Intersectionality

Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes how various aspects of a person’s social and political identity interact and create modes of discrimination and privilege. In the context of feminism, intersectionality means including the experiences of less privileged groups in feminist thinking and understanding the interplay of different forms of discrimination. Modern feminism seeks to work against discrimination based on gender, sex, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, disability, weight, physical appearance, and height. Intersectional feminists focus on the patriarchy and the interlocking systems of oppression, aiming to dismantle gender norms and stereotypes.

White Feminism: Empowerment and Exclusion

On the other hand, white feminism, often described as the empowerment of white cisgender and privileged women, has its origins in first- and second-wave feminism. This form of feminism is characterized by a focus on the empowerment of women without necessarily considering the intersectional aspects of their identities. Other subgroups within white feminism include trans-exclusionary radical feminists and sex work-exclusionary radical feminists, who exclude specific groups from their definitions of feminism. This exclusionary approach can limit the reach and impact of feminist efforts, as it doesn't fully address the varied and nuanced experiences of women across different backgrounds.