Is Intersectional Feminism A Reality?

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      In our course reading, chapter 53 and Clark's "Hope in a hashtag" essay discuss how feminism and activism today looks different than it looked in the 1950's to the 1980's.  They argue that through the power of hashtag activism and social media, marginalized groups are getting a voice. The course readings support the idea that feminism and activism is becoming more intersectional.
      However, in her essay titled "Breaking Up with Intersectional Feminism" Black feminist Tamela Gordon asserts that an intersectional feminism and activism is never coming.  She chronicles her journey to breaking up with intersectional feminism starting at the very beginning when she was its biggest fan.  Her essay brings in reality and real life experience to the course reading to show that intersectional feminism is complicated and far away in real life.  Gordon noticed that:
 Intersectional feminism doesn’t mean anything if white women still struggle to support and advocate for those who’s identities cross intersections that are foreign to theirs.  Meanwhile, the Sisterhood between Black women of color and non-Black women of color has become increasingly stronger.
As a result, she vows stick to the Black feminist agenda.

  What it was supposed to look like -Tamela Gordon
https://medium.com/@shewritestolive/breaking-up-with-intersectional-feminism-689cfab82b7e

      While Gordon does not mention hashtag activism or social media, it can be inferred that she would feel that intersectional feminism could not exist on social media either because the problem is a lack of understanding and a disinterest in gaining the understanding.  While social media is a prime platform for communication and learning, she seems to be fed up with teaching and wants to start doing.

Concept Reference:
Clark, R. (2016). “Hope in a hashtag”: The discursive activism of #WhyIStayed. Feminist Media  Studies,16(5), 788-804.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2016.1138235
Jackson, S. (2016). “(Re)imagining intersectional democracy from black feminism to hashtag         
      activism.” In M. L. Andersen & P. H. Collins (Eds.), Race, class, & gender: Intersections and      
      inequalities (pp. 487-492). Boston, MA: Cengage.


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