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crybabybea 's review for:
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Hard-hitting cultural critique about white feminism and specifically how white women weaponize their whiteness to gaslight (gaswhite) people of color and especially women of color. In doing so, Hamad directly links liberal feminism to the system of white supremacy and colonialism.
I appreciated Hamad's no-bullshit takedown of all forms of liberal feminism and how she explicitly shows that you cannot call yourself a feminist while also refusing to deconstruct from white supremacy and colonialism. She gives examples that prove this specific type of aggression comes from white women across all political spectrums, even from leftists. Especially, Hamad demonstrates how white feminists manipulate identity reductionism and performative allyship to harm people of color, and also how white women cling to white supremacy even while calling themselves feminist.
Hamad's deconstruction of the "white savior" trope, and how that affects women of color historically and currently is the real core of her theory. She explores how on one side, white men being the savior of white women causes white women to become a "damsel in distress" that is allowed to react emotionally and flip the narrative when called out for racism or aggressions, but the stereotyping of women of color does not allow them the same freedom. In turn, white women are able to become their own white savior when they position themselves as above women of color and imply that women of color "need saving" from their cultures, religions, or ways of life.
She ties this white saviorism directly back to Australia's and America's colonial roots, in how white women played a large role in the genocide of indigenous people by shifting the narrative to "saving indigenous children" from their indigenous practices, and the violence of assimilation that this brought upon generations of indigenous people.
Really really interesting in how it draws connections between different cultural phenomena and ties them together to show how pervasive white feminism really is, and always has been. It lacks deeper structural critique beyond tying liberal feminism with white supremacy, this is a feature, not a flaw. The book's purpose is specifically geared toward pointing out how white women have always been complicit in and abetted the violence against people of color from the beginning of imperial colonialism.
Rather than catering to white feelings, Hamad grounds her critique in history, colonialism, and the lived experiences of women of color. In doing so, Hamad reorients the entire discussion of white fragility and liberal feminism by situating it back within its lineage of Black and indigenous thought.
I appreciated Hamad's no-bullshit takedown of all forms of liberal feminism and how she explicitly shows that you cannot call yourself a feminist while also refusing to deconstruct from white supremacy and colonialism. She gives examples that prove this specific type of aggression comes from white women across all political spectrums, even from leftists. Especially, Hamad demonstrates how white feminists manipulate identity reductionism and performative allyship to harm people of color, and also how white women cling to white supremacy even while calling themselves feminist.
Hamad's deconstruction of the "white savior" trope, and how that affects women of color historically and currently is the real core of her theory. She explores how on one side, white men being the savior of white women causes white women to become a "damsel in distress" that is allowed to react emotionally and flip the narrative when called out for racism or aggressions, but the stereotyping of women of color does not allow them the same freedom. In turn, white women are able to become their own white savior when they position themselves as above women of color and imply that women of color "need saving" from their cultures, religions, or ways of life.
She ties this white saviorism directly back to Australia's and America's colonial roots, in how white women played a large role in the genocide of indigenous people by shifting the narrative to "saving indigenous children" from their indigenous practices, and the violence of assimilation that this brought upon generations of indigenous people.
Really really interesting in how it draws connections between different cultural phenomena and ties them together to show how pervasive white feminism really is, and always has been. It lacks deeper structural critique beyond tying liberal feminism with white supremacy, this is a feature, not a flaw. The book's purpose is specifically geared toward pointing out how white women have always been complicit in and abetted the violence against people of color from the beginning of imperial colonialism.
Rather than catering to white feelings, Hamad grounds her critique in history, colonialism, and the lived experiences of women of color. In doing so, Hamad reorients the entire discussion of white fragility and liberal feminism by situating it back within its lineage of Black and indigenous thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence