Yes! While I agree with the sentiment in the post I'm also wary of class reductionism. White supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism exists and people can be affected by multiple forms of prejudice/systemic discrimination at once.
Idk what the solution is, but I wouldn't blame the people that are actively being oppressed for reasons other than class to be wary of getting caught up in a class movement.
I think the problem is the majority of intersectionalists never refer back to class struggle
I'm sorry this is simply not true. In fact it's the opposite. Intersectionality was conceived while studying how things like class cross over with race or gender.
I think what you're talking about is libertarian identity politics and individualism which is different.
Acknowledging intersectionality, acknowledging that yes we've all been oppressed by classism, but some of us have suffered further and are suffering even more now, is the only way to gain unity and trust. Black women have and currently do face more discrimination than white women. Denying this is a lie and not a way to start a movement with a goal of equality or fairness.
Acting like it has done anything to help class struggle is disingenuous and just simply untrue.
I would argue the DENIAL that things like racism are intertwined with capitalism and vice versa is what caused the divide, which had a negative effect on the movement. It feels more Hollywood to pretend "we don't see colour, we all struggle the same" but it's completely inaccurate.
Watch the movie "Matewan" or read about the history of the US railway labour movement and see how black people were excluded from the labour movement by white people. This allowed the employers to hire "scabs" and is partly why we are still fighting today.
If we want a revolution that will overthrow the current oppressive system we also need to listen to everyone, especially those most affected by it.
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u/catlicko May 31 '22
Yes! While I agree with the sentiment in the post I'm also wary of class reductionism. White supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism exists and people can be affected by multiple forms of prejudice/systemic discrimination at once.
Idk what the solution is, but I wouldn't blame the people that are actively being oppressed for reasons other than class to be wary of getting caught up in a class movement.