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Photos courtesy of Mahlet Cuff.
THE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER UNLEARNING PRESENTS:
UNRAVELING THE IDEAS THAT UPHOLD THE PUSSY HAT
WHO ARE WE?
The Institute for Higher Unlearning is a rumble of the toughest wrestling feminists! We aren’t afraid to brain-bust some bad ideas and hold white feminism accountable–in a headlock!
- The Institute for Higher Unlearning is comprised of students from the class Feminist Cultural Productions (WGS-3040/4040) who are concerned about feminist issues, including but not limited to, the exclusivity symbolized by the Pussy Hat.
- Feminist Cultural Productions as a course, consists of exploring feminist art, artists, and producing our own creative work.
- As part of our course, we are required to engage in a creative collaborative project, and as a result, we decided to partake in a public intervention to promote unlearning and to deconstruct the ideas represented by the Pussy Hat.
We hope, through our event, to emphasize the importance of inclusive and intersectional feminism.
WHY THE PUSSY HAT?
We are fed up with the lukewarm feminism that is symbolized by the Pussy Hat!
The Pussy Hat was a craftivist response to Trump’s misogynistic comments and came to symbolize the Women’s March movement.
We are unraveling the Pussy Hat, as it is a symbol that prioritizes white cis women’s political agenda, while silencing the voices of those most affected by systems of oppression such as colonialism, capitalism, cis-patriarchy and white supremacy.
We wish to engage in a process of unlearning and acknowledging our privelege to amplify marginalized voices, and create a more inclusive and intersectional feminist movement!
WHAT IS WHITE FEMINISM?
White feminism is a politics that prioritizes white women’s empowerment while failing to address structural discrimination faced by women of colour, trans women, genderqueer people, low income individuals, women with disabilities, and Indigenous women. White feminism does not acknowledge how patriarchy is reinforced and compounded by white supremacy, colonialism, ableism and cis-heteronormativity. The pink Pussy Hat represents the exclusion of women of colour—not all pussies are pink. The theory of intersectionality considers the experiences of discrimination that occur at the intersections of marginalized identities. In practice, intersectionality ought to be applied to all social justice movements, including feminism.
WHAT IS CIS-SEXISM & TRANSMISOGNY?
Cissexism: the belief or assumption that cis people’s gender identities are more natural and legitimate than those of trans people. (Julia Serano)
Sex is a social construct that ignores the diversities of both biology and experience.
Equating pussy with woman erases the experiences of many trans*, non-binary, two-spirit, and intersex folks.
Not all women have pussies and not all pussies belong to women.
Centering the experiences of cis white women ignores the alarming rates of sexual violence experienced by trans women, and particularly trans women of colour, and disregards the barriers and mistreatment faced by trans*, non-binary, two-spirit, and intersex folks in accessing proper healthcare, and other services.
Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF):
is a branch of feminism that actively excludes and invalidates people of trans experience. Throughout history, TERFs have been known to ally with anti-feminist movements that deny trans people access to health care services and other human rights.
PRACTICING INCLUSIVE & INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM
If you or someone you know has worn a pussy hat, what can you do?
- Talk to them! Do your research! Self-reflect!
- Hold yourself accountable to your mistakes.
- Consider why the Pussy Hat may feel cozy and liberating on your own heads, but that it doesn’t fit everyone!
- Ensure your feminist politics are decolonizing, dismantling white supremacy, and challenging transmisogyny.
- Validate feelings when someone calls out discrimination, it may be offensive to others, if not to you.
- Commit to the process of learning about social issues and unlearning harmful behaviours.
- Ask questions when appropriate; it is better to ask than assume.
- Remember your voice is valid but it’s not the only one.
- Know it is not the responsibility of marginalized folks to teach you about oppression.
- Be engaged with the politics and activisms affecting those around you.
The Pink Pussy Hat doesn’t need to hold negative connotations; it’s okay to reclaim and be proud, but know it does not represent the experience of all women.
Date
March 07, 2018