First, that black men have often asserted their “rights to be men” by
restricting these same rights for black women; second, that black
male leaders often consider it inappropriate for black women to play
a leading role in fighting for black freedom and justice; third, that
mainstream feminism in the United States, from the suffragists to
pro-choice advocates, define feminism by excluding the needs and
rights of women of color and poor women.
18
Ecofeminists see the oppression of women as closely connected to
the oppression of nature. As men historically worked to conquer nature,
women became a part of nature to be conquered. Ecofeminists speak up
for women’s rights and the rights of the planet. They fight against nuclear
arms races, environmental destruction, and similar global problems.
Radical Feminism holds many of the same goals as other branches of
feminism—equal rights for women, regardless of age, race, or social class.
However, Radical Feminism differs in that it seeks spaces for women
to learn, grow, and find power without men. Unlike some branches of
feminism that seek to work within the patriarchal system to gain more
rights for women, Radical Feminism argues for a complete dismantling
of the system. According to scholars Susan M. Shaw and Janet Lee,
authors of
Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions
, “Radical feminists recognize
the oppression of women as a fundamental political oppression wherein
women are categorized as inferior based on their gender. It is not enough
to remove obstacles; rather, deeper, more transformational changes need
to be made in societal institutions (like the government or media) as well
as in people’s heads.”
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Another important branch of modern feminism is Intersectional
Feminism. Most modern feminists embrace Intersectional Feminism as a
part of their stance. Intersectional Feminism specifically advocates for the
equal rights for all women and understands that experiences related to
gender, class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, and religion all intersect
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