Confronting discomfort

Embracing critical feminism

Despite almost exclusively reading critical and radical literature related to education, social justice and art I had a realisation recently that my bookshelves are still dominated by white, male authors. In hindsight, taking into account the levels of conditioning that patriarchy and white supremacy are responsible for, it’s not surprising but it disarmed me all the same. Was I drawn to white, male writers because of my own learnt masculinity and bias? Or was I being blindsided by naivety i.e. that my research was ‘critical’ and therefore didn’t require examination? Probably both! This realisation has raised a lot of questions and self reflection for me. How can I be sure my intellectual and professional pursuits are motivated by and acting for the social justice cause I claim to be working for, if I remain in ‘comfortable’ spaces that reflect my own experiences? Also, how does my own trauma intersect with masculinity, white supremacy and toxic patriarchy? And how can I work on myself in ways that contribute to personal as well as collective healing and transformation?

I’m currently reading Feminism, Interrupted Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi, a black feminist writer and researcher from London. She says:'we must look at how white supremacy and masculinity converge, ask why both seem to sit so comfortably together and develop strategies to dismantle both.'

As a white, middle class cis het male there is undoubtedly an ‘easy’ path to take regardless of any pain and suffering that may have been felt. So it seems clear that the work for someone, who holds such currency in this world, is to take up this challenge that Olufemi has presented. How else will anything change? how can there be a claim to social justice work when such systemically entrenched injustice isn’t confronted and challenged by those with power? There's so much to unpick and plenty of discomfort to move through. One thing that is certain and energising though, is the wealth of Black and non white literature that has opened up to me, obscured by my own bias, and I hope to broaden my mind and welcome new perspectives as I attempt to grow and decolonise myself.

Next on the reading list thanks to friend’s suggestions is:

• Freedom Dreams by Robin D. G. Kelly
• Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler

If anyone is reading this and have suggestions please let me know!