womanism
Last updatedWhat to know
Womanism is a woman-first branch of feminism that centers Black women and the ways in which Black women experience and resist both gender and racial oppression. Womanism is rooted in liberation movements, sex-positive feminism, queer feminism, and postcolonial feminism. Coined by writer and activist Alice Walker in 1982, womanism is a response to the exclusionary environment of the feminist movement at the time. Womanism was created in an attempt to address historically underserved and marginalized communities typically excluded by white feminism. A womanist framework is also an antiracist framework. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement could be considered a womanist movement. Since womanism may not be as familiar a term to all audiences as feminism, providing some explanation and context is helpful for clarity.
Additional resources
- Parity With Men Is No Longer Enough (The Atlantic)
- ‘Wild Imperfections’ moves womanism forward (New Frame)
Summary
Womanism is a woman-first branch of feminism that centers Black women and the ways in which Black women experience and resist both gender and racial oppression. Since womanism may not be as familiar a term to all audiences as feminism, providing some explanation and context is helpful for clarity.