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This video discusses what a feminist is, it takes to be a one, who can be a one.

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This video by Peter Hopkins gives an overview of what intersectionality is and also gives ideas of ways we can combat the oppressions caused by intersectionality.

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This video talks about how gender is a social construction. It is instilled in us from birth what gender we are "supposed" to be. It describes gender as being "performative" or "a sort of script that society expects us to act out"(Is Gender Real? 2015). It challenges this idea saying "should this category of boys and girls even exist?" (Is Gender Real? 2015)

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This image gives a very basic way to view privilege and oppression using a coin analogy. It still makes the point that these privileges are unearned and that there is a "social structure that produces and maintains inequality" (Simons et al., 2019).

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The coin model of privilege and critical allyship: implications ...

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This image makes a key point that the main goal of feminism is equality for all. It also highlights the importance of activism in the feminist praxis.

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Why Do so Many people View Feminism in a Negative Light?

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Why Do so Many people View Feminism in a Negative Light?

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This article from Forbes suggests five key reasons why feminism is viewed so negatively. It says that often feminism is associated with angry and forceful women which many people do not like, some fear men will lose their power, others believe feminists want to control the world and put down men, and some fear a shift in the family dynamic (Caprino, 2017).

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In my work in the media, as a therapist and coach, a former corporate Vice President, and one who regularly covers issues about gender equality, leadership, social change, etc., I've received thousands of comments from people around the world. They openly share their vast array of beliefs and opinions about gender equality, women and men in life and business, and feminism.

In honor of International Women's Day today and its theme #BeBoldForChange, I'd like to share my personal take on what feminism signifies at its core, and why so many men and women in our world still hate and resist it fiercely.

For more on this issue, check out my Facebook Live video that shares my candid views:

In exploring the latest data from around the world on gender equality, and if we read any news at all or engage in social media activity, the following is abundantly clear - there is tremendous dissent and vehement disagreement today among people around the world about the status and importance of equality.

I've seen this:

* There are millions of people who both inwardly and outwardly do not support the idea that there should be equal rights and equal opportunities for men and women

* There are thousands of people who feel we've already arrived at equality for men and women.

* There are also thousands of people who believe we're not at all there yet, and support continuing efforts to pave the way for equal rights for men and women.

* There are thousands who believe in equal rights but find "feminism" a word and a movement that doesn't align with their personal beliefs or values

* It's abundantly clear that our specific views on these issues are rooted deeply in our own personal and direct experiences, rather than on any data, research or science surrounding the issues. (In other words, if we've personally faced discrimination, we know beyond doubt that it exists. But if we haven't faced it ourselves, we often doubt that it happens.)

* Finally, both conscious and unconscious gender bias is rampant within us, but most us aren't aware of it

So, what would be helpful in this dialogue, or in this situation we find ourselves in today where there is a great divide among men and women, and among the people of our country who see things dramatically differently from each other?
First, let's understand what feminism is meant to be.
If you look up the definition of "Feminism" in the dictionary, you'll see these statements:

Feminism is:

1. The advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes

2. The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes

3. The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities

4. The doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men

Feminism at its core is about equality of men and women, not "sameness." So many people offer up the argument that women are not the "same" as men so there can't be equality. In other words, because their bodies are different (many say "weaker" and smaller), and because men and women have different physical capabilities, these physical differences mean equality is not possible.

It's critical to understand that "same" does not mean "equal." The issue here is about equal rights and equal access to opportunities. Men and women don't have to be the "same" in physicality to have the right to equality. I'd love to see that argument (that women and men aren't the "same" so they can't be equal) disappear forever. From my view, it's a misguided one.

Here's an example of why: If there were two young boys in a classroom, and one was physically weaker and smaller than the other, would we believe it's right to keep the weaker, smaller boy from having the same access - to the teacher, to learning, to the computers, to the books and class resources, to other children in the class -- because he didn't have the same physical strength as the other boy?
So how can we gain a deeper understanding of where we personally stand on the issue of equality?
Asking yourself these questions and answering them candidly will get you closer to recognizing what you truly, honestly believe:

1. Do you believe that women and men deserve equal rights and equal opportunities? If not, why not, specifically?

2. Do you oppose the idea that every human being on the planet deserves equal rights and equal access to all opportunities? If you oppose it, what are you concerned will happen if equality is achieved? What are the downsides, in your way of thinking?

3. Do you believe that only certain groups of people should be allowed to have access to certain opportunities and rights? If so, which groups should be favored and granted this access, and who should decide that?

4. Do you believe that it would be inherently fair to grant women access to only partial rights while men have full array of other rights and opportunities?

5. Think back on what has shaped all your beliefs about these issues. Where did they come from specifically? Childhood, early adulthood? Your personal experiences with men and women, or what you read and watch in the media? Who in your "tribe," family or peers influences your beliefs today?

6. What makes you mad and agitated to read in the media, about men, women and equality?

7. Do you believe that a world that prevents certain people from accessing full rights and opportunities would lead to a fair, healthy, prosperous world for all?

8. In the end, do your beliefs actually feel right for you? Do they feel aligned with who you really are -- healthy, whole, integrity-filled, compassionate, and fair?

The vast majority of people I speak to do believe in equal rights for men and women, but the conflict is about how that equality should be achieved. Many resist calling themselves a "feminist" or supporting the feminist "movement." In fact, just today, a woman commented on my YouTube channel that "feminism is a cancer."
Why do so many hate the term feminism and the feminist movement?
I believe there are five critical reasons behind this:

1. Feminism has been associated with strong, forceful and angry women, and our society continues to punishes forceful women. (So much recent data and research has proved this.)

2. Many people fear that feminism will mean that men will eventually lose out - of power, influence, impact, authority, and control, and economic opportunities.

3. Many people believe that feminists want to control the world and put men down.

4. Many people fear that feminism will overturn time-honored traditions, religious beliefs and established gender roles, and that feels scary and wrong.

5. Many people fear that feminism will bring about negative shifts in relationships, marriage, society, culture, power and authority dynamics, and in business, job and economic opportunities if and when women are on an equal footing with men.
What about sexuality - what does that have to do with feminism?
In reading about the media uproar over Emma Watson's baring a bit of her breasts in Vanity Fair this month, we see that women are fighting among themselves about what feminism is and how women should behave if they're true feminists. Emma (and Gloria Steinem) make a powerful point - feminism at its core is about choice. Feminists can wear whatever they want. If we cannot choose freely how to behave, speak, act and present ourselves, then we're moving backwards.
Unconscious gender bias.
In my friend Kristen Pressner's powerful TEDx talk " Are You Biased? I Am" she shares how her own unconscious bias against working women (in fact, against women who were just like her) was affecting her ability to treat men and women equally. Her brave revelation paves the way for all of us to think more deeply about our unconscious biases, and work tirelessly to bring these biases to light. Her suggested strategy of "flip it to test it" is an effective tool to help us do just that.

In the end, we all must honor the beliefs, values, and ideals that feel right and good to us. To help us do that, I'd ask you to think about these final questions:

* Do your beliefs and behaviors support equality for all, or just for some?

* Could there be hidden biases that color how you experience people of different genders, race, color, religion, etc? Could your personal experiences be tainting how you're looking at the whole world?

* If you believe in equality for women, but not in feminism, can you articulate why?

* If you believe in equality for all, are you able to take a brave stand for it, in a way that feels right to you, in your own life and in your own sphere of influence?
For more from Kathy Caprino, visit her Personal Growth programs, her TEDx talk "Time to Brave Up," and her new video What Is Feminism and Why So Many Men and Women Hate It.
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What Is Feminism, And Why Do So Many Women And Men Hate It?

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In my work in the media, as a therapist and coach, a former corporate Vice President, and one who regularly covers issues about gender equality, leadership, social change, etc., I've received thousands of comments from people around the world. They openly share their vast array of beliefs and opinions about gender equality, women and men in life and business, and feminism.

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The Genderbread Person is an does an amazing job at explaining some of the major aspects of gender. It discusses how gender falls on a spectrum based on gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and who the individual is sexually and/or romantically attracted to (Killermann, 2020).

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This article from Time magazine discusses why gender norms are the way they are, and how we can change them or break through them. It also states that "nature doesn’t draw the line for us between male and female… we actually draw that line on nature" (Weingarten, 2015).

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The Past, Present and Future of Gender Norms

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Will continuing to challenge gender norms and document their harmful impacts lead to their extinction - or evolution?

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This article discusses the amazing story Cherifa, a 16-year-old girl who is breaking gender norms along side her teammates by playing football in Niger. Football has a always been a male dominated sport. By being able to play, the girls feel a sense of power and strength while proving women are just as strong as men.

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Many girls in Niger are flung quickly into adulthood. More than three in four adolescent girls are married before the age of 18. According to recent studies, more than one in three adolescent girls, aged 15 to 19 have already given birth or were pregnant in Niger. But, these football teams want to show their community - and themselves that girls can be powerful.

In Niger, there is a general lack of support for girls who want to do more than get married and become mothers. One team member, 16-year-old Cherifa, said she felt playing football had made her stronger.

"Football is not just a man's game. Girls can play as well. In the past, after school, I went to the playground where boys practice football, but they refuse to play with me arguing that football is not a sport for girls. I was shocked, and in my neighborhood, not a single girl plays football." She said.

"I was informed there is a football centre dedicated to girls in the city, and my parents encouraged and supported me to join this centre."

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Many girls in Niger are flung quickly into adulthood. More than three in four adolescent girls are married before the age of 18. According to recent studies, more than one in three adolescent girls, aged 15 to 19 have already given birth or were pregnant in Niger.

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Men are typically expected to be the ones out working doing manual labor to provide while the women are home. However, the world is awakening to the wrong of these gender roles and seeing that by collaborating and working together, households can run smoother.

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In this video, Dr. Cheryl Ingram discusses what privilege and oppression are and examples of how we see them in society today. She also makes the important point that oppression cannot exist without privilege, and privilege cannot exist without oppression (Ingram, 2018).

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Privilege and Oppression During  the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Privilege and Oppression During  the COVID-19 Pandemic

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This news article from the Human Rights Watch discusses the significant impact on marginalized communities over wealthy, upper class communities during the pandemic.

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(New York) - The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and a fragile social safety net that leaves vulnerable communities to bear the economic brunt of the crisis, Human Rights Watch said today. US policymakers will need to consider these underlying inequalities in responding urgently to the mounting challenges of the pandemic.

While the virus infects people regardless of wealth, the poor will be most affected due to longstanding segregation by income and race, reduced economic mobility, and the high cost of medical care. Low-income communities are more likely to be exposed to the virus, have higher mortality rates, and suffer economically. In times of economic crisis, these vulnerabilities will be more pronounced for marginal groups - identified by race, gender, and immigration status.

"The US government needs a response to the coronavirus that prevents people from having to choose between a missed paycheck and risking their and their families' health," said Lena Simet, senior poverty and inequality researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The government should target its economic stimulus packages to the low-income communities that will be hit first and hardest, and ensure an adequate standard of living for all."

Low-income jobs in fields like retail, hospitality, childcare, and the gig economy cannot be performed remotely, and in the US the majority do not offer paid sick leave or health insurance. Research has shown that low income is associated with higher rates of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, factors that increase vulnerability to COVID-19. Most of the 40.6 million people living in poverty in the US have no savings to weather a lack of income, and even stocking up on food can represent an impossible financial hurdle.

In the US, economic inequality is closely linked to a racial divide in income and wealth. Incomes and wealth are lower, and poverty is most acute among Blacks and Latinos. About 21 percent of Black people and 18 percent of Hispanic people live under the poverty line, compared with eight percent of white people. The median white household has 41 times more wealth (measured as the sum of assets held by a family minus total household debt) than the median Black family and 22 times more than the median Latino family. Past recessions have disproportionally affected Black and Latino families, partly because they have less wealth to fall back on.

Due to the lack of resources to prepare and protect against the coronavirus, the poor face a higher risk of contracting and subsequently spreading the virus. Under international human rights law, the government has an obligation to protect people's right to an adequate standard of living, which includes ensuring adequate food and nutrition, the highest attainable standard of health, and social security.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was passed by the US House of Representatives and the Senate, is intended to address the effects of the coronavirus and provide a safety net for families and workers whose livelihoods are affected. Human Rights Watch is concerned that the legislation guarantees sick leave to only 20 percent of private-sector workers, because companies with more than 500 employees are exempted, and those with fewer than 50 employees can apply for exemption. Many workers at large restaurant chains, supermarkets, and retailers who fall in these categories and often have low-wage positions thus remain unprotected.

The US government has also considered large payroll tax cuts and bailouts to the airline, hotel, and shale industries. Such responses are expensive, with little or no direct benefit for most working people. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that eliminating the payroll tax would largely benefit the richest 20 percent of taxpayers, and the benefits going to the poorest 20 percent would make little difference in meeting their needs.

Moreover, payroll tax cuts would not benefit people without income, who are furloughed, or whose working hours have been cut in response to COVID-19. Unauthorized and informal workers, like street vendors, caregivers, or construction workers, would also be left out. And even workers who would benefit from the tax cut would only receive an amount proportionate to their low income, which would be insufficient to protect them from falling behind on rent or mortgage payments.

The US government's most recent proposal is to send checks directly to everyone living or legally working in the US, except those making more than $1 million a year, by the end of April. Direct payments are intended to provide immediate help to workers who lost their jobs or have hours cut back as economic activity contracts from social distancing measures.

While immediate income support is important, long-term and targeted support will be needed, Human Rights Watch said. If the crisis prevails for several months, one-time income support will not prevent families from facing foreclosure or eviction. For people working remotely, direct checks are less crucial than for those who lost jobs but are not eligible for unemployment benefits. Checks also won't reach the eight million unauthorized workers in the US, who generally earn low wages in restaurants, hotels, and on farms.

The government should consider a response that would support all low-income workers and people who have lost wages. Direct payments should be accompanied with assurances that people can get child benefits and disability and social security benefits in the event of unemployment, sickness, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control.

"The US government policies proposed so far have yet to take into account existing social and economic inequalities," Simet said. "The government should strengthen the safety net to protect millions of people who face devastating job and wage loss and inability to pay essential bills. Unless the stimulus package tackles those issues head on, it won't protect those most in need, and that is bad for everyone in America."

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The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has put a spotlight on economic inequalities and a fragile social safety net that leaves vulnerable communities to bear the economic brunt of the crisis, Human Rights Watch said today. US policymakers will need to consider these underlying inequalities in responding urgently to the mounting challenges of the pandemic.

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Intersectionality of Privilege and Oppression

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Intersectionality of Privilege and Oppression

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This diagram provides a detailed description of how different traits or characteristics of a person can contribute to the amount of privilege they have.

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This article provides multiple real world examples of how privilege and oppression affect people on a day to day basis. It opens up with a very interesting story involving ableism as a form of oppression.

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I hurried down the sidewalk, pretending not to hear the cop who was close on my tail. "Stop!" he called out, a note of frustration in his voice. I didn't care that he was frustrated because I was frustrated too.

I was tired of being harassed by the campus police, who seemed to be on high alert for me every time I left my dorm. As a shy freshman, it was hard enough for me to feel comfortable and at home at my new school, without having to worry about watching my back for the police, who seemed to be determined to single me out.

I was very aware of the eyes of the students all around me, who confusedly stared as I stubbornly continued down the sidewalk, trying to get away from the cop. He yelled at me to stop again, so I angrily turned to face him.

This is not the story that you think it is.

The police officer was not following me because of my skin color; he was profiling me, but not because of my race. As a white man, I do not have the experience of the disproportionately high number of people of color who are targeted by law enforcement. No, I was being profiled by the police because I am blind.

The police officer who followed me that day was assuming what many people assume-that I need help. On the surface, this is not a bad thing; it's encouraging that the world is full of people who are eager to help someone, and I appreciate that. However, I do sometimes wish that people could see past my blindness.

I wish that the police officer could have seen me as a competent student, confidently walking down the sidewalk I used nearly every day on my way to class, my computer bag on my shoulder. Instead, all he could see was the long white cane I use to get around, waving back and forth like a white flag of defeat and helplessness.

He had started by asking if I needed help as he pulled over in his car, jumping out onto the sidewalk. I was slightly startled by his sudden appearance, but I had simply replied, "No, thank you. I'm just on my way to class." I was running late, so I didn't bother stopping for him, and I didn't see any reason to say anything else. However, he didn't seem to trust my ability to assess my need for help.

"Wait," he called after me, "I'm just trying to help." "I understand that," I replied, "but I don't need your help, and I'm running late."

He hurried after me saying, "Where are you trying to get to?" That was when I truly became frustrated. I wasn't "trying" to get anywhere. I was just going to class, and I couldn't understand why he wouldn't listen to me. So when he yelled at me to wait again, I turned around and let out my frustration.

I snapped back at him, "Look, I'm on my way to the performing arts building. We are standing on Jaguar Drive between the two- and three-hundred blocks, I am walking north, and I have three more blocks to walk. I know where I am at, I know where I am going, and I don't need your help." With that I huffily turned my back on him and continued on my way.

Looking back at this encounter, I am ashamed that I allowed myself to get so frustrated at the police officer. It wasn't the last time the campus police would try and force their assistance on me, nor was it the last time I would lose my temper. If I had been more patient, perhaps we could have grown to understand each other, instead of continuously clashing.

I always assumed that these outbursts of frustration towards the police were due entirely to my experience as a blind person - small micro-aggressions building up inside me until I boiled over.

However, recently I came to the realization that my identity as a white male also plays a role in such confrontations.

The honesty and aggression that I sometimes use to voice my frustration at the police are manifestations of white privilege.

I get frustrated at the police as a blind man, but I freely express that frustration as a white man. Such experiences have caused me to realize that when it comes to oppression and privilege, each of us lives with multiple identities that shape our experience of the world and how we are perceived.

To better understand these multiple identities, let us consider the concept of intersectionality.

How multiple identities shape our experiences

Intersectionality is a theory that explores how individuals can face multiple categories of discrimination when they belong to more than one marginalized group. Everyone possesses multiple identities, and these identities work together to shape each person's societal and cultural experience.

For example, the experience of an African-American woman is not comparable to the experience of a white woman or an African-American man. The concept of intersectionality came out of the Feminist movement, as women of color critiqued the movement for not acknowledging that the oppression they experienced was different than the oppression experienced by white women. This is not to say that there are no similarities between the experiences of women of color and white women; instead, it is simply an attempt to point out that women of color experience greater and more complex levels of oppression.

Complexity is an important hallmark of intersectionality. Every individual is a woven tapestry of identities, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, class, and religion.

Perhaps one of the first people to speak out about issues of intersectionality was a woman named Sojourner Truth. Sojourner was a prominent nineteenth-century abolitionist known for her frank and powerful speeches.

In 1851 Sojourner stood up before a women's suffrage meeting and spoke out against the chauvinistic hypocrisy of her day with a speech titled, "Ain't I a Woman?" She rebuked the men who claimed that women were fragile, while simultaneously expecting African-American women to bear unspeakable physical hardships.

It was Sojourner's status as both an African-American and a woman that gave her the insight to make such a clear critique of the dual oppression that she bore.

Sojourner's question, "Ain't I a Woman?" is echoed by the modern activist Laverne Cox. As a transgender woman of color, Laverne has brought Sojourner's frankness into the twenty-first century. "I stand before you this evening a proud, African-American, transgender woman. I'm not just one thing," Laverne said, in a speech that was also titled, "Ain't I a Woman." Like Sojourner, Laverne has spent her life fighting racism and sexism, while also facing homophobia and transphobia.

She was born in Alabama, which, as she puts it, "has a rich history of racial oppression, but also a rich history of resistance." Laverne's determination to express her true self survived and was strengthened by a childhood of being misunderstood and bullied. Her parents blamed Laverne for the bullying, eventually forcing her to attend therapy. The first thing that her therapist ever asked Laverne was, "do you understand the difference between boys and girls?"

Laverne endured such oppression to grow up to be a confident and acclaimed actress, using her experience and fame to highlight issues of intersectionality. Laverne's echoing of Sojourner's question, "Ain't I a woman?" illustrates how people facing different levels of oppression can rally together to make a difference.

Here's another example: As a blind woman, Ever Lee Hairston was a leader in disability activism. She helped organize the New Jersey chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, one of the most powerful blindness organizations in the country, and became the chapter's vice-president.

She was an inspirational leader with her soaring rhetoric and determination to never give up. This determination was tried and tested as she faced discrimination in the job market because of her blindness. She overcame this discrimination and eventually became the supervisor of some of the people who had doubted her. She touched countless people's lives through her work as the administrator of the Alcohol, Drug, and Outpatient Program of Camden County Health and Human Services.

She gained that determination through growing up picking cotton as the daughter of African-American sharecroppers. Her first experience as an activist was in the civil rights movement of the sixties. She worked to overcome discrimination as an African-American, marching in the streets, singing "We Shall Overcome" as stones and garbage were thrown at her.

Ever Lee Hairston's identity as a blind person and her identity as an African-American woman are important, and they each shed light on her inspirational story, a story that can only be appreciated through the lens of her combined identities.

At the intersection of privilege and oppression

Intersectionality is normally applied to individuals who face multiple levels of oppression, such as Sojourner, Laverne, and Ever. However, my identity as a blind white man is a little different. In my case, it is oppression and privilege that intersect, not multiple levels of oppression. Such an intersection further muddies the already complex waters of intersectionality.

For example, I have had a lot of practice talking about my marginalized status as a blind person, and I am very comfortable doing so. However, talking about my privileged status as a white male is another matter. I did not grow up talking about race, and I can sometimes find talking about white privilege uncomfortable. In other words, my identity as a blind person does not erase my other identities.

This coexistence of identities can be confusing for me. When I react to certain situations I have to ask if it is due to my marginalized status as a blind person, or my privileged status as a white person? This is not always an easy question for me to answer.

I believe that the discomfort I feel with such questions is actually a positive thing, and a necessary first step towards growth. It is only through understanding and embracing the multiplicity of our identities that we can truly know and appreciate all aspects of ourselves.

I have seen firsthand the danger of failing to see complex intersecting identities. Growing up in the deep south I often encountered people who resented political correctness. In my experience, such resentment is most commonly felt by poor white people. Understandably, it can be hard to see privilege when they are struggling to make ends meet.

Perhaps such attitudes would be different if they realized that people can simultaneously possess multiple identities and experience both oppression and privilege. This combination of oppression and privilege is similar to what I experience, and it can only be understood through the lens of intersectionality.

I began this essay with a story, and I think that in the end, stories are the key to us understanding intersectionality. It is through stories that we can increase understanding and make a difference. By listening to each other's stories we can empathize with experiences that we will never have.

For example, I will never know what it's like to walk through a store while being suspiciously followed by employees; however, through sharing stories of receiving unwanted attention, both African-American men and people with disabilities can empathize with each other.

An able-bodied woman will never know what it's like to walk into a church and receive prayers from people who want God to heal your perceived physical imperfections; however, through sharing stories of being seen as inferior, both people with disabilities and able-bodied women can empathize with each other.

You may have never considered how oppression and privilege can converge as they do in my story with the police officer, but now that you have heard this story, you may better appreciate your own stories of convergence.

I always resented that police officer for focusing on one small part of my identity that day, and making assumptions about me through that narrow focus. I realize now that my focus was also narrow. I was looking at the situation from the idea of an oppressed blind person, without realizing that I also faced the situation as a privileged white person. If I want to holistically confront such situations of oppression I must start by delving into my own identity.

As Abraham Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." He also said, in the same speech, "If we could first know where we are we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it." When we only focus on one aspect of our identity we are a divided house. It is only when we appreciate the full tapestry of all of our identities that we can holistically understand where we are, and through that understanding, hope to stand against oppression.

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Photo credit: Flickr user David Noah

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Each of us lives with multiple identities that shape our experience of the world and how we are perceived. In my case, oppression and privilege intersect. It's not always easy to examine our privilege, but I have seen firsthand the danger of failing to see complex intersecting identities.

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This image provides numerous categories of intersectionality that impact the amount of privilege an individual might have. It shows how these categories interact and overlap with each other.

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In this diagram from the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW), "the innermost circle represents a person’s unique circumstances, the second circle represents aspects of individual identity, the third circle represents different types of discrimination and attitudes that impact identity, and the outermost circle represents larger forces and structures that work together to reinforce exclusion ("Intersectionality," 2021).

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This article from Vox discusses the "new caste system" which would places "non-white, non-heterosexual people at the top" (Coaston, 2019).

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When Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term 30 years ago, it was a relatively obscure legal concept. Then it went viral.

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Pushing Through the Challenges of Intersectionality

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Pushing Through the Challenges of Intersectionality

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Patrick Starrr discusses struggles faced in his life as a Filipino American, non-binary, and openly gay individual.

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Written by Patrick Starrr

Patrick Starrr is a Filipino-American YouTuber and makeup artist who seeks to challenge certain stigmas surrounding men wearing makeup. Click here for more Beauty stories.

Growing up, I was drawn to stories of transformation. I loved America's Next Top Model and films like Cinderella and The Princess Diaries, which all center on metamorphosis through beauty.

At 12 years old, I knew I was gay, but I didn't know how to convey what I was going through. I felt like I was drowning in school and there wasn't really anything to express myself with... I wanted to transform, too. That's when I really began experimenting with makeup: I started dealing with my feelings in front of the mirror in my mother's bathroom. That was the start of Patrick Starrr.

Though YouTube was at the beginning of its era of beauty makeup gurus and beauty tutorials, it was still pretty scary to wear makeup publicly where I grew up in Orlando, Florida. I didn't want to be bullied. I didn't want to embarrass my family or parents. The last thing I wanted was to be discriminated against in public.

But on top of that, coming from a Filipino-immigrant background and being the eldest of three boys, I had certain pressures from my parents to be their idea of "successful." They wanted me to finish college and start a career as a nurse.

Against their wishes I got a job at the makeup store MAC after high school. That's when I started to feel more confident in myself. I was surrounded by people who also loved makeup and I felt like I could actually sustain a livelihood off what I enjoyed. But I was a freelancer, and sometimes I'd be given no hours, so, YouTube became my main outlet.

At first there were a lot of bullies. There were very few men who were doing makeup tutorials on the platform back then. There were a lot of offensive comments back in the day. I felt dirty, or like I was committing a sin, when all I was doing was expressing myself. I learned quickly how to filter out negative comments. I really wanted to keep my channel as a positive space, a refuge for people that didn't have the chance to be who they are.

Over the years, the haters have retreated. It's become, in the US at least, a little more normal for men to wear makeup. You can look at the phenomenon of RuPaul's Drag Race as an example. The cast members slipping between genders has opened people's eyes to how makeup has no gender and shouldn't have one.

Even my parents, 10 years later, have a completely different opinion about makeup. They love and appreciate it. Proving to them that I could sustain a livelihood from YouTube changed how they felt about my career choices. My mom, who never really wore makeup regularly, now loves to wear wigs and makeup and lashes.

Makeup, I believe, is truly "one size fits all" -- it's a saying that has become my mantra. I grew up in the era where Christy Turlington, Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks and Adriana Lima were plastered all over cosmetic ads. But now I am too. The public will see a bald Filipino man in L'Oréal, Covergirl, MAC and Benefit cosmetic campaigns -- and to think that's me! The beauty industry hasn't always been inclusive. People of different complexions and sizes were missing in casting and campaigns. But with the power of social media, that's changed.

I want to represent the people who haven't felt seen or heard in the beauty industry. Sometimes it's baffling to me that I've managed to create this space through the power of social media. Those who feel invisible can now be celebrated, and can challenge beauty norms.

Now the attitudes in the industry have shifted towards the acceptance of male beauty through makeup. Though there is more to be done in terms of inclusivity and representation -- and a diverse range of voices yet to be heard -- men, and even young boys, are bringing in millions of views through makeup tutorials. They're able to express themselves with their platforms. They're wearing nails, glitter, makeup and rhinestones and brands are looking to partner with them.

And that's perhaps what I find most beautiful: being who you want to be with confidence; having a strong sense of self. You could be someone who wears no makeup, or someone who goes full-glam everyday -- but what's beautiful about all those things is you're self-aware. You're making the decision and taking the steps towards becoming who you want to be and owning it. That's my definition of beauty.

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patrick starrr on male beauty and makeup  - cnn

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Beauty YouTuber Patrick Starrr: 'Makeup has no gender and shouldn't have one'

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Written by Patrick Starrr Patrick Starrr is a Filipino-American YouTuber and makeup artist who seeks to challenge certain stigmas surrounding men wearing makeup. Click here for more Beauty stories. Growing up, I was drawn to stories of transformation. I loved America's Next Top Model and films like Cinderella and The Princess Diaries, which all center on metamorphosis through beauty.

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This article discusses recent feminist protests for violence against women.

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LONDON - London's Metropolitan Police force was under heavy pressure Sunday to explain its actions during a vigil for a woman whom one of the force's own officers is accused of murdering.

Hundreds defied coronavirus restrictions to gather and protest violence against women, but the event ended with clashes between police and those attending and many questioned whether the police force was too heavy-handed.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said scenes from Saturday's vigil in south London were "upsetting" and she is seeking a full report on what happened from the Metropolitan Police. The capital's mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the police response was "at times neither appropriate nor proportionate."

Police were seen scuffling with some women at the event, and one woman was seen pinned to the ground by two officers. Video widely shared on social media showed a woman was pulled up from the ground by officers who then shoved her from the back. Several women were led away in handcuffs as other attendees chanted "Shame on you" at police. The force later said four people were arrested for violating public order and coronavirus regulations.

Defending the force's actions, Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said "hundreds of people were packed tightly together," posing a very real risk of transmitting the virus. She added that officers had repeatedly encouraged those attending to leave, but "a small minority" of people chanted at police, pushing and throwing objects.

"We accept that the actions of our officers have been questioned," Ball said. "We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the overriding need to protect people's safety."

Many of those attending the vigil were already wary of police because a serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, was charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who vanished March 3 while walking home in London. Her body was found a week later.

The case has sparked a national outcry and a heated debate on women's safety. Organizers had planned an official vigil at Clapham Common, a park near where Everard was last seen alive, but were forced to cancel the event because of COVID-19 restrictions. A huge crowd turned up Saturday nonetheless.

Jamie Klingler, who organized the canceled "Reclaim These Streets" event, blamed police for denying women their right to have a silent vigil in the first place. The force got the angry reaction Saturday because they refused to facilitate a peaceful rally, she alleged.

"I think we were shocked and really, really sad and to see videos of policemen handling women at a vigil about violence against women by men ... I think it was painful and pretty triggering to see," Klingler said Sunday.

Patsy Stevenson, who was pictured pinned to the ground by two officers during Saturday's clashes, said she was considering whether to challenge the 200-pound ($278) fine she received.

"We were there to remember Sarah, we all felt deeply saddened and still do that it happened, so I brought a candle with me but unfortunately wasn't even able to light it to put it down because the police turned up and barged their way through," she told LBC radio.

Couzens, 48, appeared in court Saturday for the first time. He was remanded in custody and has another appearance scheduled Tuesday at London's Central Criminal Court.

The Metropolitan Police has said it is "deeply disturbing" that one of its own is a suspect in the case. The force said Couzens joined its ranks in 2018 and most recently served in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, an armed unit responsible for guarding embassies in the capital and Parliament.

Everard was last seen walking home from a friend's apartment in south London at about 10:30 p.m. on March 3. Her body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Kent, more than 50 miles southeast of London, on Wednesday. A post-mortem examination was underway, police said Friday.

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London police under pressure over clashes at women's protest

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LONDON - London's Metropolitan Police force was under heavy pressure Sunday to explain its actions during a vigil for a woman whom one of the force's own officers is accused of murdering. Hundreds defied coronavirus restrictions to gather and protest violence against women, but the event ended with clashes between police and those attending and many questioned whether the police force was too heavy-handed.

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This picture taken during a protest displays a woman holding to signs saying "girls in schools not kitchens" and "freedom for [all]." This stresses the idea that feminists don't just fight for women rights, they fight for equal rights for everyone.