The Beginning of a Debate Long Due: Some Observations on ‘Ethnocentrism and Socialist-Feminist Theory’

Abstract

It is very encouraging to find Michele Barrett and Mary McIntosh proposing a re-examination of the socialist-feminist writing of white feminists. Their article reflects honest feelings about the lack of concern white feminists have shown towards their black sisters. While I agree with some of their arguments, there are certain points to be observed, especially from the point of view of black women. (I certainly cannot speak for all black women; what follow are my personal observations.) While analysing the black feminist critique of the work of white women Barrett and McIntosh accept that black feminist work is ghettoized. They rightly state that black feminists have different issues to address but it does not seem right to say that they want their own audience. It would of course be right to say that black feminists want to reach black women, want to be able to fight on the specific issues and problems all of them face in their daily lives within their own communities and the wider society. To consider this particular need as the desire of black women for their own audience would be to legitimize the division between black and white women and would certainly perpetuate white women's ignorance of black women's issues. Much of what is written by white socialist-feminists (I am using the phrase 'socialist-feminist' because the article is written within this perspective) may not be racist but the very fact that they are not concerned with the issues indicates that they take the situation of black women for granted, as if it were natural for black women to suffer the effects of racism. Such an attitude certainly cannot be regarded as innocent, even if it is not a wholly deliberate one either. Nevertheless, one cannot deny that black women's consciousness and understanding of their situation in terms of gender and race, and consequently their class position, should emerge from within themselves. Barrett and McIntosh argue that 'it is not the exclusive responsibility of black women to develop an analysis of the interrelation of class, race and gender; we see this project as that of white women too' (1985:26). This is the kind of perspective many black women would consider as containing an element of solidarity while others may have some reservations about it. For some time now black women in Britain and in the Third World have begun to raise criticisms against the patronizing attitude of white women who try to tell them what their reality is, as if black women were incapable of understanding and judging their own reality. In