As Racism Once Was

Despite Steinem’s dutiful reminder that historically progressive movements in the United States are better off unified as opposed to divided, the very context of her piece drives a wedge into the heart of contemporary progressive movements. In doing so Steinem commits the same error the American feminists of the 70s committed when they privileged the universal status of women over that of race and class. Three decades latter, Steinem seems content on diluting the complexity of political and social identity. While her points are well taken as to the pervasiveness of sexism, her claims are unsubstantiated and gratuitous.

For example, it would have been one thing to point out the double standard Hillary Clinton is required to tarry with and to demonstrate how this, in effect, is mutually implied for all women voters. It is quite another thing, however, to justify this assertion with the despicable act of historical amnesia. That is to say, Steinem seems to believe that while one chapter in the history of racism has concluded that same history persists in the history of sexism. Have we not learned the lesson that identity is anything but a neat, orderly and hermetically sealed unit? While I am sympathetic to Steinem’s overall claims, I find her argumentative strategy irresponsible.