Why Intersectional Feminism Matters

By: ​Dohyeon Kim

​A few months ago, a transgender student gained admission to a women’s college in South Korea for the first time. However, she decided not to enroll due to the massive opposition she received from the public. While some welcomed the school’s decision to accept a trans woman, many students were vocal in claiming that their school is a place only for biological women. They even put up posters in school to harass the student’s transgender identity. What shocked me was that most of these students, who gushed out a flood of transphobic hate speech, called themselves ‘feminists.’

I have long thought that feminism is about giving people choices, allowing them to be themselves free from the gender norm set by society. As a feminist, who thinks that this movement should be open to everyone who believes in equality, I would never think of excluding trans people or challenging the identity that they have chosen for themselves. But sadly, I came to realize that the exclusion of trans people within the feminist movement is quite pervasive. This is happening not only in Korea but in different places around the world. The transphobic comment of J.K. Rowling, which left many people disappointed and angry, is only one of the many cases.

Some people consider trans rights to be in opposition to women’s rights. They’re wrong. In fact, they are not only compatible but connected. According to Robin Dembroff, a Yale professor of philosophy, patriarchy is based on the belief that “‘male’ and ‘female’ are a natural, immutable, and exhaustive binary.” Patriarchy teaches us to fit into one of these two boxes we’re assigned to and to dress, behave, talk, and work accordingly. For centuries, this belief has limited women from being themselves and reaching their full potential.  At the same time, this is the exact rhetoric that has been used to stigmatize and discriminate trans people. The oppression against the transgender community and women have the same root cause. By focusing on the intersection of sexism and transphobia, we can better tackle both. Furthermore, we can better understand the experiences of trans women who suffer both forms of oppression. 


“Ain’t I a woman?” Sojourner Truth asked in 1851 in front of the Women’s Convention in Ohio. She challenged the way people understood “woman” at that time and urged them to include black women’s experiences in defining what womanhood is. An important truth lies in her question. Feminism, from the beginning, has been a process of broadening the definition of women and making sure women with marginalized identities are protected just the same as white, rich, cisgender, heterosexual women. 


It is time for us to be more intentional about making feminist movement more inclusive and supportive for all:  trans women, gay women, women of color, young girls, immigrant women, women with disabilities, women in rural areas, and so on. Our experiences are unique to us, and our culture affects us in different ways. It is important to recognize that we can never fully understand what other people are going through. Therefore, we should not judge others or jump into conclusions about their experiences. When we embrace that simple fact, we progress. When we embrace the differences that exist between us, the feminist movement can be richer.