WTF?
www.teenvogue.com
Literal racism disguised as “social justice”. Absolutely disgusting
White women in the United States have often wielded their collective power to support and amplify white male oppressors. Gaetz is just the latest politician to receive their cover.
www.msnbc.com
Far beyond skillful PR, amid his
repeated denials of wrongdoing, the move sheds light on a history of how white men, specifically
misogynists and
white supremacists, have found refuge in white women’s groups. White women in the United States have often wielded their collective power to support and even amplify white men engaged in the oppression of others; Gaetz is just the latest white politician to receive their cover.
While popular narratives tend to focus on the men who were enslavers, the historical record reveals how
white women were equally invested in upholding slavery — and no less violent in their interactions with enslaved people. White women played an
active role in the buying and selling of enslaved people and bolstered their own economic and social status at the expense of Black people.
The historical record is filled with examples of how white women in the United States, including those who espoused a commitment to “women’s rights,” worked against the interests of other women — especially women of color. And the record reveals how many of these women have worked to protect white men, even those who have violated and exploited women.
The white women who rallied behind former President Donald Trump —
representing 52 percent of white women in the United States in 2016 — underscore the ease with which too many white women provide cover to misogyny, racism and white supremacy. And for many of these women, sexual abuse and harassment can be easily forgiven — or even completely overlooked — if it means supporting white men who are committed to advancing the interests of white people.
While some may express surprise by the leaders of Women for America First who did not think twice about promoting Gaetz’s appearance at their summit, we should remember that their actions are not aberrations. They echo a long and troubled history of how white women have often used their collective power to elevate, defend and protect white men — regardless of the individual’s views or behavior.
And before you think this is mostly an issue of the past, a
recent statement of support from the women of Gaetz’s office reminds us this practice is unlikely to change anytime soon.