Misogynoir: The Risk of Ideological Tunnel Vision
Questioning Blanket Applications to Complex Issues
I had the privilege of engaging in a spirited exchange on BBC 4's radio program, Antisocial, where I discussed the topic of Misogynoir with actress and author Kelechi Okafor. Our focal point was the incident involving Nella Rose on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
Coined by black feminist scholar Moya Bailey, Misogynoir amalgamates "misogyny" and "noir" (French for black) and seeks to shed light on the intersection of racism and sexism directed specifically at black women. The concept is said to manifest through negative stereotypes, systemic bias, and cultural tropes, all contributing to the specific marginalisation of black women in socio-political and economic spheres.
During the show, I acknowledged the historical instances of black women falling victim to Misogynoir, such as their invisibility within feminist movements. Mainstream feminist agendas have been criticised for frequently overlooking the unique experiences and concerns of black women, inadequately addressing the challenges they face within the broader feminist discourse.
However, I stressed the importance of being cautious when using "misogynoir" as a blanket term for every negative experience faced by black women, especially when such negativity stems from individual actions. Like other ideologies aimed at advancing so-called disenfranchised groups, these ideas can inadvertently contribute to a culture of victimhood, leading individuals or groups to evade responsibility for their own actions.
We should avoid unnecessarily magnifying the significance of race in a situation. If an individual, regardless of their race, acts irrationally or irresponsibly and faces criticism, it has nothing to do with their race but everything to do with their behaviour. It's worth noting that white individuals are typically afforded their full humanity and agency. In other words, their negative actions aren't theorised as something beyond their control or attributed to decades of historical factors.
It is disconcerting that when a “person of colour” makes an error, there is a tendency to shield them from scrutiny or criticism by attributing responsibility to external factors, often involving '“whiteness”.
This narrative is profoundly disempowering.
The full episode is available on BBC Sounds.
Ada is the Senior Content Officer at The Equiano Project. Subscribe to The Equiano Project YouTube channel HERE.