Why Our Work Matters

Black women and girls face complex and diverse challenges in their daily lives due to the intersection of race, gender, and other factors such as class, sexuality, and ability. The overlapping of these factors creates unique experiences, leading to discriminatory obstacles that negatively impact their health, education, employment, and wellbeing.

Learn about the challenges faced by Black women and girls, including gendered racism and misogynoir, and understand the importance of adopting a nuanced and inclusive approach to address these complex issues.

Gendered Racism

The Intersection of Race and Gender

Gendered racism is the intersection of racism and sexism, resulting in distinct forms of discrimination for marginalised women and girls from marginalised racial groups. This type of intersectional discrimination can manifest in various forms, from microaggressions to overt barriers in healthcare, education, the workplace, and other areas of life. Underrepresented women and girls face heightened vulnerability to gendered racism, hindering their progress and success.

Misogynoir

The Link between Misogyny and Anti-Blackness

Misogynoir goes beyond gendered racism, as it takes into account the intersections of both misogyny  (hatred or prejudice against women) and anti-Black racism  (prejudice or discrimination against Black people), highlighting the specific experiences and challenges faced by Black women and girls. This intersectional discrimination has and can manifest in various ways, including but not limited to healthcare, education, employment, and daily interactions.

Gendered Racism and Misogynoir Within Communities

Gendered racism and misogynoir can also be perpetuated by marginalised groups, such as Black communities and feminist movements. This leads to the silencing, underrepresentation, and marginalisation of Black women and girls within these communities.

Moving Beyond Single Issue Perspectives

In the UK, a generic approach to discrimination is often taken, but fails to recognise and understand intersecting discriminations and prejudices. Approaches that only address anti-Black racism or only address sexism are not sufficient, as Black women and girls experience both at minimum. Their experiences cannot be understood through either lens alone. Instead, a more nuanced and intersectional approach is necessary to consider the ways in which different forms of oppression intersect and interact.

Also, this requires acknowledging the ways in which systemic and institutional forms of oppression contribute to and reinforce multiple forms of discrimination, a comprehensive approach is needed to address both individual prejudices and systemic inequalities.

From Marginalisation to Empowerment

To empower Black women and girls, a holistic approach is needed that takes into account their intersectional experiences and strengthens them in all areas of life, including economics, politics, society, and culture.

Elevating the narratives and perspectives of Black women and girls is a vital aspect of this effort. Creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, and actively engaging with Black women and girls to understand their needs and perspectives, is essential.

Supporting Black women and girls includes creating safe and inclusive spaces in real life for them to share their experiences, offering training and development opportunities, and conducting community-driven research.

Also, breaking down barriers to empowerment for Black women and girls demands addressing specific barriers such as gender-based violence and the unequal treatment by law enforcement, adultification in schools, lack of job opportunities, and health disparities. 

Addressing these issues leads to a more inclusive and equitable society.