How To Be A RESPONSIBLE Woman
October 9, 2012 in media representation of black women, white feminism
By Stephanie Phillips
So every feminist and her mother have been talking about the Caitlin Moran / Lena Dunham furore. If you haven’t heard Dunham has come under fire for the lack of diversity in her new show Girls, which is set in New York and has be sold as a representation of modern young womens lives. A Twitter user asked Moran if she asked Dunham about the lack of diversity in Dunham’s show when she interviewed her for a piece in The Times. Moran, somewhat unprofessionally replied “I literally couldn’t give a shit about it”.
Before we move on I’ll just say now that I haven’t seen Girls. I don’t know if it is what people say and I won’t be arguing that in the piece. What I will say that as a journalist if I knew that people were concerned about issues of visibility with other races in the show I would research it and bring it up in the interview, not just dismiss it as a non-issue.
Note to the white women reading this that may think they’re liberal and open minded and listen to Bob Marley ’cause they’re cultured; if someone tells you that they are concerned that some shit is racist then believe that some shit is racist. Why would they lie? At least open your mind to the concept that this thing you may enjoy watching, saying, doing could offend another human being and then, here’s the tricky part, ask them what you can do to not offend them. Simple innit but its true. Studies have shown that the most effective way to stop people constantly being offended by things you do is to not do them anymore.
The accusations made about Girls needed to at least be acknowledged by Moran but instead she, like many people when confronted with race, became defensive and suggested people were over reacting. The whole ‘political correctness gone mad’ and ‘we’re all one race the human race’ argument is the same that is used in the liberal community by men when women start pointing out that sexism still exists in the left.
No one is asking Girls to represent all of womenhood. The question that was directed at Moran was to ask whether she asked Lena Dunham about the lack of diversity on the show. That was an apt question and white feminists can’t just go straight to defensive when the ‘R’ word pops up in the conversation. The reality is that there is a HUGE problem with diversity and representation in media. You can’t expect black women to be quiet about our concerns because white women don’t want to talk about the issue.
You don’t need a “token” woman of colour on the show. Is it that hard to believe that a black person could be a best friend, love interest, friendly teacher. We exist in many forms in the real world so it shouldn’t take a leap of faith to recreate us in the fictional world.
Moran’s dismissive comment blew up because it represented how women of colour felt mainstream feminists thought and we’ve had enough of it.
I’ve decided that I’m tired of this whole pretense that issues of race in the feminist community don’t matter any more because “we’re over that”. No. We’re not. Me and you are not on the same path and until a whole lot of privilege on everyone’s part is recognised we never will be.
To start I believe that white feminists have to understand just what kind of racism black women deal with on a daily basis and how we feel about our position in the movement. I’m opening up the floor if you want to know what it’s like to be a black woman in society today ask in the comments section and I will reply honestly.
I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or startle anyone that was comfortable with their views but I’m tired of the dismissive remarks, the constant lack of recognition, the lack of focus on issues that affect black women and every feminist conference that claim the only reason they always have all white panels and workshops is just because they couldn’t find anyone who knew about that stuff. I’m tired of it all, so let’s sort it out now, honestly, respectfully and peacefully.
charlotte2153 said on October 9, 2012
“You don’t need a “token” woman of colour on the show. Is it that hard to believe that a black person could be a best friend, love interest, friendly teacher. We exist in many forms in the real world so it shouldn’t take a leap of faith to recreate us in the fictional world.”
You literally could not phrase it any better than this. It doesn’t take a massive suspension of disbelief FFS.
swederash said on October 9, 2012
Moran may not have done herself or her profession any favours, I grant you. But bear in mind she makes a living taking the piss out of everyone most of the time, and it’s possible that once she felt cornered (and after her very recently found fame) she threw up some barriers. She’s so tongue in cheek she looks like a gobstopper addict, and whilst this was an error of judgement she’s made a lot of women, of all denominations, creeds and colours, look at themselves and their lives in a new light.
Diana said on October 10, 2012
Caitlin Moran, is a pop culture critic, who calls herself a feminist. I have not read her book How to be a Woman and I have not watched Lena Dunham’s HBO show Girls. I have no interest in watching or reading neither. Prior to this interview, there was already a lot of commentary about the lack of diversity on the show Girls. So, yes one would expect Moran to at least broach the topic, but if you do not even know what the question is why would you raise it. If you are a white, straight woman, you look around at your community, and the majority of what you see is straight, white, women, then you are part of the problem. The sad thing is Dunham and Moran do not see a problem, as this must be their reality.
When I was living in Manhattan I use to watch Sex in the City (not the movies), I know I’m showing my age. I enjoyed the show, but I noted the lack of people of colour. At the time, I was living on 27th Street between Lexington and 3rd. I couldn’t understand how these women (the characters) where living in NYC and there were no black, Latino or Asian people around them. When there was a black character on the show, they were either ghetto or highly sexualized. The Latino and gay characters would be crazy and the Asian characters rendered incomprehensible (heavenly accented immigrants). I use to think, “Is this the same NYC that I’m living in”. No, it was not. You could say the same thing about Friends and probably a whole host of other TV shows, but this is 2012 already.
The question is, are these women willing to learn, are they willing to change or are they just going to remain defensive when called out on their lack of understanding about intersectionality and white privilege. I guess no one likes to be criticized about their art or writing, but when you are told that what you are doing is hurtful you at least owe it to the people who care enough to have a dialogue with you to listen.
A said on October 14, 2012
Interesting observations Diana and I agree completely with your last paragraph. People have got to be willing to learn and willing to change before change will actually happen. Well put.
helen ryan said on October 10, 2012
As a white woman proud to call herself a feminist , I am horrified by the Moran response to the diversity question on ‘Girls ‘. To be honest I find the whole concept of ‘Girls ‘ somewhat tedious but like you , have not seen it . However , the premise seems to be that it’s really shocking that nice middle class girls have sex and don’t have great jobs . Hardly ground breaking stuff . Anyway , thanks for the article – a black femminist friend re tweeted it which perhaps says it all , I wouldn’t have seen it otherwise on my mainstream twitter feed ! I feel angry when high profile women media commentators like Moran use punchy language for effect rather than stop and think .I agree that it is important to have proper representation on shows and have been struggling to come up with much except for Keema on ‘The Wire ‘ and Malinda in ‘The Good Wife ‘ .both strong characters , Latino rather than black though . Keep writing and I will keep trying to understand .
RH said on October 10, 2012
Would you have been offended if Lena, a white woman who openly admits she wrote this show based on her own experience and her own racially limited social group, had added in, say, a black best friend character, as you suggest? Because it would have been token by her own admission. I’m not being inflammatory, I am genuinely interested in which would have been the lesser of two evils. Lena and Caitlin need to be differentiated here as (unless someone can direct me to it) I’m yet to see Lena respond in the same way Caitlin did.
Stephanopolus said on October 10, 2012
Hi RH, the post mainly focuses on Moran’s dismissive comment and what that says about the state of feminism today. Lena has not responded in the same way as Caitlin but the lack of diversity still needs to be challanged.
I think people are thinking that a black character would become ‘token’ as it would be hard to find someone of colour in their social group but when you think about your own social group, friends, co-workers, lovers it is certainly not all white (maybe it is for some people but hat’s another post altogether). Also considering Girls is set in New York I don’t believe a black character in their group of friends would have been token in any way. You also don’t need to specifically write in a black character. We say and do pretty much the same things as white people. At the casting stage if Dunham and the creators of Girls wanted they could have chosen a more racially diverse group to fill the show, a racially diverse group of actors of the same merit, and it would still be the same show.
If she did want to write in a black character and highlight any particular struggles that black women go through but didn’t know enough about it then all she has to do is ask or research it. Dunham is a capable woman and to be honest the whole “I don’t know enough about the issue” line doesn’t work for me once you hit adulthood. If she needs any help for the next series I’ll be only happy to fly to New York and work on new characters with her.
Hope that helps,
Steph x.x.x
Feminist Princess (@FeministPrncess) said on October 17, 2012
I fully agree with you Steph – any of those main characters could have been cast with a non-white actress. It could have been the exact same show, or they could have used the opportunity to showcase issues that affect WoC – like, how rare it is for them to see themselves in a show like Girls. Seriously – 2012.
Mama D said on October 14, 2012
“We say and do pretty much the same things as white people.” Do we? The more that I realise I don’t, the more I realise that to adequately capture me in any way, written, visual or audio, the more I realise that I would probably only trust myself 9and like spirited ones) to do so, and to do so well.
It starts to feel like the conversation is more about visual impact (black/brown skin tone) as opposed to cultural differences (language and its references, dress codes, food and music, religious references and so much more)…and can these be adequately depicted when the milieu itself has a structure which is immersed in a ‘dominant’ culture?
There is a responsibility issue for those of us who are concerned to create contexts in which we are comfortably represented.
Mainstream media is unlikely to ever represent me: an everyday African heritage woman who eats yam and palm oil, wears long skirts, is head wrapped and who peppers her language with an abundance of creolisms and African language excerpts (mainly for the wisdom therein).
So, whilst I honour and respect your drawing attention to the fact that both Dunham and Moran live in the worlds that they have created and maintained around themselves which are rather insular and, frankly, monochrome, in all ways the meaning of that word can be stretched, let those of us, who have more imagination, lend our energy towards the creation of much more spectacular and insightful journeys into the world of womanhood, personhood and spirithood…like you, sister, I am ready and willing to ‘join the good fight’ and to use an African aphorism: ‘Let not what you cannot do remove your hands from what you can do!’
Much Love, Guidance and Blessing
Mama D
Cannon said on October 16, 2012
Thank you for this, I haven’t seen Girls but I have read Moran’s book and I’m familiar with what she has to say – which basically revolves around gender (but only BINARY gender) and touching on class, but little else.
Thank you for taking the time to do the frustratng job of educating the privileged. I will be coming back t your blog in future!
You were featured on the f-word weekly round up this week which is how I found you
leepster said on October 16, 2012
Great article, thanks Stephanie. My favourite line was this:
Note to the white women reading this that may think they’re liberal and open minded and listen to Bob Marley ’cause they’re cultured; if someone tells you that they are concerned that some shit is racist then believe that some shit is racist.
Really important point, I try to hold myself accountable on it, thanks for the reminder,
Lee x
Kat said on October 17, 2012
I agree with what you are saying and came to read this blog because I was disgusted by Moran’s reply and wanted to hear more perspectives on it and more widely the issue of racism in feminism.
I did however want to question this part:
“Note to the white women reading this that may think they’re liberal and open minded and listen to Bob Marley ’cause they’re cultured; if someone tells you that they are concerned that some shit is racist then believe that some shit is racist. Why would they lie? At least open your mind to the concept that this thing you may enjoy watching, saying, doing could offend another human being and then, here’s the tricky part, ask them what you can do to not offend them. Simple innit but its true. Studies have shown that the most effective way to stop people constantly being offended by things you do is to not do them anymore.”
Maybe you aren’t being specific enough here because it feels a bit sweeping and considering the argument you are making it jarred. As someone that is white, a woman that thinks she is liberal and hopefully cultured (although not for listening to Bob Marley) but agrees that if someone says something is racist it most likely is and should be investigated as such. So although you totally have a point maybe not all people in the group you just mentioned would defend something against a claim of racism because they enjoy it. And I’m sure some would.
I’d take the general idea further too, just because I hadn’t noticed something was racist doesn’t mean that it wasn’t. The same goes for not noticing sexism I don’t always spot it, even on the receiving end of it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t. Most injustice is invisible when it is perniciously wide spread especially to those not effected by it and you need to have your eyes opened to it. Lack of diversity in the media is definitely one of them, it is so wide spread people don’t even see i and need their noses rubbed in it as often as possible. And those purporting to fight for equality, feminists and all others, have to be doing just that not for just some niche they belong to.
Stephanopolus said on October 20, 2012
Hi Kat, Steph here. Sorry if that paragraph didn’t make sense. It was a kind of generalisation but to be honest, you may not agree, but I’d say that fits for about 95% of those people. I think most people are well meaning and dont intend to be racist but I also think they most have no idea what racism is and certainly don’t like talking about it or be told about their privilege.
I don’t think everyone in this group would necessarily defend something against a claim of racism but I think they may fail to see that it was racist or fail to see when they are being racist. I think everyone, including myself as a straight, cis, black woman, needs to recognise their privilege.
This is not an attack on white feminists. This is a call, a cry for help to say something isn’t right. We just need our stories listened to and accepted as the truth. If not anger will build up and the next time some celebrity does something stupid or racist it will all come out again and white people will look around wondering why we’re all so angry. It can be stopped, we all just need to talk really.
Steph x.x.x