Feminism is still white?

Working at Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba  I have learned not to be surprised with anything that happens with in our social system.  I do not know how many times I have seen women get released from federal and provincial correctional facilities with no where to go, or money and then see them struggle to find housing and apply for social assistance followed by a wait of three to four weeks before they get in to see anyone at social assistance. It is interesting to note that O'Brien points out that only 4% of the over all prison population are women with 80% of them having victims of physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse leaving them with deep scares to heal from with a majority needed some form of mental health intervention and the majority not receiving any.  Leaving these women in a very precarious place for a few weeks such as living somewhere unsafe or they end up getting picked up again by the authorities.

Elizabeth Fry has two apartments that they use to house a few women but the demand for them is very high so they are not always available.  It leaves one to wonder really how hard does society want to break the cycle of the “revolving door” that one often hears about when there is talk about our correctional system it also seems that feminism as Mullaly (2007) defines feminism these women are deserving of certain rights yet they are in reality forgotten. Having to see women scrounge around for food, shelter is very heartbreaking and is made harder to see some women try to get visitation with their children, as a mother I find it gut wrenching to have to watch the hoops that these women have to jump through.

In these cases I do not find the system to be very kind or forgiving.  I find it is very sad that this issue is not supported by the various women’s organisations in Manitoba. These women are marginalised and disenfranchised by the system and it seems to be a really taboo subject to deal with.  According to Elizabeth Fry Society publication (2009) women in Canada are marginalised by their race, class, poverty, language and sexual orientation and that feminism has not completely embraced these issues with in society in practise and that it has become a tool to erase race and that the movement is still very much a white movement. With my experience I do agree with her assessment.  

I also believe that in the past few years’ feminism has become a bad word and I also agree with Wazny's (05/22/2011) statement  from the Winnipeg free press“that feminism has lost its voice.” There is still this loss because there is still this close connected with the “bra burning” liberal feminist of the white middle class woman (Mullaly).  Defiantly liberal feminism would not identify with Elizabeth Fry clients’ needs and supports required when they are first released from correctional facilities.  I do feel that radical and socialist feminism is supportive of these needs based upon these two feminist values being grass root movements, focusing on the more basic needs of women and that they recognise marginalisation of women ( Mullaly,  2007).

It is sad to note that in Manitoba we have a social democratic government yet nothing has really changed!  It is a sad reality that there is such a big difference between social theory and practise.

Lisa


O'Brien, Rosemary T. (2006).  Community Corrections in Canada Women Offenders.  Canada: International Center for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy Programme.

CAEFS and Elizabeth Fry Society. Winter/Spring 2008; Women and the Canadian Legal System: Examining Situations of Hyper-Responsibilit.: Canadian Woman Studies;  26, 3/4;

Mullaly, B. (2007). The New Structural Social Work. Canada: Oxford University  Press.

 Wazny, Adam 05/22/2011., New voice for feminism goal of city gathering, Violence against women, social justice top themes,.Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION