Intersectionality:Campaigns Today that Discriminate against Black Women

Just when we start to think the world has changed, that we are “color blind,” this type of discriminatory advertising divides women by color. The scariest part, these anti-abortion ads are actually trying to protect children through this message.

“To use racist arguments to try to bait black people to get them to be anti-abortion is just disgusting," said Guy-Sheftall, who teaches women's history and feminist thought at the historically black women's college.*

These are two billboard ads were posted in 2011 in order to discourage women, especially black women, from getting abortions. The ads were seen in New York, Chicago, Georgia, and other areas suggesting black women are getting high numbers of abortions. Anti-abortion groups are not effectively suggesting stopping abortions among all women; they are selectively choosing black women as their targets in a racist manner. Crenshaw states, “Ignoring differences within groups frequently contributes to tension among groups.”  This type of advertising groups women into categories based on the color of their skin. In my opinion, these ads are destructive and discriminatory and should be renounce by all women.

Website &  references:

Crenshaw, Kimberle W., Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color.

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sexual-justice/are-black-children-an-end_b_515075.html

**http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/14/atlanta-anti-abortion-bil_n_461972.html