American Woman: How Feminism Is Changing the Identity Discourse

[ismnotwasm]

As I read through the witty observations from women of color about emotions we have all experienced, I found myself reacting to the conversation not as a Bangladeshi woman, but as an American one. The discussions it generated among women of color took the social media platform by storm, and made me reflect on my identity more than I had in awhile.

After a decade working as a feminist policy analyst on Capitol Hill, marrying an American and building a home in Washington, my roots here now. My daughter is an American, and so is my husband. I had added a whole layer to myself and who I considered myself to be without even thinking about it.

In addition to having this huge Bangladeshi side of myself, I also inherited an American experience. As fluid as that may be, it impacts how I view myself as a feminist, and what movements I consider myself to be a part of. That may appear as something obvious, but it really was an epiphany for me.

The #SolidarityIsForWhiteWomen hashtag made women of color, "ethnic women," even if just for a fleeting, Internet moment step outside of the shadows and grab the mic. We took control of the narrative instead of having it defined for us, and transformed the discussion into an opportunity to put the spotlight on issues that affect us and our communities.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anushay-hossain/american-woman-how-femini_b_3900887.html