This is part of my coverage of the Secular Social Justice Conference this past January in Houston. I raised money to get me to the conference to report out because conferences like these cover topics that are rarely talked about in the movement. I also raised money to get Josiah Mannion to the conference to take photos. You can see his full conference photoset. If you appreciate the work we do, we’re also raising money cover a portion of our costs to do the same for the Women in Secularism conference in September. You’ll find a donation button at the end of this post.
After opening remarks, which I’ll cover in a post summarizing the experience of attending the conference, we split off into two sessions. Josiah took pictures in the “Humanism and Hip Hop” session, because you can’t keep him away from that. I covered “Feminism(s) of Color” for much the same reason.
Feminism(s) of Color and the Secular Movement
Deanna Adams
Maggie Ardiente, AHA
Heina Dadabhoy, Freethought Blogs
AJ Word, Secular Sistahs
Moderator: Sikivu Hutchinson\
This session was a great one to start the conference with because it demonstrated so many of its strengths. For a movement that prides itself on challenging ingrained ideas, what we actually see is a lot of people getting shouted down the moment they say something that makes others uncomfortable. This wasn’t a comfortable panel. It included several ideas that will make people mad. It’s interesting that it takes a conference like this to allow those ideas to be aired and heard and considered.
I included my tweets and the tweets of several others to give you a sense of what people were reacting to and how. Hopefully they’ll whet your appetite to watch the whole thing. You’ll find the full video of the panel at the bottom of this post.
Feminisms of color panel getting started #SSJCON pic.twitter.com/SLdpyb367c
— Dr. Juhem Navarro (@JuhemNR) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon diving right into things with a panel on feminisms of color
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Feminism(s) of Color and the Secular Movement panel at #SSJCon pic.twitter.com/OXAkxFWMtv
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
Feminisms of Color panel set to begin! #SSJCON pic.twitter.com/PSUE8UEEb4
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
Standing room only at Feminisms of Color panel. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
Sikivu Hutchinson opened with brief remarks about why a panel focusing on the experiences of feminists of color was necessary, despite greater attention to feminist concerns within the movement in recent years.
Atheist feminists have been ignorant or resistant to experiences and problems of women of color. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Then each of the panelists gave a short statement. Maggie Ardiente started by talking about the importance and difficulties of representation in leadership.
#SSJCon gives us opportunities to talk about issues we rarely to never get to at the big, national atheist conferences. —@MaggieArdiente
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
.@MaggieArdiente on her experiences growing up filipina & catholic #SSJCon
— Dr. Juhem Navarro (@JuhemNR) January 30, 2016
In @MaggieArdiente's Filipino, Catholic upbringing, religion meant different things for girls than boys. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Internalizing the religious idea that women can't lead has made it hard for @MaggieArdiente to step out of the shadows to lead. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
@MaggieArdiente: Identifying as humanist doesn't absolve you from being sexist or racist. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
Being on boards of directors can make a big difference for representation, inclusion, changing organization focus. #ssjcon @MaggieArdiente
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon The idea that "humanist" can replace "feminist" as a term is completely preposterous.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
.@MaggieArdiente urges women to join atheist, humanist, etc. boards and grab the opportunity to make change. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
"I have to combat this idea that "humanist" should replace "feminism". #SSJCON @MaggieArdiente
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
.@MaggieArdiente points out that @americnhumanist doesn't shy away frm word "feminist." Their def of humanism includes feminism. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
No, "humanist" should not replace the word "feminist". —@MaggieArdiente *applause* #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Absurd to say we should call ourselves humanists instead of feminists – plenty of self-identified humanists are sexist. #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
.@MaggieArdiente describes the @americnhumanist decision to post #blacklivesmatter; positive & negative responses on social media. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
Unfortunately, for some atheists and humanists, black lives do not matter. #ssjcon @MaggieArdiente
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
Some humanists think black lives don't matter, feminism doesn't matter. "I'm here to say those people are wrong." —@MaggieArdiente #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon In my experience, having poc/women in leadership makes a huge difference for secular groups. Membership reflects the leadership.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Heina Dadabhoy talked about trying to navigate a secular movement that was supposed to be far more progressive than the Muslim community she came from but shared many of the same problems.
.@heinousdealings describes her background; immigrant family became more religious as "protection" from social ills in new country. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon @heinousdealings sexism not limited to religious people
— Dr. Juhem Navarro (@JuhemNR) January 30, 2016
.@heinousdealings thought, when she left religion, "Now I can speak and lead!" *ahem* #SSJCon Sexism propped up with "science" instead.
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
"Certain biologists with bad Twitters who I won't name." #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Ten years ago, @heinousdealings thought getting into organized atheism would mean no sexism. General laughter at #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
At #SSJCon, Heina Dhadaboy talks about how Sexism is not just found in religion. And dangerous use of biology against women.
— Reyna Dynam (@RDynam) January 30, 2016
.@heinousdealings recalls some issues w/ some evo psych perspectives: "boys like blue & girls like pink b/c of berry-picking!" #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
Getting into organized atheism, @heinousdealings found people giving bad scientific reasons for sexism instead of religious ones. #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
@heinousdealings speaks on her discovery that non-religious people can also be sexist. #SSJCON pic.twitter.com/vVmEz1NwmM
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
.@heinousdealings: "I think ppl are finally starting to understand that we can't leave parts of us behind." #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
People sometimes expect you to leave part of your self and identity at the door. @heinousdealings #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon Science has a history of being used to abuse a whole lot of people, and to keep people down. There is cause for people to mistrust.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"My most credible threats don't from Muslims, they come from Atheists" @heinousdealings #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
"Most credible threats against me don't come from believers, they come from atheists." @heinousdealings #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
"[Atheists] don't want to believe my most credible threats don't come from Muslims but from my fellow atheists." —@heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon
Heina Dhadaboy discusses how despite the difference in applications, sexism is still sexism— Reyna Dynam (@RDynam) January 30, 2016
Tough to talk about my experiences in ways that they can't be coopted by racist white men. —@heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
I have to convince progressive, reformist Muslims that ex-Muslims aren't all neocons. —@heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Secular Sistahs VP Ayana Williford (stage name AJ Word) talked about the demoralizing combination of racism and apathy she’s encountered in the movement.
#SSJCon @SecularSistah AJ Word on becoming an atheist
— Dr. Juhem Navarro (@JuhemNR) January 30, 2016
AJ Wilford from Secular Sistahs describes their founding. Just about all other Sistah groups are faith-based. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
AJ Word co-founded Secular Sistahs to talk about issues and challenges other spaces weren't open to. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Coming to atheist spaces, AJ Word encountered absurdly cliched forms of racism. "I have a black friend!" @SecularSistah #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "welcome to the group! I have a black friend, I swear." That's…not how you welcome people as an organizer.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"Welcome to our meetup. Where are all the black atheist women? BTW, I have a black friend. She's very feisty." #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
"Sense of isolation being in feminist groups that are primarily white shuts down black feminists." AJ Wilford in #SSJCon's Feminisms panel.
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
"It's racist for black people to want your own day."But somehow not bigoted for atheists to want a day of secularism or freethought. #ssjcon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
AJ Word describes discomfort of being sole WOC at secular mtg—casual stereotyping, "I have a black friend," etc. Audience groans. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "Who can I relate to? This is not it." I assume that is a lot of people's reactions to the atheist movement for a lot of reasons.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Secular Sistahs participated in #sayhername demonstrations; sees opportunities to engage in issues giving voice to black women. #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
@SecularSistah Involved in #SayHerName campaign raising awareness of violence against women of color. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
"We talk about victims of police brutality like Trayvon Martin, but what about black women?" AJ Word supports #SayHerName. #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "You shouldn't have to humanize a human"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"We shouldn't have to humanize a human" because she's a black woman. –AJ Wilford #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Deanna Adams spoke about trying to find a place where she could be a black woman atheist without being tokenized based on any part of that identity.
#ssjcon #HOH board member @deemusings1 starts speaking on feminism of color panel now
— Humanists of Houston (@HumnistsOfHtown) January 30, 2016
Many white atheists think they're above racism, sexism, etc because they're rationalists. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
A lot of atheists think they can't be racist or sexist because they're rational, so they're above that. –Deanna Adams #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Rationalists should understand unconscious biases, including racism and sexism. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
We can't be that black friend who pats our white friends on the head and says, "You're the best ally ever." –Deanna Adams #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
@deannaadams: tone policing of black women who are labeled as 'angry' for any dissent with the group. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
@deemusings1 warns against becoming a token person of color in the secular movement. #SSJCON pic.twitter.com/VVzzdN84eN
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
Black people, especially black women, get tone policed, tagged as angry, for speaking out about problems. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
Deanna Adams: Need to be careful of tokenization: treatment as "black friend" that gives approval/cookies to allies, w/o change . #ssjcon
— Debbie Goddard (@DebGod) January 30, 2016
People reached out and said they weren't surprised Adams had been targeted in the movement. She was! Only been in the mgmt 2 years. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
@deannaadams: if a woman speaks out about being targeted, don't turn to other women for 'confirmation'. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
Women and particularly women of color need to look out for each other in the movement when there are problems. –Deanna Adams #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon There's a lot of talk about the complications of interfaith as part of intersectionality/SJ. A number of different perspectives.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@deemusings1 "It happens in the wider community and it happens in the secular community as well." [2/2] #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
Houston trans bathroom bill required coalition building among local groups. Intersectional issue required intersectional approach. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "Education inequality is a secular/humanist issue, we need to be a voice calling for a change."
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"As a mother and former teacher, I am very concerned about the school-to-prison pipeline." @deemusings1 #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
"We hear a lot about this meteoric rise of the "Nones" …we're not seeing this in communities of color." @sikivuhutch #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "Haven't done much work with faith orgs, because they are inherently misogynistic…men in leadership, women do the work"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@deemusings1: important to find common ground with religious groups where we can do work together. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "It is important to find common ground where we can do work. Work together on common goals to show it is possible. Do the work"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Deanna Adams advocates activist work as good common ground for meeting and speaking with believers and religious community members. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
One note here: Adams was not advocating this as an overall good, but rather as the ground on which we should meet on those occasions we work with believers.
"The best way to show our sisters that they can be non-believers is to lead by example." – @deemusings1 #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
If atheist groups provide services provided by religion, nonbelievers in churches feel more comfortable leaving. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
Working with progressive believers on issues we have in common creates good atheist visibility. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
With the individual statements out of the way, the session moved into general discussion and Q&A. If anything, it got more frank at this point.
#SSJcon Another recurring topic: in schools, SOCAS violations are a much lower priority than things like birth control for WoC. Much lower.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
@MaggieArdiente mentions how a lot of white secular men don't understand the need for access to birth control. #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
#ssjcon
First people who suffer from lack of access to reproductive choices are women of color.— Reyna Dynam (@RDynam) January 30, 2016
"People ask me, is your family Muslim or American?" #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
"Islam isn't a race, but it is a racialized issue." @heinousdealings #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
@heinousdealings: instead of policing the bodies of women of color, put focus on the issues truly affecting women of color #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
We need to stop driving anxiety about religion on the backs and bodies of women of color & racializing religion. —@heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJcon "if ppl perceive you as muslim, you're going to get crap. It isn't a race, but it is a racialization. Doesn't matter to bigots"
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"Even though I'm no longer Muslim, I still get hatred on the street." Islam not a race, but it's racialized. @heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
We need to convince leaders of atheist/ secular orgs to make these issues a priority. Need to apply pressure. @MaggieArdiente #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
First the orgs ignore these issues, then they get defensive, then they change. Keep pushing. —@MaggieArdiente #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
@deemusings1: women of color have to exist unapologetically to be seen as humans. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
@silveroak77 Simply existing unapologetically is a revolutionary act for black, secular feminists. #SSJCon2016 #SSJCon
— Deanna (@deemusings1) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "The more we show up and speak up, people will have to deal with it or get out of the way" – true across the board, methinks
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
Birth control / reproductive rights an issue of access, not just an issue of legalization. Money, travel. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon Countering Planned Parenthood and Abortion Clinic protesters is important. Counter-representation is important to people.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
WOC have been at the forefront of pushing back against "genocide" anti-abortion narratives. —@sikivuhutch #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
"There is a long history of black women fighting for reproductive justice." @sikivuhutch #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
"We need to stop inviting Richard Dawkins to conferences and start saying he's not representative." #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon "We (organizations) need to stop inviting Richard Dawkins to conferences. Orgs can either be supportive of feminism or not."
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"We have [Dawkins] spewing misogyny and Islamophobia ad nauseam, and now setting policy for this organization." #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
Talking about online harassment of feminists in the atheist movement. #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
This racist misogynistic dude bro just use to describe Richard Dawkins here at #SSJCon 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Ms. Amanda Rosa (@namarose2013) January 30, 2016
@heinousdealings: we get tired of constantly having to justify our reality (harassment) #SSJCon
— Noelle George (@silveroak77) January 30, 2016
Being shocked by internet harassment doesn't help. It isn't shocking to those of us who receive it. —@heinousdealings #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
"(Harassers) aren't comfortable with the idea that people that are oppressed are doing better than they are." @heinousdealings #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon People who filter their spaces online are accused of creating an echo chamber. Cmon, it is self defense against rampant toxicity.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
"When you have an environment where harassment is defended as free speech, guess who you're driving out?" @heinousdealings #SSJCON
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
You need (enforced) harassment policies. The white guy who's nice to you won't necessarily be nice to the WOC you want to show up. #SSJCon
— Stephanie Zvan (@szvan) January 30, 2016
If you want spaces to be welcoming to marginalized people, you can't be Wild West/ anything goes. Have to have rules, enforce. #SSJCon
— Greta Christina (@GretaChristina) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon If ur free speech space is open as a harasser haven, then it isn't rly open. Lawless wild west isn't an ideal model for anything.
— Gordon Maples (@Misantropey) January 30, 2016
#SSJCon I love these ladies pic.twitter.com/cKqe8oMKQd
— Ashton P. Woods (@AshtonPWoods) January 30, 2016
Very informative. Brave and inspiring secular women of a variety of backgrounds. Atheism needs more of this. #SSJCON pic.twitter.com/YZaHCFUbmm
— Darrin Johnson (@DJ_Blues) January 30, 2016
Feminisms of Color+Secularism @deemusings1 @SecularSistah @heinousdealings @MaggieArdiente @sikivuhutch #SSJCon pic.twitter.com/gZvo7Q5uSm
— American Humanist (@americnhumanist) January 30, 2016
Here’s the video of the session. If you want to react to something in a tweet, it’s best to watch at least that portion of the video first.
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