Understanding Misogynoir on the 60th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Speech
Sixty years ago, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King gave his impassioned “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A call for equality and freedom, it was one of the defining points for the civil rights movement.
Sixty years later, progress has gradually been made – as in gradually the ice age ended. And in many cases, unmade far more quickly. But there is one area where zero headway has occurred, glacial or otherwise: Prejudice and violence against Black women. Also known as misogynoir: a term coined by queer Black feminist scholar Moya Bailey that specifically describes the unique discrimination faced by Black women, where both racism and misogyny intersect.
Misogynoir highlights the way that both race and gender work together to marginalize Black women in unique and specific ways that are different from the racism that Black men face or the misogyny that white women face. The violence that Black women face is unique and compounded as well.
The Stats
Black women made up nearly one-third of all female murder victims in the City of Los Angeles over the past decade despite accounting for less than five percent of the city’s population, according to a report by the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights).
Nationally, 2,077 Black women and girls were killed in 2021, a 51% increase over 2019 and the largest jump of any racial or gender group during that period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During that same timeframe, the number of unsolved homicides of Black women and girls rose by 89% nationwide.
In 2020, 268,884 women were reported missing, according to the National Crime Information Center, with nearly 100,000 of those being Black women and girls. While Black women account for less than 15% of the U.S. population, they made up more than one-third of all missing women reported in 2020.
If this were any other population, the outcry would be deafening. But it’s not only not deafening, it’s not even whispering. Why the roaring silence from the media and our elected officials? Why the roaring silence from all of us?
The Hard Truth
Devaluation: Misogynoir contributes to a societal devaluation of Black women, which contributes to the mistaken view that they are somehow expendable or less deserving of protection. This devaluation manifests in forms of violence, from physical abuse to more systemic forms of violence like under-protection by law enforcement.
Stereotyping: Black women often face harmful stereotypes, such as being labeled "angry" or "hypersexualized." These stereotypes lead to justification, or excuse violence against them. For example, if a Black woman is perceived as overly aggressive, it might be used to justify physical retaliation against her. Point in fact: Megan Thee Stallion, who was born Megan Pete. Shot by Tory Lanez in the foot because she criticized his rap abilities, Pete was vilified by Lanez and subsequently in social media. Pete wrote in a guest essay in The New York Times that the “skepticism and judgment” that followed her allegations were emblematic of how Black women were “disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life.”
Media Representation: Media representation of Black women often aligns with these negative stereotypes. In too many cases, the media perpetuates ideas that normalize or trivialize violence against Black women, reinforcing social acceptance of such behaviors. This includes social media, right, Megan?
Invisibility: Violence against Black women is frequently underreported or overshadowed. This invisibility can be attributed to the intersections of racism and misogyny. While issues of police violence gain national attention, the stories of Black men often overshadow those of Black women, despite Black women also being victims.
Economic and Social Disempowerment: The systemic marginalization that Black women face due to misogynoir can lead to economic and social disempowerment, making them more vulnerable to various forms of violence and exploitation.
Institutional Betrayal: Institutions that are supposed to protect people from harm fail Black women due to ingrained misogynoir. For example, law enforcement may not take cases of domestic violence or sexual assault against Black women as seriously, leading to further harm and trauma.
Certainly, the experiences of all Black women are not the same. But calling out the pervasive impact of misogynoir can shed light on the horrific violence and challenges they face. Understanding and addressing misogynoir is crucial in creating a society where all women and girls are safe, valued, and treated with dignity and respect.
It is time to speak up. It is time to call it out. It is time for all of us to stand together.
To quote Dr. King: “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. …Know that this situation will somehow be changed.”
But it won’t change itself.
