5 Intersectional Feminists for Women’s History Month

The beginning of the year is a not-so-great time for bigots, because February, Black History month, is quickly followed by Women’s History month and International Women’s day in March.

Moving from Black History month to Women’s history month doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating and uplifting diverse change-makers, though. It gives us a great chance to celebrate intersectional and diverse feminists.

Firstly, what is intersectionality? The term was developed by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, a scholar who analyzed the connections between her black and female identities, and how oftentimes the two stood as roadblocks.

Crenshaw observed how both identities were weaponized against Black Women. In legal cases based on discrimination, Black women often have their experiences minimized, as Black men and White women do not experience the same issues they do. Crenshaw stated that “Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking.” (Holford)

Intersectionality does not only refer to black women; it also examines how different minorities are ‘doubly-disadvantaged’ by their race, gender, or expression. 

Intersectional Feminists

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adichie is an award-winning author, who uses her books and public presence to explore themes on colonialism and its lasting impacts, feminism, and gender equality. Adichie published her first book, Purple Hibiscus, in 2003, and went on to write and publish many more.

As a Nigerian, Adichie has an interesting relationship with feminism and anti-black racism. She is famous for her TED Talk on the Danger of a Single Story (read here), where she talks about how important it is for young, racialized people to see themselves reflected in the media they consume. She also talks about how the label of ‘feminist’ comes with so many connotations. “[It is] so heavy with baggage, negative baggage. You hate men, you hate bras, you hate African culture.” (Adichie) Adichie addresses the fallacies in these assumptions, as well the misconception that feminists can not be feminists. “Feminism and femininity are not mutually exclusive. It is misogynistic to suggest that they are… sadly, women have learnt to be ashamed and apologetic about pursuits that are seen as traditionally female, such as fashion and make-up” (Spencer)

Overall, Adichie has proven to be a staunch feminist, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in literature.

Malala Yousafzai

Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate winner. At only 11 years old, her education was stripped from her and girls like her by the Taliban, a group of extremists. At such a young age, Yousafzai knew that women and girls deserved to be educated just as men and boys did, and fought against this discrimination.

Yousafzai is an exemplary individual not just for her activism, but for the work she does to back it up. She founded the Malala Fund, an organization whose primary goal is supporting, encouraging and funding girls’ education worldwide. According to UNICEF, investing in the education of girls after elementary school not only benefits the girl, but society at large. Child marriage rates decline, alongside child mortality and maternal mortality rates. Yousafzai also emphasizes the importance of speaking up for those who are disadvantaged and cannot speak for themselves; “This award is not just for me…It is for those voiceless children who want change. I am here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice” (Yousafzai)

Angela Yvonne Davis

A professor, scholar, author and activist, Angela Davis is a black, lesbian radical feminist well-known for her involvement in the Black Panther and Communist Parties. Davis faced persecution and imprisonment in her earlier years under suspicions of being involved in the case of the Soledad brothers. 

Davis’ intersectionality crosses race, gender, and sexuality, and has always been an activist and advocate for the disadvantaged in all areas. She closely examined the incarceration system in the United States of America; how it targeted and villainized black men, how it continues America’s history of slavery, as well as interrogating other topics such as war, the pitfalls of capitalism, LGBTQ+ rights and more. 

Now, at 81, Davis continues to fight for equality; giving her support for Palestine, and examining the war on terror and its impact on the world at large. She has spoken out on gender and its connections with race; “I was interested in pointing out that gender did not have to be seen in competition with race. That women’s issues did not belong to middle-class white women. In many ways, that research was about uncovering the contributions of women who were completely marginalized by histories of the women’s movement, especially Black women, but also Latino women and working-class women.” (George) 

Davis teaches us that solidarity and persistence are necessary when it comes to fighting oppression. 

Amandla Stenberg

Some know Stenberg from their roles in the Hunger Games, Bodies Bodies Bodies, the Spiderverse duology, or their upcoming role in Children of Blood and Bone, but they are also an outspoken feminist and activist. The nonbinary actress has spoken out on racial discrimination, sexism, and LGBTQ+ rights. Stenberg advocates for broadening our perspectives on what defines a feminist, as even though they do not identify as female, they still identify with and relate to female experiences. “I never did not identify as a feminist, but I didn’t know where I belonged because I didn’t see myself represented,” (Martinez) 

Stenberg tries to blend their activism with their art, to bring awareness to their wider audience. The media they star in reflects these issues, as well as their activism outside of Hollywood. 

Toyin Sokefun-Bello

Also known as TY Bello, this Nigerian artist is a jack of many trades. Bello is not only active in the Gospel Music industry, she is also a renown philanthropist, anti-rape activist, and photographer. 

Bello rose to prominence at a young age, and became well known through her music and photographs, which reflected the reality of life for the poorer populations of Nigeria. Her debut album, Greenland, talked about loyalty, corruption, love, family and liberation, and served  as a beacon of hope. 

Bello has also used her fame to advocate for change in her community. She starred in an anti-rape PSA following a gang rape incident in 2011, and has recounted her own experiences with sexual violence. “I remember how the silence I had to keep after the abuse slowly killed me. I also remember the relief I found in my relationship [with] God so early… I had to push past the inner conflict that talking about it was ‘unnecessary’ … it was too long ago ..too ‘Oyinboish ‘to discuss publicly…Every abuse story is different but it is a SHAME that makes them complicated…Sadly, the shame hardly lies with the perpetrators. So I’ve learned that it’s time to nail shame right where it belongs ..Far away from the wronged .. Bringing them instead to healing, justice, and freedom.” (Akinyoade)

---

Adichie, C. N. (2024, April 2). We should all be feminists – April 12, 2013 | Archives of Women's Political Communication. Archives of Women's Political Communication. https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2024/04/02/we-should-all-be-feminists-april-12-2013/. Accessed March 10, 2025.

Akinyoade, A. (2019, July 2). TY Bello recounts being sexually abused as a 7-year-old. Guardian NG. https://guardian.ng/life/ty-bello-shares-her-rape-experience-at-age-7/. Accessed March 14, 2025.

George, N. (2020, October 19). Angela Davis. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/19/t-magazine/angela-davis.html#. Accessed March 14, 2025.

Holford, J. (2023, November 25). In defense of intersectionality – Rattlebag and Rhubarb. Rattlebag and Rhubarb. https://www.josieholford.com/in-defense-of-intersectionality/. Accessed March 10, 2025.

Martinez, N. (2023, December 13). In-depth interview: Amandla Stenberg's perspectives on art and activism. Bombshell by Bleu. https://bombshellbybleu.com/p/amandla-stenberg-perspectives-art-activism/. Accessed March 14, 2025.

Spencer, C. (2016, October 22). Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – The feminist who sells make-up. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37676472. Accessed March 10, 2025.

Yousafzai, M. (n.d.). Malala Yousafzai – Nobel lecture. Nobel Prize. https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/06/yousafzai-lecture_en.pdf. Accessed March 12, 2025.