Yes, there are times when it’s OK to critique another woman’s feminism

By Lena Potts

Here’s the tea: Earlier this week, actress and perpetually cool human Tessa Thompson posted an Instagram photo of a number of hollywood actresses celebrating the successful launch of their Time’s Up initiative, aimed at ending sexual harassment and discrimination in workplaces.

After a number of commenters questioned why Lena Dunham, whose own handling of harassment claims has been called into question (as well as her politics, in general), Thompson posted the following comment:

“Lena was not anywhere present in our group during the countless hours of work for the last two months. We hosted an open house for the actresses for red carpet messaging and Lena presence was a surprise to us all. This is a time of reckoning. And for many, a re-education. So many women also have real work to do. I’m afraid it’s too nuanced a conversation to have on this platform. But I hear you, and know that your thoughts and words are not lost on me. It’s been discussed.”

In the caption for her post, Thompson also recognized Aurora Perrineau, an actress of color who has accused Girls writer Murray Miller of sexual assault. Dunham received wide criticism for defending Murray after the accusations broke.

Thompson later clarified her comments (above), and some have accused her of “walking back” her criticism.

Thompson does not need to apologize for recognizing that Dunham, who has a history of ignoring or overlooking communities of color, poor communities, and others that she is not a part of, did not have the same role in organizing this movement. She did not come after Dunham unprompted, nor did she misrepresent the other actress. She did not criticize Dunham- she clarified her participation. If that challenges the perception of Dunham as an equally participatory member of this movement, so be it. Thompson told the truth, acknowledged the disparities women fighting for equality face amongst themselves, and assured her fans that their voices and concerns were being heard. She did not allow Dunham to pose for a photo and adopt the same degree of credit for the vital, hard work that a group of other women did.

Dunham, and women like her, have for too long waved the flag of progressivism without working for other marginalized communities.

As I’ve stated before, that’s not to say that white women shouldn’t have a voice.

But Dunham, specifically, has been almost laughably blind to causes that aren’t about her white femininity being jeopardized. She will kick and scream and Instagram and tweet and march for “women’s issues”- defunding of planned parenthood, abortion regulation, etc. However, when Black and Brown women aren’t nominated for any awards in her own industry- silent. When Black boys and men are murdered and communities burst into flames- silent. Her feminism is often selfish, and comes from a position of insane privilege. She cares about issues not when they’re about women, but when they’re about her.

The idea that women shouldn’t question how others perform or engage in feminism entirely ignores that privilege and structurally inequitable power systems exist amongst women, as well.

Dunham, specifically, by so frequently politicizing herself (via her show and her own brand of celebrity), opens herself up to political critique. This is not an attack on a woman actor for her weight, an attack on a woman celebrity for her looks, a set of comments labeling outspoken women as “bitchy”, or a declaration that a disenfranchised person is in some way not enough. This is a critique, and a pretty mild one, of someone with power who has branded themselves as a publicly political person.

So no, it is not anti-feminist for Tessa Thompson to point credit toward those who deserve it. That is a truly feminist notion all women, even rich white women, should get behind.

Don’t scale back, Tessa.

*** Thompson has since clarified that her statement was not meant as an apology, because it absolutely shouldn’t be.