When racism and sexism collide

What does allyship need to look like to raise the voices and experiences of all women?

Recent terms like Misogynoir coined by American activist Moya Baily, or acronyms such as TERF Trans-exclusionary radical feminist, describe how mainstream feminism has often failed to recognise and include the experience of black and transgender women in the feminism debate.   

Race and gender play a role in bias. Anti-racism efforts must explore intersectionality and investigate how and when racism and sexism collide.

Our panel examines how constructs of universal womanhood have operated to exclude many from the feminist space, and considers what allyship needs to look like to raise the voices and experiences of all women, including coloured and trans-women, so they are no longer ignored and marginalised. 

Meet our facilitator

Rabia Saddique BA LLB QCVS FAIM MAICD CSP

Rabia is an international humanitarian lawyer, retired British Army senior officer, former war crimes and terrorism prosecutor, and hostage survivor. She has undertaken humanitarian aid work in Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East, for which she was decorated by Queen Elizabeth II. Rabia’s bestselling memoir “Equal Justice: My Journey as a Woman, a Soldier and a Muslim” was published by Pan MacMillan in 2013 and has attracted interest to be adapted into a movie. Rabia is now a multi award winning storyteller, inspirational speaker, leadership consultant, media commentator and human rights advocate. 

Meet our speakers

Hon. Ayor Makur Chuot MLC

Hon. Ayor Makur Chuot MLC is a Member of the Legislative Council of the 41st Parliament of Western Australia for the North Metropolitan Region. She is WA’s first MP of African descent and the first person from a South Sudanese background to occupy a seat in any Australian Parliament. Ayor is passionate about multiculturalism, women’s interests, and families, and hopes to inspire young people of colour to get involved in the community. She is committed to improving opportunities for refugees and migrants in the workforce having overcome numerous barriers herself.

Elfie Shiosaki

Elfie Shiosaki is a Noongar and Yawuru writer and academic. Her research and teaching explores Indigenous desires for human rights and self-determination. Her debut Homecoming was published by Magabala Books in 2021, and was awarded the WA Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Author.

 In Conversation: Human Rights

In Conversation is a monthly series of thought-provoking topics exploring big questions, ideas and human narratives. Curated in collaboration with The Museum of Freedom and Tolerance (MFT), this series brings human rights stories to the foreground.

The eight-part discussion explores a range of contemporary human rights issues through stories of resilience and action, shining a spotlight on overcoming prejudices in the face of persistent challenges and slow progress. It asks the question, how do human rights affect us in our daily lives, and how can we better acknowledge our responsibilities in balancing any given right with the rights of others?

Explore the series here.