I’ve just read this whole thread trying to understand what the hell is happening.
The whole thing has massively depressed me, to be honest. This is probably going to be controversial but I think fourth wave “feminism” is largely a joke, a bastardization of what intersectionality was supposed to reflect, and I honestly think that almost everything both Chidera and Florence seem to stand for plays directly into the hands of a capitalist patriarchy.
I’m actually shocked Chidera can happily claim she’s a feminist with her lessons in seeking out rich men. Mind boggling.
Overall, I can see how hugely unfair and hurtful it must have been for Chidera to be outsold by Florence. There’s no doubt that our society’s collective, often unconscious racism made Florence more palatable to young girls buying these baby lib fem books. However, I struggle to see where and why Florence is responsible for that herself. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand Florence, but until Chidera publicly releases the exact details of what she considers plagiarism in Florence’s book, then I think this is all a lot of hot air. She totally has a right to be angry and frustrated at our racist world, but is it right to scapegoat Florence Given for that specifically? I don’t think so.
I do actually feel for Florence, because my own personal reaction would be to go the legal route, too. I think most people would. And Chidera is right in saying that there is institutionalised racism within the legal system, but what’s the alternative? There is also institutional sexism, and ageism, and classism within our legal system... it’s not a perfect system but no perfect system exists, so are we never supposed to use it?
Anyway, somewhat hilariously, my grandmother was telling me (and every other female) that women don’t owe anyone pretty before these girls were born. I guess I better go Paypal Chidera asap.
Just a question as I cannot see it anywhere: has Chidera actually stated what type of plagiarism she feels Florence is guilty of? I am assuming direct plagiarism, which is the easiest to prove.