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What is white feminism—really—and how does it continue to shape culture, media, and power?

In this episode of Messy Liberation, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown sit down with author and journalist Koa Beck to unpack the origins, impact, and ongoing evolution of white feminism.

Koa shares how her experience working in mainstream women’s media exposed the gap between “feminism” as a label and feminism as a practice. Together, they explore how white feminism centers privilege, rewards assimilation, and leaves marginalized communities behind.

They also get into:
• Why feminism isn’t one thing (and never has been)
• The difference between adapting to systems vs. changing them
• How young people today are engaging with these ideas in more nuanced ways
• The role of media, capitalism, and culture in shaping feminist narratives
• Koa’s new work on “Valley Girl” culture and what it reveals about gender, race, and power
• The deeply flawed foster care system and how systemic inequality shows up in family courts

This is a conversation about unlearning, discomfort, and telling the truth—even when it costs you.

📚 Resources & Mentions
• Koa Beck's essay about identity in Salon
• "White Feminism" by Koa Beck
• Koa Beck’s “Valley Girl” Substack
• Koa Beck's Massachusetts Review essay on foster care and adoption

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