What Do People Mean When They Say “Misogyny Comes First”?

This phrase comes up a lot in feminist discussions.

It usually means:

• Sex-based oppression is older than racism

• Gender should be the main focus

• Other issues should wait

Some people say this to argue for unity.
But from an Afro-global lens, this idea does not hold up.

Here’s why.

“Older” Does Not Mean “More Important”

Yes, male dominance is very old.

But old does not mean stronger.
And it does not mean other harms are smaller.

A simple way to think about it:

• Fire is older than electricity. Electricity can still kill you.

• Poverty is older than many diseases. Diseases still destroy lives.

• Gravity is older than cars. Car crashes still happen.

Age does not decide impact.

Oppressions do not line up and wait their turn.

What This Looks Like Right Now for Black Women

Black women are dealing with misogyny and racism at the same time—every day, in visible ways.

In Healthcare

• Black women are less likely to be believed about pain

• More likely to die in childbirth

• More likely to have symptoms dismissed

• More likely to be labeled “difficult” or “noncompliant”

This is not just misogyny.
White women experience sexism in healthcare—but Black women face racialized disbelief layered on top.

In the Workplace

• Black women are underpaid compared to white women

• Overworked and expected to be endlessly competent

• Penalized for speaking plainly

• Labeled “aggressive” for boundaries that others are praised for

• Benefit for programs that they later join white men in deriding because they also benefit other groups.

If misogyny alone explained this, outcomes would be similar across women.

They are not.

In Feminist and Progressive Spaces

• Black women are told “now isn’t the time” to talk about race

• Asked to soften language for comfort

• Accused of being divisive for naming harm

• Expected to educate others while being dismissed

This is where racial gatekeeping of womanhood appears most clearly.

Black women are accepted only if we prioritize others’ comfort over our truth.

In Media and Public Discourse

• Black women are over-criticized and under-protected

• Mocked for tone instead of heard for content

• Hyper-visible when blamed, invisible when harmed

• Expected to be resilient instead of supported

Misogyny alone does not explain this pattern.

Race is always present.

Why “Misogyny Comes First” Falls Apart Here

If misogyny truly came first in lived experience, then:

• White women and Black women would be treated similarly

• Black women wouldn’t have worse outcomes across nearly every system

• Calling out racism wouldn’t be framed as betrayal

But that’s not what we see.

What we see is compounding harm.

A Simple Way to Understand It

Think of oppression like carrying weight.

• One heavy bag is exhausting

• Carrying two at once changes your balance

• Carrying them daily wears down your body

Black women are not asked which bag hurts more.

We’re asked why we’re tired.

Why This Framing Is So Harmful

When people insist “misogyny comes first,” what they often mean is:

• “Please don’t complicate this”

• “Please don’t name race”

• “Please don’t make me uncomfortable”

• “Please wait your turn”

But Black women do not experience harm in stages.

There is no waiting line.

A Gentle Challenge for Mixed Audiences

This isn’t about competition.

It’s about honesty.

If a movement:

• Centers some women fully

• While asking others to split themselves

• Or delay parts of their reality

Then the movement still has work to do.

Solidarity should not require silence.

A More Accurate Way to Say It

Instead of:

“Misogyny comes first.”

Try:

“Misogyny is real—but it shows up differently depending on race, power, and history.”

That sentence leaves space for:

• Growth

• Listening

• Accountability

• Real unity

Closing Thought

Black women are navigating systems that were not built with us in mind—and often work against us.

We are not confused.
We are not uneducated.
We are not disloyal to womanhood.

We are naming what is happening right now.

From an Afro-global lens, liberation cannot be partial.

It has to meet people where they actually live.