Entertainment
Best supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette, who made an impassioned appeal for women's equality on Oscars stage, landed in trouble by calling "people of color" to fight for women's rights in the backstage interview during the ceremony. The Boyhood actress got a standing ovation by Meryl Streep during the ceremony on Sunday and much praise in the media.
Updated : Feb 24, 2015, 05:56 PM IST
Best supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette, who made an impassioned appeal for women's equality on Oscars stage, landed in trouble by calling "people of color" to fight for women's rights in the backstage interview during the ceremony. The Boyhood actress got a standing ovation by Meryl Streep during the ceremony on Sunday and much praise in the media.
She then went on to elaborate on her onstage comments, saying, " ... Even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface, there are huge issues that are applied that really do affect women. And it's time for all the women in America and all the men that love women, and all the gay people, and all the people of color that we've all fought for to fight for us now."
The comment sparked an instant reaction on Twitter with many expressing disappointment. "People of colour have enjoyed freedom for so, so long and yet we continue to ignore the plight of downtrodden Patricia Arquettes. #ashamed," one user wrote. "Other than disappearing women of color, trans women, and lesbians, Arquette was great," said another.
The conversation grew when the hashtag #AskAWhiteFeminist trended on Twitter.
Straight white women didn't solve homophobia & racism. Telling LBT women & WOC that it's SWW's turn now is insulting #AskAWhiteFeminist
— Dr. Hibbs (@reallyHibbs) February 24, 2015
...nobody THINKS they are racist. Our racism is in what we omit without even considering the impact. We ALL DO IT. #AskAWhiteFeminist
— Sarah (@wordgeeksarah) February 24, 2015
#AskAWhiteFeminist why WoC are rendered visible when solidarity becomes vital to combat issues white women face.
— Danny M (@dannytime) February 23, 2015
#AskAWhiteFeminist to tell you why they think all "the women, the men who love women, and all the gay people" are white.
— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) February 23, 2015
Patricia Arquette said "it's time for THEM to fight for us," She didn't have to make an other-ing statement, but she did. #AskAWhiteFeminist
— Shelby Alexander (@ShelbyLAlex) February 24, 2015
NO! Obvi the group you take to task is the one oppressing you, not other groups experiencing oppressions of their own! #AskAWhiteFeminist
— lovely lady lumpen (@betherwisser) February 24, 2015
Patricia Arquette meant to do a good thing, But when your words about "women" clearly refer to WHITE women only... #AskAWhiteFeminist
— Sarah (@wordgeeksarah) February 24, 2015
#AskAWhiteFeminist Did you know that a white woman earns 78 cents to a man's dollar, and a Hispanic woman earns 61 cents?
— Nat (@vicesandviagra) February 23, 2015
Arquette later took to Twitter to defend her comments, saying, "I have long been an advocate for the rights of the #LBGT community. The question is why aren't you an advocate for equality for ALL women?
"Guess which women are the most negatively effected in wage inequality? Women of color. #Equalpay for ALL women. Women stand together in this."
Wage equality will help ALL women of all races in America. It will also help their children and society.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 23, 2015
Women have been basically paying a gender tax for generations.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 23, 2015
Guess which women are the most negatively effected in wage inequality? Women of color. #Equalpay for ALL women. Women stand together in this
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) February 23, 2015