Sudanese Feminism and Western Feminism are not the same. Nor should they be.

via Twitter @lana_hago

Women are increasingly becoming public symbols of strength, not just in fiction, but in everyday life. This photo shot by @lana_hago of Alaa Salah is proof of that. Standing on top of a car singing “Thawra” (the Revolution song), Salah is a symbol of resistance against the Sudanese government. In its fourth month of uprising, the recent protests rally against country unemployment, political corruption and the overall oppression of women by sharia law. In 1983, Sudan adopted sharia law which has only tightened with the rise of President Omar al-Bashir in power states the BBC.

Sudanese participants have said they were inspired by the street protests that took place in Algeria not too long ago. Events that led to the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was in power for over two decades. With reports of 2/3rds of the protestors being women, this photo reveals the history of cultural and female significance. Thankfully, Twitter user @HindMakki broke down the layers of symbolism of Salah’s dress in a recent thread.

via Twitter

According to Makki, Salah’s white 'tobe' represents the working Sudanese women and her gold moon earrings represent Arabic femininity. In its entirety, Salah’s attire nods to the women of the 60s and 70s who marched fighting against military dictatorship in the country. Modern female protestors have been referred to as "Kandaka," a name also with historical significance as it “is the title given to the Nubian queens of ancient Sudan whose gift to their descendents is a legacy of empowered women who fight hard for their country and their rights” Makki explains.

As the protests in Sudan unfold, how can we, as Western women support Sudanese women during their fight that does not include us imposing our Americanized version of feminism? We can do so by first understanding that feminism is not a one size fits all circumstance.

Women of different racial backgrounds, religions, and cultural identities experience womanhood and with that-- discrimination that is drastically different from another. For example, a cis straight American woman in San Francisco does not experience the same events as a trans woman of color in an Asian country. This of course does not eliminate one experience for the other, however it acknowledges the limitations of using feminism as a broad term. This is also known as Third Wave Feminism, which “emulates feminism of women in developing countries who do not necessarily share the same identity and cultural goals as Western feminism outlines.”

By recognizing the advantages some feminists experiences have over others, this can begin the work to helping everyone (no matter the location, identity or language) rise up. To help the women of Sudan, Algeria or anywhere firstly educate yourself on the situation without implementing unnecessary judgment or advice, retweet/repost accurate and valid information (which may require you to research beyond a 280 character paragraph), and a simple “we stand with you” is enough.