In which context is the term "White Man's Burden" often referenced?

The term "White Man's Burden" is often referenced in the context of Social Darwinism because it reflects the belief that Western nations had a moral obligation to 'civilize' non-Western societies. This idea, popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem written in the late 19th century, suggests that colonial powers were tasked with uplifting those they deemed 'less civilized'. This perspective aligns closely with Social Darwinism, which applied the concept of "survival of the fittest" to human societies, suggesting that Western civilization was superior and that it was the duty of white colonizers to spread their culture, religion, and governance to other parts of the world.

The use of the term often fails to account for the negative consequences of colonialism, as it presents these imperial endeavors as noble and altruistic, rather than exploitative. Such a framing can overshadow the real criticisms of colonial practices by shifting the focus away from the experiences of colonized people and onto the supposed burdens of colonizers.