WHO ARE THE WOMEN
OF COLOR IN FEMINISM?
In the article Theorizing Difference From Multiracial Feminism, authors Maxine Baca Zinn and Bonnie Thornton Dill briefly explain the historical precedent of women of color being excluded from the feminist movements. They go on to explain the importance on understanding intersectionality within the movement. One point they emphasize the most is that women should acknowledge their multiple hierarchies in order to benefit the feminist movement as a whole. They describe the ways in which race is socially effected which in essence leads women to become divided and reduces the overall momentum of feminist efforts. If a main goal of feminism is to break down dogmatic social orders which hold only some in place, then women’s studdies and the feminist can not be successful and not address the intersectional nature of oppression, along with understanding and working to combat unjust privileges. They use the term “multiracial feminism” to describe feminism which is focussed on equality for all women, particularly women of color who have been neglected by other movements. Multiracial feminism intends to examine how identities of women are constructed around social domination or subordination of or to one another.
(Thornton Dill, Bonnie. "Theorizing Difference From Multiracial Feminism." Feminist Studdies. By Maxine Baca Zinn. N.p.: n.p., 1996. 321-31. Print.)
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee)
It is important in feminist theory to realize the critical need for a discussion about the multi-faceted nature of oppression. One of the largest intersections of oppression is gender and race. Historically women of color have not been paid enough attention in scholarship. This is the most disappointing when women of color are being discounted within topics which serve to understand and put an end to oppression. In the article Teaching Sex and Gender in Sociology, Esther Ngan-Ling Chow explains the importance of incorporating works of women of color into the sociology and women’s studies curriculum. She makes the point that a crucial place for change is within scholarship and academia. If teachers learn to teach in a way that promotes equality and gives equal attention to the wide range of available perspectives students will have a greater chance of learning equality and learning not only to listen to other perspectives, but becoming sensitized to those perspectives.
Title: Teaching Sex and Gender in Sociology: Incorporating the Perspective of Women of Color
Author(s): Esther Ngan-Ling Chow
Source: Teaching Sociology, Vol. 12, No. 3, Sex and Gender (Apr., 1985), pp. 299-311
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1318282
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee )
In order to learn about feminism in ways which don’t repeat tendencies of the past to ignore the work of women of color one must understand the institutional nature of not only sexism but also racism. Sexism and racism are institutionalized by systems of privilege and oppression. Privilege can be defined as a benefit that a person receives but has done nothing to earn. Oppression is exactly the opposite meaning that those in positions of privilege bar others from receiving those privileges, thus creating a social hierarchy. In the article White Privilege and Male Privilege, Peggy McIntosh lists privileges which she benefits from as a white woman. The privileges she lists seem so basic that it becomes obvious that they should be available to everyone, however by realizing these privileges it becomes increasingly apparent exactly how violent and pervasive racism is in our society. One of her listed privileges reads “I did not have to educate our children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.” McIntosh’s list is important in understanding how privilege and oppression relate to feminism because it makes the reader question their own privileges and realize that they may constantly be reaping gains at the expense of others. Privilege operates under the pretense that those who are privileged do not realize it. Realizing and calling out privilege is one of the first steps to understanding an oppressive social structure, and furthermore dismantling it.
McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege and Male Privilege." Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Fifth ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 75-82. Print.
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee)
In Audre Lorde’s article There Is No Hierarchy of Oppression, she points out that there is total futility in addressing one form of oppression without understanding and fighting all forms of oppression. She explains that all oppression is intersectional and shares a common tie which is the belief in supremacy. When supremacy is promoted from a position of privilege it matters very narrowly what particular group of people are being oppressed because there will always overlap within that and in that way all oppression in against all oppressed people. Notions of supremacy come from a perspective of privilege and fear. Supremacists will not only target one minority group whom they believe to be inferior, but rather see all groups which they do not identify with as inferior. What is truly important is discarding ideas about superiority which lead to larger and more violent social injustice.
Lorde, Audre. "There Is No Hierarchy Of Oppression." Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 70. Print.
(Thornton Dill, Bonnie. "Theorizing Difference From Multiracial Feminism." Feminist Studdies. By Maxine Baca Zinn. N.p.: n.p., 1996. 321-31. Print.)
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee)
It is important in feminist theory to realize the critical need for a discussion about the multi-faceted nature of oppression. One of the largest intersections of oppression is gender and race. Historically women of color have not been paid enough attention in scholarship. This is the most disappointing when women of color are being discounted within topics which serve to understand and put an end to oppression. In the article Teaching Sex and Gender in Sociology, Esther Ngan-Ling Chow explains the importance of incorporating works of women of color into the sociology and women’s studies curriculum. She makes the point that a crucial place for change is within scholarship and academia. If teachers learn to teach in a way that promotes equality and gives equal attention to the wide range of available perspectives students will have a greater chance of learning equality and learning not only to listen to other perspectives, but becoming sensitized to those perspectives.
Title: Teaching Sex and Gender in Sociology: Incorporating the Perspective of Women of Color
Author(s): Esther Ngan-Ling Chow
Source: Teaching Sociology, Vol. 12, No. 3, Sex and Gender (Apr., 1985), pp. 299-311
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1318282
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee )
In order to learn about feminism in ways which don’t repeat tendencies of the past to ignore the work of women of color one must understand the institutional nature of not only sexism but also racism. Sexism and racism are institutionalized by systems of privilege and oppression. Privilege can be defined as a benefit that a person receives but has done nothing to earn. Oppression is exactly the opposite meaning that those in positions of privilege bar others from receiving those privileges, thus creating a social hierarchy. In the article White Privilege and Male Privilege, Peggy McIntosh lists privileges which she benefits from as a white woman. The privileges she lists seem so basic that it becomes obvious that they should be available to everyone, however by realizing these privileges it becomes increasingly apparent exactly how violent and pervasive racism is in our society. One of her listed privileges reads “I did not have to educate our children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.” McIntosh’s list is important in understanding how privilege and oppression relate to feminism because it makes the reader question their own privileges and realize that they may constantly be reaping gains at the expense of others. Privilege operates under the pretense that those who are privileged do not realize it. Realizing and calling out privilege is one of the first steps to understanding an oppressive social structure, and furthermore dismantling it.
McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege and Male Privilege." Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Fifth ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 75-82. Print.
(Research Contributed By: Jaymee)
In Audre Lorde’s article There Is No Hierarchy of Oppression, she points out that there is total futility in addressing one form of oppression without understanding and fighting all forms of oppression. She explains that all oppression is intersectional and shares a common tie which is the belief in supremacy. When supremacy is promoted from a position of privilege it matters very narrowly what particular group of people are being oppressed because there will always overlap within that and in that way all oppression in against all oppressed people. Notions of supremacy come from a perspective of privilege and fear. Supremacists will not only target one minority group whom they believe to be inferior, but rather see all groups which they do not identify with as inferior. What is truly important is discarding ideas about superiority which lead to larger and more violent social injustice.
Lorde, Audre. "There Is No Hierarchy Of Oppression." Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 70. Print.
(Research contributed by: Symone)
African American women have fought for years to obtain a voice, or standpoint about black womanhood. African American women now have a voice, but now they have to deal with what the name of the standpoint should be. There is womanism and black feminism. According to Alice Walker, womanism was rooted in black women’s concrete history in racial and gender oppression. She also defines womanism as the opposite of feminism. Womanism to her involves men and women, “the survival and wholeness of entire people.” There is also black feminism which is seen as a way to force others to see them as different. It screams I am not a white feminist; I am a feminist of color and my opinions matters too. The fact that women of color have to choose between womanism and black feminism takes away from the big point, which is women of color should have a voice and also be seen as a part of feminism. African American’s standpoint should not have to be named, it should just be heard.
Title: WHAT'S IN A NAME? Womanism, Black Feminism, and Beyond
Author(s): Patricia Hill Collins
Source: The Black Scholar, Vol. 26, No. 1, The Challenge of Blackness (WINTER/SPRING 1996), pp. 9-17
Publisher(s): Paradigm Publishers
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41068619
African American women have fought for years to obtain a voice, or standpoint about black womanhood. African American women now have a voice, but now they have to deal with what the name of the standpoint should be. There is womanism and black feminism. According to Alice Walker, womanism was rooted in black women’s concrete history in racial and gender oppression. She also defines womanism as the opposite of feminism. Womanism to her involves men and women, “the survival and wholeness of entire people.” There is also black feminism which is seen as a way to force others to see them as different. It screams I am not a white feminist; I am a feminist of color and my opinions matters too. The fact that women of color have to choose between womanism and black feminism takes away from the big point, which is women of color should have a voice and also be seen as a part of feminism. African American’s standpoint should not have to be named, it should just be heard.
Title: WHAT'S IN A NAME? Womanism, Black Feminism, and Beyond
Author(s): Patricia Hill Collins
Source: The Black Scholar, Vol. 26, No. 1, The Challenge of Blackness (WINTER/SPRING 1996), pp. 9-17
Publisher(s): Paradigm Publishers
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41068619
(Research contributed by: Lacrecia)
Confessions of a Complicated Latina Feminist
April 30, 2013By Juliana Britto Schwartz
"I’ve always been a fan of labels. I like claiming my identity instead of letting others define it. I like owning my titles and shaping my language down to the little details. I collect words like a museum curator collects treasures, carefully choosing “United States,” not “America,” “Latina” not “Hispanic,” “undocumented” not “illegal.” And nowadays “Latina feminist,” not just “feminist.”
That wasn’t always true. For years now I’ve called myself a feminist, using it as a point of pride, my revolutionary statement for the day. But I’ve since met many inspiring and wise women who have influenced me to tweak my title just a little – though with potentially great consequence. Today I’m a Latina feminist, a feminist who concerns herself with and involves herself in struggles that are relevant to all women, particularly women of color. Particularly Latinas."
Confessions of a Complicated Latina Feminist
April 30, 2013By Juliana Britto Schwartz
"I’ve always been a fan of labels. I like claiming my identity instead of letting others define it. I like owning my titles and shaping my language down to the little details. I collect words like a museum curator collects treasures, carefully choosing “United States,” not “America,” “Latina” not “Hispanic,” “undocumented” not “illegal.” And nowadays “Latina feminist,” not just “feminist.”
That wasn’t always true. For years now I’ve called myself a feminist, using it as a point of pride, my revolutionary statement for the day. But I’ve since met many inspiring and wise women who have influenced me to tweak my title just a little – though with potentially great consequence. Today I’m a Latina feminist, a feminist who concerns herself with and involves herself in struggles that are relevant to all women, particularly women of color. Particularly Latinas."
(Research contributed by: Erica)
In the article of “How They See Us, How We See Them: Two Women of Color in Higher Education discussed about two different race of women of color that explains about the images of the model minority myth and the modern mammy. Women of color can be identifying as nonwhite or non-Latino group. One group will be focus on perceived as a threat to the majority; the majorities have formed exaggerated tales to describe that threat.
One of the women of color will be on Asians and Asian Americans which focus on model minority myth that talks about how other people assume and/or see on how Asian are smart, diligent, and dedicated to their academic achievement and intelligent. However, what really been notices that Asian and Asian Americans are not capable of doing the job like they are too smart, they overdo it.
The other women of color will be on African American which focus on modern mammy that talks about how they have less degrees with more aggression and less likely to be successfully
How They See Us, How We See Them: Two Women of Color in Higher Education
By- Byung-In Seo and Dawn Hinton
Race, Gender & Class website: www.rcx.uno.edu
In the article of “How They See Us, How We See Them: Two Women of Color in Higher Education discussed about two different race of women of color that explains about the images of the model minority myth and the modern mammy. Women of color can be identifying as nonwhite or non-Latino group. One group will be focus on perceived as a threat to the majority; the majorities have formed exaggerated tales to describe that threat.
One of the women of color will be on Asians and Asian Americans which focus on model minority myth that talks about how other people assume and/or see on how Asian are smart, diligent, and dedicated to their academic achievement and intelligent. However, what really been notices that Asian and Asian Americans are not capable of doing the job like they are too smart, they overdo it.
The other women of color will be on African American which focus on modern mammy that talks about how they have less degrees with more aggression and less likely to be successfully
How They See Us, How We See Them: Two Women of Color in Higher Education
By- Byung-In Seo and Dawn Hinton
Race, Gender & Class website: www.rcx.uno.edu
(Research contributed by: Audrey)
But Some of Us Are Brave: A History of Black Feminism in the United States
http://www.mit.edu/~thistle/v9/9.01/6blackf.html
The black feminist movement derived from the oppression that African American women received after participating in the Black Liberation Movement and the Women's Movement. Black women were discriminated against both sexually and racially by men and white women. Though not every man was sexist and not every white woman was racist, enough of them were to a point that it became intolerable.
"Myths to divert black women from our own freedom:
1. The black woman is already liberated
2. Racism is the primary ( or only ) oppression Black women have to confront
3. Feminism is nothing but man hating
4. Women's issues are narrow, apolitical concerns. People of color need to deal with the "larger struggle"
5. Those feminist are nothing but lesbians"
These myths consist of misconceptions about black women, which was another underlying cause of the Black Feminist Movement. In forming their own movement, they had to set certain goals. When doing so they decided to define what it meant to be a feminist. One of the most notable was Alice Walker's, who keyed the term "womanist".
"Womanist- Black feminist of color... usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous, and willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered "good" for one... Responsible. In charge. Serious."
"Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender"
But Some of Us Are Brave: A History of Black Feminism in the United States
http://www.mit.edu/~thistle/v9/9.01/6blackf.html
The black feminist movement derived from the oppression that African American women received after participating in the Black Liberation Movement and the Women's Movement. Black women were discriminated against both sexually and racially by men and white women. Though not every man was sexist and not every white woman was racist, enough of them were to a point that it became intolerable.
"Myths to divert black women from our own freedom:
1. The black woman is already liberated
2. Racism is the primary ( or only ) oppression Black women have to confront
3. Feminism is nothing but man hating
4. Women's issues are narrow, apolitical concerns. People of color need to deal with the "larger struggle"
5. Those feminist are nothing but lesbians"
These myths consist of misconceptions about black women, which was another underlying cause of the Black Feminist Movement. In forming their own movement, they had to set certain goals. When doing so they decided to define what it meant to be a feminist. One of the most notable was Alice Walker's, who keyed the term "womanist".
"Womanist- Black feminist of color... usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous, and willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered "good" for one... Responsible. In charge. Serious."
"Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender"