In the article titled "Ain't I a Woman" by Bell Hooks, the concepts of not only being black, but a black woman at that. The author goes on to express how in a time where racism was running rampant in America, black women were unable to identify with anything other than their race. So although there were Fights for feminism and women's rights going on all around, black women were denied by not only those around them, but as well as themselves almost. The silence that held countless black women back from demanding social equality and justice for feminists came from a place of not knowing they were allowed to and affected by the very things that were going on around them. "Black women were told that we should find our dignity not in liberation from sexist oppression but in how well we could adjust, adapt, and cope." (Hooks, 7) It is wildly important to understand the sexual and racial differentiation that comes with being a black woman - which is exactly what is used to exclude and hold black women back.
This piece ironically sort of reminds me of conservative women in specific. I say this because oftentimes it seems as though women who identify with the label of "conservative" or as someone "on the right", are too consumed with other topics or concepts to really even believe in or align with feminist ideals. Now, I would not chalk up these women alongside black women who had no choice but to be silenced, but it is interesting to think about how maybe under different circumstances there could be a chance for these women to feel like they are supported enough by those around them, (women specifically) that would allow for more opportunity in eradicating sexist oppression.
Hooks, Bell. 1952-2021. Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015.
I thought it was really interesting how you drew that parallel between black women and conservative women nowadays - and how it was not necessarily a choice for black women, as they were silenced. I also talked about this article in my post, but I really appreciated that viewpoint, and how now we see modern groups of women adopting that stance - that they can't be feminists, because it's "not conservative", or "too liberal"; choosing to not identify with that group on purpose. Black women couldn't necessarily join the feminist movement as they wouldn't have been recognized, or even encouraged to join whereas white women exclusively lead, and were at the forefront of demanding women's suffrage. I appreciated your points, and hopefully we are able to see that shift in allowing others, even if coming from different backgrounds and beliefs to join in movements that should benefit them! After all, feminism should be to benefit all women and their equality...whether they're black, hispanic, white, liberal, conservative...etc.
ReplyDeleteLike Caiti mentioned, I think it's really interesting how you connected black women and conservative women in relation to feminism. I find it really interesting how conservative women can get hyper-focused on their political views and can completely ignore there own bodily autonomy because it is considered "too liberal".
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