African womanism is an ideology that struggles to be defined admist other womanist and femenist views. There is a lot of controversy on what term we shall call these people that prescribe to this ideology. Do they want the race or gender to be emphasized or other? Just like the academics struggling with this name game, I became thoroughly lost trying to balance the differance between black and african, feminist and womanist. The confusing academic dribble aside we can learn through African Womanist theory. What i find particular important is that the black womanist can't totally extracate themselves from the male gender because they need eachother in the fight for racial equality. Many feminist theories were white centered and did did not account for the cultural diffances of resulting from oppression. I believe as the more encompassing fact of racism is undermined and challenged that women as a collective will have more power. More clear cut objectives will be able to be considered when challenging male dominated society. Black females deal with more elements when defining themselves because race issues offer a myriad of challenges let alone female oppression and inequality.
Discussion questions
1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of black women ideolically seperating themselves from black men?
2 How does the politics of naming bog down black womens quest on self identification?
1.) The main disadvantage of black women ideologically separating themselves from black men, is the stereotypes that follow. For example in the house hold, a black woman is supposed to be the core of the family. She is supposed to basically “run things”. She is responsible for all the good her child does, and she is also responsible for the bad. In any given situation, when the child has no home training, and grows up to be a drug dealer, or is involved in some other activity that in no way contributes to society, the first person to blame is the mother. An advantage in black women is the empowerment, in ones self. The feeling of not having to solely depend on any man whether it be black or white. That empowerment and esteem usually carries on to the ones who look up to that individual person.
ReplyDelete2)Labels put upon any individual I believe holds society down as a whole. Black women in most rap lyrics and videos, are seen as “bitches and hoes”. On a pyramid, women are basically held on the bottom being seem as nothing rather than a sex symbol. Property. Women who are surrounded by that lifestyle, often hold up to it. Belittling themselves, answering back when a man refers to them as a “bitch”, accepting it into their identity. Holding themselves back, making it harder for the 80-90% of Black women who fight everyday to break down stereotypes and walls built high to oppress the gendered race.
1) I am both very white and very male. And as such I find little room to comment on these particular issues.
ReplyDelete2) Words are nothing without a definition. In the case of the name of political movements I agree with Pratricia Hill Collins in that the name of a group isn't half as important as what the group stands for. Squabling over a name rather than an identity subverts the efforts of any political agenda.