Title: The Role of White Feminists in Ending Intraracial Oppression
Abstract:There is very little academic research on the social dynamics within various racialized communities, specifically in regards to how colonialism has effected the way people belonging to a specific race...There is very little academic research on the social dynamics within various racialized communities, specifically in regards to how colonialism has effected the way people belonging to a specific race interact with one another. This paper seeks to start the dialogue about intraracial oppression as a result of the post slaver institutionalization of racism. Furthermore, this paper discusses the need for White feminists to become stronger allies with Black feminists in the movement to redefine beauty in Western cultures. This paper argues that while the media plays a negative role in the lives of all women, White women benefit from the media in a way that Black women do not—they are the Western norm. Much of feminist scholarship about race is focused on the racial dynamics between white women and women of colour. Consequently, feminist discourses about race have failed to include adequate analyses of intraracial oppression—specifically the oppression of lighter complexioned women by darker complexioned women that can be traced back to slavery. The post slavery institutionalization of racism divides Black women of all shades from uniting in the struggle against the systematic oppression they face. It is the opinion of the author of this paper, that it is the responsibility of Black women to first educate other women about their experiences, just like it is the responsibility of women first to educate men about the experiences of women. Without first educating the dominant group in society—men, for example— about the experiences of women, it cannot be expected that men will do anything to change the conditions that women work, live, and exist in. Although there has been some academic scholarship on this subject, there is room for much more. Additional research on intraracial oppression will ensure that this phenomenon is treated as a current issue that is widespread within the community, instead of one that is rather uncommon. At the heart of this problem are the ideologies of beauty in Western society: the whiter the skin; the blonder, straighter, and silkier the hair; the skinnier the body; the younger the woman, the more beautiful she is. Therefore, it is imperative that White Western feminists become more involved in the movement to redefine beauty in Western society and Western feminism cannot progress unless it addresses and attempts to break through the psychological effects of slavery on post-slavery African American women.Read More
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-03-17
Language: en
Type: article
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