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Sexuality: A Literary Analysis

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The perspective of four writers shows the intersectional relationship between race, class, gender and how they create a human’s sexuality with the influences of political and social powers. This shows that sexuality is not simply a private choice, but a public matter. Which also brings up the idea that sexuality is not only dependent on one’s sexual acts or desire but also focuses on the social, economic and political consequences that are placed on an individual. These four writers are Anne McClintock, Dean Spade, Margaret Sanger, and Audre Lorde; respectively, they wrote “Imperial Leather”, “Administrating Gender”, “Free Motherhood”, and ‘Zami: A New Spelling of My Name”. These four used their readings to express the hardships women and …show more content…

There was always a defined line between men and women when it came to power, respect, autonomy, and much more. This is also brought up in the three other readings. Furthermore, McClintock noticed how women, especially colonized women were at a large disadvantage within their society. Not only does their darker skin color bring them at a disadvantage, but their gender as well. They were not autonomous people nor did they have personal or political sovereignty. McClintock states that “feminism is as much about class, race, work, and money as it is about sex” (McClintock 7). This statement allows readers to realize that femininity and sexuality are more than just sex and sexual desires. Not every woman had power over their own …show more content…

This aligns with McClintock’s reading. It confirms the idea that they do not believe women back in the day had the ability to control their own body. People with more power or control would make women labor slaves and use the women’s sexuality to benefit them. However, Sangers reading also talks about motherhood and choosing to become pregnant or getting pregnant against their will. This shows that some women had power over their own sexuality and got to express it freely. In contrast, other women were used as “incubators” to simply bare the child and take care of them when they are born (Sanger

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In the book Ar’n’t I a women the author, Deborah Gray White, explains how the life was for the slave women in the Southern plantations. She reveals to us how the slave women had to deal with difficulties of racism as well as dealing with sexism. Slave women in these plantations assumed roles within the family as well as the community; these roles were completely different to the roles given to a traditional white female. Deborah Gray White shows us how black women had a different experience from the black men and the struggle they had to maintain their sense of womanhood against all odds, resist sexual oppression, and keep their families together. In the book the author describes two different types of women, “Jezebel” and “Mammy” they

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Unlike, male slaves, women were rarely given the opportunity for advancement via skilled labor. Their daily lives were largely shaped by the harsh realities of agricultural production. The final chapter turns more explicitly to ideas of autonomy and reproduction, examining what Morgan refers to as a “gynecological revolt.” She looks at how women could use reproduction, or a lack

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As with all theories, this feminist approach to Louise Halfe’s “Body Politics” does not come without its flaws. While it can be argued that this poem criticizes the performativity of feminine gender roles in a patriarchal society, this cannot be proven definitively without knowing the author’s original intentions. Furthermore, the poem does not give its readers enough information to conclude that the society the women live in is in fact a patriarchal society. This becomes evident, as there is no reference to any masculine figure – so any assumptions about the masculine-dominant culture are purely speculative. It is possible that Halfe wrote this poem in an attempt to challenge the gender binary, however one stands to question how successfully she is in doing so.

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How does this all relate to modern day issues? While the aforementioned essay within her book was not necessarily written all too long ago, feminism has changed and adapted to fit in with younger generations. As of right now feminism is currently quite the hot topic throughout the media in both western regions as well as more conservative regions. Oppression continues to remain hidden within “chivalrous” behaviors and ideals as presented by male dominated institutions that attempt to make decisions on behalf of women. Take for example, the war on Planned Parenthood and female healthcare.

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Eliza Haywood writes the cautionary tale Fantomina in order to instruct women against pursuing their sexual desires. The protagonist, an unnamed “Lady of distinguished Birth” (41), secretly pursued her desires for Beauplaisir under the guise of four different personas, ultimately leading to the ruin of her reputation and being sent to live in a monastery. I will refer to the main character when she is not disguised as the protagonist to avoid confusion. I will be discussing female sexuality, where I will be focussing on certain aspects including sexual identity, sexual behaviour, and how social and religious aspects affect this sexuality. I will argue that Haywood uses the cautionary tale in order to represent female sexuality as distinguishable

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