The fifth chapter hits on the tough subject of women and black liberation. There were many African American women that could address both group’s concerns, that referred to themselves as black feminists. The D.C. chapter of the National Black Feminist Organization focused on many of the same issues as the mainstream groups; for example, the Equal Rights Amendment and equal employment opportunities. Their organizational activities demonstrated how black women were trying to advance gender equality through ending racial oppression. The next chapter focuses on lesbian feminism, specifically a group called the Furies.
Black women are one of the most oppressed groups in the world. Black women have to deal with discrimination because of their race, and then on top of that, their gender. There are many movements/ideologies involved with the oppression of women, but there is one that really speaks in the interests of women of African descent. In the article “Africana Womanism: The Flip Side of a Coin,” Clenora Hudson-Weems discusses what Africana womanism is and how it relates to feminism/black feminism/womanism, Black male/female relationships, and the Black family dynamic. Hudson-Weems argues that Africana womanism is not an addition to feminism, womanism, or Black feminism, but instead it is an ideology for women of African descent to follow.
She uniquely explores gendered poverty and the pivotal role of African American women in Durham. In 1920, they constituted over half the population and later played a significant role in the suffrage movement during the 1950s and 60s transition from the old to the new middle class, this history is what Morris believes gives young black girls the confidence to enact everyday resistance, knowing they have a legacy of strong black women behind them which is misconstrued by educators as boisterous. Furthermore, her work acknowledges the legacy of slavery in shaping Black family structures. This legacy permeates into three primary concepts of Black femininity that emerged from the Southern slavery era, depicting Black women as overly sexualized, loud, assertive, and lacking in moral integrity. There is Sapphire, Jezebel, and Mammy personifying all those beliefs into unshakeable caricatures.
Based on their ethnicity, gender, and economic situation, the characters in the book experience prejudice and marginalization. The experiences of black women, who confront particular difficulties because of their ethnicity and gender, are highlighted in the book. Black women still experience bias and discrimination in both the job and in their personal life, which is a problem
Women’s ongoing fight for equality from the 1920s to the 1970s was reflected through their attire. The 1920s were marked by the shockingly short hemlines and their right to vote. While women struggled to get fair pay in the 1930s, they got hired more often than men, which gave them greater independence. However, due to the gloom of the Great Depression, women lost their confidence and their clothing became more conservative. By contrast, the 1940s provided greater opportunities as the United States went to war.
In African American communities where the anti-racist movement is rooted and African American men are the leaders of the movement, men are the ones who become the face of what racial discrimination looks like; they are the ones who become and establish the prototypes of what subordination looks like. From this, most fail to see the specific contours of African American women’s context because they don’t fit the prototypical vision. In the Black Lives Matter Movement, issues surrounding police brutality became a focal point for the campaign. However, a majority of the cases covered and publicized by the media focuses on African American men who were beaten and killed by officers, while women were left out of the discussion almost every time.
Women got the right to vote in 1920s. This was considered to be a big change at the time, the right to vote not only gave women the right to vote but also made women more confident in their role in society. A lot of women tried to get other rights and the situation went from big to massive. As women felt more equal to men more revolutions and changes would come their way.
Have you ever wondered why women didn’t have the same rights as men to begin with? Even to this day, people still think of women as minorities because of their gender. It took many conventions and meetings for women to finally be granted voting rights in 1920. Why didn’t women have not only voting rights but any legal rights to begin with? There were many expectations and stereotypes for women a few centuries ago.
The legal rights for women means the social and human rights of women. One of the most significant of women's rights declarations was called Declaration of Sentiments. The dependent position of women in earlier laws were sentenced by the evidence of most ancient cultures. On Election Day in 1920, tons of American women exercised their rights to vote for the very first time. The whole process made activists about 100 get the right, and the exercises were tough:Argues over strategy the protestations several times.
Strangely enough, even women had to fight for equal rights. Women’s fight for equal rights was nothing compared to African Americans or even Asian Americans. Women did not go through the hate and ridicule that these other two groups went through. Despite not being targeted, women were still not treated equally. Similar to African Americans, women were not allowed to vote and had to fight for their right to vote.
The 1920s was marked by unprecedented prosperity, luxury and glamour. Women smoked, drank, danced, voted; dresses got shorter, and people could buy anything they desired with only a few “small payments.” (www.ushistory.org) However, as Americans became richer, they began buying stocks on margin and using credit to buy stocks. (Associated Press 202-208) This temporary payment buffer they were using was piling up.
In 1920, women gained equal rights after a lot of protesting; 95 years later, same-sex marriage became legal in a fairly similar manner. Just like women, gays still do not have the same equality as the rest of society. After 95 years some women still receive less of a pay then men with the same position or title , and women still are belittled with derogatory sayings quotes and comments such as “women can’t drive.” Although the fight for equal women’s right will still live on until everything is equal, the comments will most likely will never stop. Gays as well are not fully accepted.
Black women have been at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder in the America since their forced indoctrination into and subjugation under an American capitalist society. They experience the intersection of racism and sexism, which places them in a uniquely oppressed position. In their respective feminist articles, Claudia Jones makes the assumption that racism and sexism will cease to exist if we shift to a communist economic structure that will allow black women prosper as leaders, while Pauli Murray makes the assumption that black women can thrive in the current capitalistic economic structure if they are willing to shift their focus from black empowerment to women’s liberation and align with white women. Claudia Jones’ approach is more
Marilyn French, a feminist, once said, “Men seem unable to feel equal to women: they must be superior or they are inferior” (200). In the past, women were in many ways thought of as being inferior to men. Back then, the typical lifestyle among families was for women to stay at home while men worked. Women were thought of being so inferior that they were not allowed to vote but things began change in the twentieth century. It was a long process but women finally gained equal voting rights as men in 1920.
Why are there different types of feminism? When I learned the definition of the word I realized that my experiences as a black woman meant I had intersecting identities. To be a black woman in the western world is to navigate through a plethora of issues, and stereotypes that white woman will not experience. The purpose of my paper is to explore the fact that the general public has deemed black women as undesirable, contempt, and have made the average black woman feel powerless in the western world.
