Leading Post: Race, Sex, and Oppression

The main theme of all three of these pieces is the refusal to separate race, gender, class, and other individual qualities, in fight against female oppression. Often, when it comes to feminist activity there is an absence of the voices of poor, black, Third World, and lesbian women. In response to this problem, Audre Lorde discusses the importance of viewing these differences as strengths. In fact, Lorde’s words stem from the fact that she was the only black feminist (and lesbian) asked to speak at the NYU Institute for Humanities Conference, in which American women’s issues are discussed.

Lorde brings up many important points regarding the need to unite all different types of women in order to rise above oppression. She also states that maternity is the only social power open to women, and thus, women are inherently dependent on each other. Thus, she advocates for more tolerance between all women as a tool for reforming society. Lorde’s argument can be summed up in her own words: “In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower.”

In the Combahee River Collective’s speech, “A Black Feminist Statement,” there is also a stand against separating the politics surrounding race and gender when it comes to the feminist agenda. This group states that the only way that liberation will be possible is if all women, regardless of race, sexuality, or class, can bond over female oppression. This group also criticizes the racism that is present within the women’s movement. Moreover, they claim that the group that is the most worthy of liberation is that of black women, since they are the most oppressed people in society due to racism and sexism. Thus, once black women are free, everyone in society will be free.

Peggy McIntosh also discusses the fact that female differences must intertwine in order to obtain equality. She states that hierarchies (such as male and white privilege) are linked, and thus, oppressed groups within society must also be linked. She further states that many individuals view privilege as something that people a certain people at an advantage, as opposed to something that also places others at a disadvantage. Thus, privilege becomes an invisible object.

McIntosh states that as a society, we need to recognize the oppressive power of certain groups even if we have never viewed them in this way. She reinforces these points by creating a list of ways that she has privilege in society (which she had previously overlooked) because of the color of her skin. I think that this list illustrates the ignorance that many whites exude when it comes to racial issues. For example, I found number 46 on her list to be a very subtle example of an advantage I have over black women that I have taken for granted in that I do not have to worry that my skin color will not be matched at the make-up counter. In short, I think that whites often deny their dominance in today’s world as a mode of keeping power in their hands, thus remaining color-blind to many racial disadvantages.

I agree with McIntosh in that often, whiteness protects individuals from many kinds of social hostility, distress, and violence. Similarly, I think that masculinity protects men against oppression in society. Thus, we need to do more work in identifying how male dominance affects the daily lives of both women and men so that men can see the forms of oppression we face as women, allowing for change. Overall, the redesign of our society can only occur once these unseen dimensions of oppression come to light for both men and women.