About Critical race feminist theories

In reaction to the feminist and civil rights movements in the 1960s and 1970s, critical race feminist theories were developed. These theories primarily criticized the conventional understanding of race as a distinct category. The feminist theory in relation to race is discussed in the paper that follows. It talks about some of the well-known works that deal with feminism, gender, and racism. These books include Black Feminist Thought in the Matrix of Dominion by Patricia Hill, Heteropatriarchy and the Three Pillars of White Supremacy by Andrea Smith, and Queering the Borderlands by Emma Perez Journal.

The study of black women’s feminism, Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins, emphasizes the idea of gender and gender differences. According to Collins, the term gender has a decisive role- that of creating the black feminist thought (Collins, 1990). The author argues that every individual has a standpoint on the world depending on their particular positions in the “matrix of dominion”. In particular, black women experience a distinct collection of social practices, which are brought about by their racial history in the matrix of dominion and are characterized by the interplay of oppressions. What Collins means is that black women do not encounter the same oppressive practices. However, they do experience interlocking oppressions; hence, they can form a collective standpoint. According to this author, race, class and gender are the primary intersecting systems of oppression (Collins, 1990).

Patricia Hill’s Black Feminist Thought has a lot some similarity with Andrea Smith’s text on Hetero-Patriarchy and the Three Pillars of White Supremacy. The latter explains how people of color ought to restructure their societies and be in solidarity (INCITE!, 2006). As proposed by Patricia Collins, Smith believes that every individual undergoes some form of oppression but in a different way. Smith also points out the need to have a different framework. In the present framework, women of color organizing is centered on the efforts of uniting the communities dominated by white supremacy. The author argues that such a structure is weak in that it makes the assumption that all societies are affected in a similar manner by white supremacy victimization. Smith advocates for the Three Pillars of White Supremacy as an alternate and more efficient framework. Based on this strategy, individuals belonging to a different race organize not only as victims but also as controversial and complicit with each other (INCITE!, 2006). The three pillars of white supremacy proposed are Slavery- the anchor of capitalism, Genocide- the anchor of colonialism and Orientalism - the anchor of war.

According to Smith’s text, being black renders one to bondage. The pillar of slavery also regards them as property; hence, relevant in forming the foundation of capitalism. In a capitalist economy, an individual has to work in the labor market, and then make profits that are enjoyed by a different party. The pillar of genocide proposes that the indigenous people always have to forsake their lands so as to allow the non-indigenous persons to claim these properties (INCITE!, 2006). It is such actions that pave the way for colonialism. The third pillar of orientalism identifies particular groups of people or nations as inferior. Although these groups have a lesser status, they will always remain a threat to the ruling authorities.

Based on the arguments brought forward by Patricia Hill and Andrea Smith, as well as other racial-related sources, it is evident that the issues of race, class and gender are, and will remain a bone of contention. People of color are inherently subject to various forms of oppression. These individuals will always be judged based on how they look, where they come from, the schools they attend and whether they are educated (Smooth, 2016). It shows that some groups are oppressed and that these oppressive habits work to marginalize some people more than others. Due to the inherent discrimination arising from an individual’s racial, class and gender perception, there is a need for people to embrace diversity and inclusion in the different facets of the society; school institutions, workplaces, religious settings among others. Organizing across difference, rather than semblance, confers benefits not only to the people of color but also to the community as a whole.

Globalization has inevitably caused people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds to operate from the same geographical space; hence, the significance of eliminating the oppressive habits brought about by white supremacy. One benefit of organizing across difference is that it enhances society cohesion. It presents an opportunity for people with different racial origins to interact and learn about each others’ uniqueness (Smooth, 2016). This interaction fosters tolerance and leads to the creation of neighborhoods that are free of discrimination and conflict.

Besides, organizing across difference forms the foundation of culturally active communities. By allowing each group to maintain its identity and norms, multiethnic communities become a wealthy pool of culture. Certain aspects of culture such as art, cuisine and music, have become tourist attractions for societies that embrace, rather than exploit, racial diversity.

One common lesson to draw from the feminist theories is that eliminating racial and gender victimization starts by restructuring the mindset of the society. Emma Perez, in her journal, Queering the Borderlands, advocates for the adoption of a decolonized mindset. In this context, colonialism refers to the act of being ruled versus that of the ruling. Perez believes that if people changed their colonial mindsets, which are primarily focused on normative language, race and gender issues, then there is a possibility of achieving multiculturalism in the society (Perez, 2004).

Patricia Collins also suggested that people change their views regarding women of color. The author noted that by portraying black women solely as victims of racial and sexual abuse, it stifled the belief that they were capable of changing their own circumstances. Instead, Collins advocates for the transformation of the unjust social institutions that perpetuate oppressions to black women (Collins, 1990). The author also urges that the society stops perceiving black women only as recipients of oppression. In the present era, one should not treat people of color any different from the other races. It is such stigmatization that triggers resistance of some racial groups on all fonts; thus, compromising the peace and oneness in a community.

Another application of the feminist theories involves the concept of inter-sectionality. Collins believed that racism, sexism, homophobia, and religion- or belief-based bigotry, did not act independently, but that these systems interrelate to create a system of oppression (Collins, 1990). In the same way, the various forms of oppression resulting from racial and gender prejudice can only be overcome using a series of interrelated practices. For instance, if you are to implement a strategy to reduce racial discrimination, formulate a tactic that addresses both individual and institutional sources of prejudice. Often, discrimination is shaped by the institutional structures and actions. Therefore, seeking to alter an individual’s mindset without addressing the issues that shape intergroup relations, proves futile.

References

Collins, Patricia H.(1990). Black Feminist Thought in the Matrix of Domination. Cambridge, Mass: South End Press.

INCITE!. (2006). Color of violence: The Incite! anthology. Cambridge, Mass: South End Press.

Perez, E. (2004). Queering the Borderlands: The Challenges of Excavating the Invisible and Unheard. Frontiers: A Journal Of Women Studies, 24(2), 122-131. doi:10.1353/fro.2004.0021

Smooth, J. (2016). Our New Video Series ’#RaceAnd’ Captures the Essence of Intersectionality. Colorlines. Retrieved 17 February 2017, from http://www.colorlines.com/articles/our-new-video-series-raceand-captures-essence-intersectionality