In The Combahee River collective, there is a quote, “We might use our position at the bottom to make a clear leap into revolutionary action. If black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” First, black women facing more issues in their lives and social classes. For white women, when they facing a sexism issue, it is a sexism issue; but if a black woman facing a sexism issue, it is not only a sexism issue, but also a racism issue. For black women group, sexism and racism these two elements effect them and it could not separate them when discuss one topic; Second, black women group are placing at the bottom of system racism and classism; if you want to set black women free, you have to remove the root of the whole system, not just save one or two black women free from these group.
The Combahee River also bought up the concept “identity politics”, she wrote “I believe that the most profound and potentially most radical politics come directly out of our own identity, as opposed to working to end somebody else’s oppression. In the case of Black women this is a particularly repugnant, dangerous, threatening, and therefore revolutionary concept because it is obvious from looking at all the political movements that have preceded us that anyone is more worthy of liberation than ourselves. We reject pedestals, queenhood, and walking ten paces behind. To be recognized as human, levelly human, is enough.
We should address and tell our own identities stories and experience, use these as a way to connect with our own groups, and by sharing it can empower us, also by telling our own stories, you won’t wait for other people to tell your stories, or even worse, they may rewrite your stories. In Paris is Burning, it shows us that how queer community was and how the queer culture was during that time. When the society doesn’t accept them, how they unite together and build their own culture and their own way to live.
Capitalism does effect a lot for race and gender. One of the examples is pink tax. Why pockets of women’s pants are so much smaller than the ones of men’s? And why women’s haircut is much expensive than men’s? Another example is equal pay-most countries in the earth still pay differently for women and men even they are doing the same jobs and position. Also same for race, most time for the same job, black people get paid less than white people. There are the impact I see when capitalism impacts race and gender.
Hello Yin Lin,
I would like to mention that I enjoyed reading your response to this week’s discussion board. Personally, I agree with your take from the quote because as you mentioned, African American women face the brunt of it all, dealing with the most issues such as stereotypes, oppression, inequality and exploitation. Aside from all of this, in the social totem pole, women of color are at the very bottom. Capitalism also plays a major role. You mentioned how women’s pockets are minute in comparison to mens, and it brought me to a conversation I was having with my sister. She expressed how she could not fathom the process of thinking behind the design of women pockets and how wrong it is. Then there is also the fact that women have to pay hundreds of dollars a year due to their naturally occurring menstrual cycle, which to no surprise, is viewed as taboo.
Thank you for sharing.
LOL have you heard the theory that they make women’s pockets small/non-existent so that they will carry/buy purses?
Oh yeah definitely
Hi Yin,
I most appreciate the way you explained the levels of oppression on Black women in your first paragraph. It is important to go over it in this way because it really lets us see how even in situations when sexism might get addressed, that race still holds a black woman hostage from her complete rights. As you mentioned, it is not enough to liberate just one or two Black women when the community as a whole has been suffering existences of inferiority for so much of history. I also think your examples of capitalism regarding race and gender are excellent.
I always enjoy your insight 🙂 I also used the Pink tax as an example, but talked about razors. I found your pants example funny
and yes,
There is no liberation and “equal rights” until we are all free!!
Hi Yin,
I always enjoy reading your discussions because you give many good details. Living as a woman of color in the US is so tricky. Life overall is made harder either because we are women or the way we look.
Hi Yin!
I agree with your examples such as the pink tax and especially the pockets for women being smaller. It’s very true that women pay more for any kind of beauty or hygiene service and it’s kind of ridiculous that it is marketed for women when any person can benefit these services. I said something similar about race and gender in the work place, and it’s very frustrating that it continues to be true. I enjoyed your post!