I Am A Woman,Too Feminism To The Black Woman Essay examples

In history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. Women had had to endure years of sexism and struggle to get to where we are today. The struggle was even more difficult for women of color because not only were they dealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. Many movements have helped black women during the past centuries to overcome sexism, racism, and adversities that were set against them. History tells us that movements such as the Feminist Movement helped empower all women, but this fact is not totally true. In this paper, I will discuss feminism, the movements, and its minimal affects on black women. The word feminism comes from the word fà ©minisme, which was thought of†¦show more content†¦Feminism addressed most issues that related to women, but it didnt really address the issues and needs of Black women. Many black women saw that their needs were being overlooked, but only some took a stand on the issues. In the early 1800s, most Black women were enslaved, but free Black women participated in the abolitionist cause. Some women like Maria Stewart, Frances E. W. Harper, and Sojourner Truth, spoke out to others about Black womens rights. They were some of the female leaders that put the Black Womens Rights movement into effect. Sojourner Truth was very active in the womens rights movement, and her often quoted 1851 Aint I a Woman speech, nevertheless illustrates how gender oppression has unique repercussions for Black women living under a racist, economically exploitive system. Bell Hooks later wrote a book referring to Truths speech titled, Aint I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism (See Exhibit: 1). In this book, Bell Hooks examines the effects of racism and sexism on black women, the civil rights movement, and feminist movements from suffrage to the 1970s. She argues that the junction of sexism and racism during slavery contributed to black women having the lowest status and worst co nditions of any group in American society. According to Hooks, Black women were stereotyped as promiscuous and immoral.Show MoreRelatedI Am a Woman, Too: Feminism to the Black Woman966 Words   |  4 Pagesdealing with issues of sexism, but also racism. Many movements have helped black women during the past centuries to overcome sexism, racism, and adversities that were set against them. History tells us that movements such as the Feminist Movement helped empower all women, but this fact is not totally true. In this paper, I will discuss feminism, the movements, and its minimal affects on black women. The word feminism comes from the word fà ©minisme, which was thought of by Utopian socialist CharlesRead MoreWomen And The Feminist Movement1677 Words   |  7 Pagesisolates woman in the effort to define what it is to be a woman. To begin with, Susan Carby describes how history subjects Black women to hypersexual stereotypes and denies white women their sexuality. Koshy proceeds to describe how American society fetishizes Asian-American women. In considering these stereotypes, femininity coincides with sexuality and exemplifies how women from different backgrounds have separate experiences and face separate expectations. Yet, the popular conception of feminism describesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem My House 1469 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by permission.†. (Giovanni,1). Nikki Giovanni is an infamous poet who expressed African American excellence in her writing. In 1972, Giovanni issued a collection of poems called My House, which aimed its attention to children. In the collection was a poem named in Ego Tripping illustrating African ancestry and excellence. 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Through use of personal narratives, Adichie focuses on how feminist theory is intertwined into our daily lives and how it impacts our societyRead MoreWhat I Learned in the Women and Gender Studies Class1541 Words   |  7 PagesI have a very vivid memory of discussing my classes to my mother before this first semester began, and whenever I listed off my Women and Gender Studies class I remember my mother asking me, â€Å"What do you think you are going to learn about in there?† I recall opening my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I stopped, and looked at her and said, â€Å"You know, I’m not really sure. I guess we will find out!† I knew going in to this class I was excited, but for what I had no clue. However, lookingRead MoreThe Fight For Gender Equality Essay1628 Words   |  7 Pagesraise this precious little girl a â€Å"knower†- a â€Å"knower† that they’ll be times she’s looked at as a sex object instead of the gorgeous young woman with a master’s degree that works in the office with all men, that gender equality in not only the workplace, but also in inalienable rights, is a battle our country needs to stand up and fight together for, and that feminism is an important topic that needs to be on everyone’s minds because there’s nothing that doesn’t involve women. To begin with, your precious