Ethnicity and inequality: Black Feminism

Question 1

What do Black feminism say about intersectionality ?

Answer 1

• Women face different types of oppression
• Black feminism criticise the feminism movement for failing to reflect the differences in how women live their lives

Question 2

What is Abbott et al’s theory ?

Answer 2

Labels mainstream feminism in 3 ways:
Ethnocentric = only concentrates on white middle class perspectives and experiences

Victim ideology = Black women are helpless victims of racism and sexism. They ignore how women have resisted oppression

Theoretical racism = Expect black women to write about their own experiences rather than include them in feminist theory as a whole.

Question 3

What was Brewers theory ?

Answer 3

• Argues that black feminism focuses on the way that race, class and gender work together to create a greater disadvantage for black women
• I comparison to white working class males, white women or black men
• Black women therefore have fewer life chances

Question 4

How is Brewers theory criticised ?

Answer 4

• it appears to emphasise the importance of race over other factors
• fails to acknowledge that ethnic minority women have been empowered through newer legislations

Question 5

What is Mirza’s theory ?

Answer 5

• Emphasises the contribution Black women can have to the feminist theory by challenging stereotypical images of black women
• This has led to improvements in black women’s lives (e.g. domestic violence)

Question 6

How is Mirza’s theory criticised ?

Answer 6

• ethnic minority women still experience pressure to conform to traditional roles
• specifically Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities
• appears to be a concrete ceiling rather than a glass ceiling for ethnic minority women in the workplace

Question 7

What is Connels theory ?

Answer 7

• discussed post-colonial feminism
• explains gender inequalities are caused by colonialism
• says that feminism is based off western ideas about femininity