Black feminism refers to theories or beliefs, which highlights the numerous disadvantages experienced by the black population at the hands of the white population with respect to gender class and race. There has been a lot of debate involving numerous multinational and humanitarian bodies on the relevance or truth of these feminist theories. Philosophers and theorists have formulated hypotheses to explain the predicament of the black population. Essentially, these theories were developed in the 1970s as a possible explanation of women’s oppression and how the situation could be solved. Sociological studies have taken big interest in determining the normal ways of lives of different groups of people all over the world. Interestingly, a state like America suffers what can only be described in theories as no concrete explanation has been developed. Sociologists have heavily relied on these theories to explain such social settlements. These theories have advanced into more contemporary forms through the inclusion of numerous social observations evident in the way people live. So as to say, black feminism has its own share on the changes contemporary feminist theories are experiencing.
The black feminism movements dated from history, advocated for the differences and inequalities faced by black women. They provided a platform for the airing of their predicament to the white society. These theories have been shaped by the change in social structures as well as the social environments in which the people live in. As a matter of fact, the existence of contemporary feminist theories shows that feminism is not a thing of the past but something that has continued to prevail in societies. This shows that the continuity of harassment and inequality in the social setups has continued to shift to levels that are unpredictable. This is also a possible explanation for the practical objectives of the contemporary theories in feminism.
However, there have been controversies on the main objective of these feminist theories. Their main ideologies in what they advocate have been conflicting. They have constantly advocated equal rights for women. Actually, in the context of the original reason why the theories were formulated, it is not clear the grounds covered by the evolutionary feminist theories. It is a recorded fact that women were constantly oppressed and looked upon in the historical social settings. On the other hand, the black population (both men and women) had their share of this predicament in the hands of the white population. This was actually the platform on which the original theories were based on.
Essentially, the mixture of ideologies advocated has given rise to deviating attentions from the original intentions of the feminist theories. These feminists believe that the challenges faced by women are as a result of their gender. Many societies have in their statutes that the man dominates the women in whatsoever setting they find themselves in. Additionally, religious believes also share the same ideological position. Therefore, people all over the world use these as the reason behind the positions occupied by men and women in the social setups they live in.
Black women experienced sexual victimization as a result of their racial makeup. However, it was recorded that blacks as a population underwent through the same experiences, while in real sense, only women were raped and sexually victimized. From this point, it is evident that there were different types of oppression expressed by each party in the social setup. From level grounds, it is believed that anyone who supports gender equality should have the same interest in supporting feminism. However, this has not been the case because modern feminism has taken a totally different track.
The initial meaning of feminism was clear and precise, however, the contemporary definition of feminism can only be fully displayed through an open and a hidden meaning. In the first definition, women have the open agenda of attributing concerns of inequality against their counterparts. In the second definition, women are seen to fight for interests that are only unique to their gender. It is also explained from various analytical reports that some practices might be encouraged owing to their appearance in treating everyone in equal grounds while in essence, these practices undermine the talents and interests of marginal groups. This is the motive that has geared feminist activities and has shaped their theories to what it is now.
Basing black oppression as the original reason for the formulation of feminist movements, a lot of things have happened that has shaped the social content of life allowing modern theorists to come up with statutes totally different from the original objective. This is actually the main criterion in which feminine movement has transformed into what it is now. As a matter of fact, conscious sociologists have questioned if what is advocated in modern theories would be supported by the original masterminds of the movement.
The original masterminds of the movement were clear on their intentions for women. Modern theories have been shaped to advocate for more rights for women. This not only displays them as pressure characters but also undermines the current form of social balance where the man is dominant. As a matter of fact, advocating for more rights would sound to futuristic minds as a plot to equalize this balance. The original feminists objectified their intentions with acute respect of the man as the dominant figure. For instance, it has been noted in many countries where laws are adjusted to give more powers to women. This is totally contradictive to the original plan.
Therefore, it can be said that the difference between the initial ideas of feminism is on the practice. This can only be explained by two examples from both eras. For instance, in the historical set up, when a woman was beaten by her husband, the man was confronted by the feminist advocates to observe the rights of the woman against such violations. This presents the original setting in which the movement was keen to step in for women who endured certain predicaments in the hands of their husbands or other people.
On the other hand, in the modern society, most societies have cultural constructs which dictate that only male children are entitled to inheritance of land or division by their parents. Such cultural setups had their own ways of balancing such dominance like a woman owning land that belongs to her husband. However, feminist theories have stepped up to contradict this way of culture by demanding women get the same share of land the man gets from the family. Essentially, they demand that female children be treated with virtually the same respect and value as accorded to male children.
Intersectionality on the other hand means a theory used to integrate the various situations faced by oppressed groups in common or separate social niches. In this context, intersectionality proves to connect the social environment in the past at the time the feminist theory was formed and that of contemporary social setups. In the same manner, hypotheses have been aired displaying converging and divergent ideologies on this prospect. Actually, it does have an aspect of truth in it while other bits are mere interconnection of facts and ideologies which might not necessarily be the truth. It can be explained that the feminists behind the contemporary theories have taken great advantage of the changes that have developed since the introduction of the original motive.
It is a fact that women undergo different forms of oppression. This is evident and has been proved all over the world through the numerous social studies undertaken by sociologists. Sexual discrimination can be traced in virtually all settlements. Therefore, it is true that these oppressed groups can to some degree be accorded a common classification. However, there are numerous differences that come with the study of such set ups. It is a logical fact that no two separate settlement areas will possess exactly the same social constructs.
The same unfortunate incident like rape can happen in similar situations but it cannot be assumed that the reasons behind its occurrence are the same or connected unless the same individual is involved. Therefore, it is this assumption that has led to deviations in the objectives of the feminist theories. Fundamentally, it would be understandable to term the predicament suffered by black women in America as intersectional. This is because studies in two different sections of the country presented virtually the same conditions for the black woman (rape, slavery, harassment, sexual discrimination, devaluation etc.).
Therefore, it can be said that black feminism has had a great impact on the revolution of feministic theories to what is there in the present world. The continuity of black oppression has afforded the feminists a chance to twist the intentions of the feminism programs to their own self-centered interests. Additionally, theorists have tried to explain why sex should be evaluated in separate terms from racism. In spite of these efforts, more and more theories are cropping up linking racial discrimination to sex. It would be illogical to actually give a definite measure for the amount of racial oppression a certain gender receives with respect to the other. It has been a common thought that racism is a predicament that befalls someone primarily as a result of his/her social make-up and not gender.
These theories that have not yet been agreed upon and a common stand taken are used by modern feminists in re-structuring the prospects of the original objective into their own forms of feminism. In consequence, these changes have brought about a chain of updates that cannot be said to align with the objectives of real traditional feminism. Traditional feminists who have maintained their stand on equality for women have the ideology that contemporary forms of feminist theories are headed to a tremendous change. It is even argued that a battle of sexes with respect to equality, dominance, and responsibility could erupt in the near future if the filth in the theories is not cleansed.
It has been explained that black women suffered on equal terms with black men when racial context is considered. However, as explained above, black women suffer double as a result of their racial make-up and due to gender considerations. In fact, it can be put that modern shift in addressing their problems can be directly attributed to black oppression (specifically the black woman).
The prevalence of such oppressive acts has given feminists time to evaluate how to address their issues. A normal and plain approach would eliminate this phenomenon. If, say, cases of black oppression and racism were completely dealt with during the colonial period, the feminists would have no leverage to support their theories. In fact, there would be no support to spearhead the pressure that leads to the authorization of such theories. Therefore, black feminism has had a large responsibility in not only ensuring continued operation of feminist theories, but also the divergence to more theories with such destructive intent.
The main context of this argument is primarily on the contribution of black feminism to the changing theories in the contemporary society. This has completely changed the role of the normal woman in contemporary social setups. In fact, women feel more empowered against men, a situation propagated by the security offered to them by the feminist theories. Actually, women are supposed to enjoy their positions without any form of discrimination.
The impact of this shift in contemporary feminist theories has completely jeopardized the position of the normal man in both cultural and social grounds. Therefore, it is very clear from the environments of oppression discussed above that black feminism is used in the contemporary social structure to mask the inner intent of the feminists. The feminists behind these contemporary theories use black feminism as their point and proof of argument against humanitarian concerns who note the difference and the future society depicted by these theories.
In conclusion, a plain mind would support feminism but with the intent of implementing the original objectives of its masterminds. Actually, it still threatens the moral and ethical makeup of many patriots the predicament of black people in the grounds of racism and gender. As a matter of fact, ending these situations of oppression would put a stop to the shifting of intent in the theories. Generally, it would take a global effort to strategically solve the danger posed by contemporary feminist theories on cultural and social originality of all the people.
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