In her short tale “Perspectives Past and Present,” author and poet Alice Walker famously uses the statement “Womanist Is to Feminist as Purple Is to Lavender,” meaning that womanist is a larger ideological framework within which feminism plays a part. By contrasting the softness of pink with the boldness of purple, commonly referred to as the royal color, she uniquely celebrates womanism and sets it apart (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). Likening feminism to a feeble lavender sort is an unfair comparison and brings to mind discussions about whether or not the movement lost favor with many women during the cultural diversity. This research report analyzes why the Alice Walker used the statement “Womanist Is to Feminist as Purple Is to Lavender.”
In Walker’s view, gender is a broader category that encompasses feminism as a subtype; womanism is inherently pro-humankind. In this religion, oppression based on race and class takes precedence over that based on gender. She views “womanism,” an ideology based on Black women’s lived experiences, Black culture, Black mythology, Black spirituality, and Black orality, as a basis for the survival of the Black race (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). The often-quoted line by Walker that “womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender” implies that feminism is a subset of womanism rather than its distinct ideology.
The innovative association of lavender’s milder hue with the idea that feminism is associated more with white women than women of color is another example of this statement. Her metaphor of a garden where every flower is given the same amount of care and attention also relates to this concept (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). A womanist wants to see a future where men and women may live together while yet retaining their identities and cultures. Having men in the conversation allows Black women to discuss gender inequality without making sexist remarks about them.
In conclusion, Alice Walker used the statement “Womanist Is to Feminist as Purple Is to Lavender” to express her attitude towards black women’s experiences. Her ideas are based on seeing a future perspective where men and women will be living a life that is free from identities and cultural barriers, such as feminism’s decentralization and the stress of studying the impact of social constructs like color, race, gender, and status have had on people’s experiences.
Reference
Izgarjan, A., & Markov, S. (2012). Alice Walker’s womanism: Perspectives past and present. Gender Studies, 11(1), 304–315. Web.