Introduction
When discussing the oppression system and discrimination in the United States, it is reasonable to apply intersectional analysis to understand the reality of every socially vulnerable group. The intersectional analysis takes into account different variables: gender, race, age; and investigates how they affect the life of a person with the examined characteristics. This essay will provide three problems of black feminism.
Sexual Violence
Male and female slaves’ experiences were only similar to a certain extent. Regardless of gender, before the abolition, Black people had been seen as property and subjected to inhumane treatment, Black women faced a different kinds of challenges on top of racial injustice (Bos 11). They were often assaulted or raped, raised children in captivity, and were separated from the offspring they had with their masters.
Black Motherhood
After 150 years since the abolition, motherhood is still a pressing issue in Black communities. First, there is certain stigmatization where a “strong Black woman” is synonymous with a bad mother (hooks 70). On the other hand, some Black women shift their focus to motherhood to avoid hypersexualization (hooks 70). Lastly, researchers still observe soaring maternal mortality rates in Black women due to limited access to health care and education (Braveman et al. 700).
Beauty Standards
Beauty standards for women have existed long ago, changing depending on the era. It is contended that although no women are immune to prejudice and judgment based on their looks, Black women’s appearance and self-expression are more scrutinized. The beauty ideals of the United States glorify Caucasian traits such as light skin and straight hair. The femininity of those Black women who do not conform is disparaged.
Conclusion
Misogynoir is a separate concept within African American and feminist studies which examine the reality and challenges of Black women. Since the onset of the Transatlantic trade, those women were subjected to racial injustices different from those of Black men. Now the Black motherhood is diminished, and the well-being of mothers-to-be is compromised.
Works Cited
Bos, Laura. “The Female Slave Experience: An Analysis of Female Slave Narratives.” 2016. Web.
Braveman, Paula A., et al. “The Role of Socioeconomic Factors in Black-White Disparities in Preterm Birth.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 105, no. 4, 2015, pp. 694-702.