Alice Walker was the first modern-day author to use the term “womanism.” The straightforward definition of the term “womanist” is “a feminist of color” (Walker, 1999). Due to their similar objectives on patriarchy and sexism advocacy, both terms are frequently used synonymously. Walker claims that “womanist is to feminism as purple is to lavender” nevertheless (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). The implication is that it is frequently overlooks the historical and current significance of a black woman as a key player in her neighborhood. In addition, because lavender has a softer complexion than the other hues, some contend that the tiny disparity between them is an intentional attempt to link feminism to white women. Due to Alice Walker’s growing literary influence and her expanded political engagement, a crusade distinct from feminist organizations was required (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). Womanism focused on creating policy for women of color and their roles in their local communities and the wider world as they carved out a place in society.
Despite the distinctions between the terms is that women’s revolution is for female’s emancipation in patriarchal circumstances is where womanism gets its start. Females were empowered by feminism because it promoted political and socioeconomic equality for the sexes and freed them from oppressive and subservient roles. After women were given the right to vote in the 1920s, feminism started to take hold (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). Libbers’ efforts to abolish sexist attitudes and gender discrimination were motivated by the civil rights movement. The name “womanist” would not become widely used until the 1980s, during an intense dispute over its relative merits to feminism and the extent of its geographic and political agenda (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). It responded to the exclusivist nature of feminism and quickly grew into a political movement that allowed women to oppose laws that marginalized them.
The main ideological distinction between feminism and womanism is ideology. Womanism, commonly referred to as black feminism, opposes discrimination based on a person’s race, color, ethnicity, or social standing. Feminism’s primary goal is to combat stigmas, stereotypes, and male patriarchy. Frustration with feminism’s lack of diversity gave rise to womanism. According to Alice Walker, feminism viewed issues of racism, sexism, ethnicity, and interracial conflict as forms of oppression against black women (Izgarjan & Markov, 2012). Although establishing, defining, and achieving political, social, and economic equality for all genders and combating stereotypes are the ultimate goals of both feminism and womanism.
References
Izgarjan, A., & Markov, S. (2012). Alice Walker’s womanism: Perspectives past and present.Gender Studies, 11(1), 304–315. Web.
Walker, A., 1999. In search of our mothers’ gardens. Worlds of Difference: Inequality in the Aging Experience, pp.48-53.