Audre Lorde
Audrey Lorde was a self described "Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet." Her struggle against oppression on many fronts was expressed with a force and clarity that made her a valued voice for women, African Americans, and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. However, in terms of dimensions of oppression that Audrey Lorde has experienced, oppression of African American women in terms of inequality seemed to be the most important. Lorde believed that bringing together divergent groups can only strengthen and heal a torn society: "When I say I am a Black feminist, I mean I recognize that my power as well as my primary oppressions come as a result of my Blackness as well as my womanness, and therefore my struggles on both these fronts are inseparable." Lorde criticizes feminist movement for ignoring differences in race and social class among women. She states the experiences of black women are very different from those of white, arguing that white women take for granted their privileged racial and economic status when defining notions of universal sisterhood. Furthermore, black women and men have shared experiences as an oppressed race and, as a result, have developed understanding and support for one another. Lorde says the white community does not share such a bond. In fact, white women are prone to inadvertently aid gender inequality by believing they might share the privilege of white male power with their boyfriends and husbands. Lorde concludes that as long as feminist movement prescribes to a single homogenous female existence, women will continue to be denied the resources that lie in their different experiences and identities. This serves as a barrier to gender equality by hindering feminist progress and perpetuating inequality across racial and social boundaries.
She suggests that we live in a world of opposition where difference is viewed as deviance. Those who are seen as deviating from “the norm” are those who are colored, poor, aged,
She suggests that we live in a world of opposition where difference is viewed as deviance. Those who are seen as deviating from “the norm” are those who are colored, poor, aged,