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assignment 8

In Collins essay, “Learning from the Outsider Within: The Sociological Significance of Black Feminist Thought,”  she speaks about outsiders.  These outsiders can be people who are not apart of white families.  White families seem to be the norm of standard living and everyone out of that is just an outsider.  These outsiders are able to see reality from the outside and in from the inside, which allows them to understand both perspectives.

Outsiders can contribute to the field of sociology and the understanding of society and culture by having a different glass view of the White people.  Black feminist go through various “marginality”.  Because they go through the oppression of being black and a women, they are able to see things in another perspective. Racism and sexism both share the same ideology of domination that does not see black women as an equal status rather than an other. This creates a dynamic between white women and black women.  White women are seen as secondary to a white man, whereas black women are seen as an object.  They see the lives within their own homes while also observing things with a white household.  This contributes to the field of sociology and our understanding of society and culture because we get to open our minds to another perspective outside of the “norms”.

This essay is very important because it gives us an understanding of the differences in white feminism and black feminism.  Intersectional feminists are usually people who understand the barriers amongst people of color.  I think Black feminism is important to many women of color, regardless if you are black or not, because it shows the importance of speaking out of your oppression.  It gives the women a voice who are not familiar with speaking about things.  They use their platforms to open the door of opportunity and familiarity to other women.