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489 Feminism Essay Topics

black feminism essay topics

Women make up half of the world’s population. How did it happen they were oppressed?

We are living in the era of the third wave of feminism, when women fight for equal rights in their professional and personal life. Public figures say that objectification and sexualization of women are not ok. Moreover, governments adopt laws that protect equal rights and possibilities for people of all genders, races, and physical abilities. Yes, it is also about feminism.

In this article, you will find 400+ feminism essay topics for students. Some raise the problems of feminism; others approach its merits. In addition, we have added a brief nuts-and-bolts course on the history and principal aspects of this social movement.

❗ Top 15 Feminism Essay Topics

  • 💻 Feminism Research Topics
  • 📜 History of Feminism Topics
  • 🙋‍♀️ Topics on Feminism Movements

🔥 Famous Feminists Essay Topics

  • 👩‍🎓 Topics on Women’s Rights in the World
  • 👸 Antifeminism Essay Topics

📚 Topics on Feminism in Literature

🔗 references.

  • Compare and contrast liberal and radical feminism.
  • The problem of political representation of feminism.
  • Is Hillary Clinton the most prominent feminist?
  • How can feministic ideas improve our world?
  • What is the glass ceiling, and how does it hinder women from reaching top positions?
  • What can we do to combat domestic violence?
  • Unpaid domestic work: Voluntary slavery?
  • Why do women traditionally do social work?
  • What are the achievements of feminism?
  • Why is there no unity among the currents of feminism?
  • Pornographic content should be banned in a civilized society.
  • Does feminism threaten men?
  • What is intersectional feminism, and why is it the most comprehensive feminist movement?
  • Those who are not feminists are sexists.
  • Why are women the “second gender?”

💻 Feminism Research Topics & Areas

Feminism is the belief in the equality of the sexes in social, economic, and political spheres. This movement originated in the West, but it has become represented worldwide. Throughout human history, women have been confined to domestic labor. Meanwhile, public life has been men’s prerogative. Women were their husband’s property, like a house or a cow. Today this situation has vastly improved, but many problems remain unresolved.

A feminism research paper aims to analyze the existing problems of feminism through the example of famous personalities, literary works, historical events, and so on. Women’s rights essay topics dwell on one of the following issues:

Healthcare & Reproductive Rights of Women

Women should be able to decide whether they want to have children or not or whether they need an abortion or not. External pressure or disapprobation is unacceptable. In many countries, abortions are still illegal. It is a severe problem because the female population attempts abortions without medical assistance in unhygienic conditions.

Economic Rights of Women

Women’s job applications are often rejected because they are expected to become mothers and require maternity leave. Their work is underpaid on a gender basis. They are less likely to be promoted to managerial positions because of the so-called “ glass ceiling .” All these problems limit women’s economic rights.

Women’s Political Rights

Yes, women have voting rights in the majority of the world’s countries. Why isn’t that enough? Because they are still underrepresented in almost all the world’s governments. Only four countries have 50% of female parliamentarians. Laws are approved by men and for men.

Family & Parenting

The British Office for National Statistics has calculated that women spend 78% more time on childcare than men. They also perform most of the unpaid domestic work. Meanwhile, increasingly more mothers are employed or self-employed. It isn’t fair, is it?

Virginity is a myth. Still, women are encouraged to preserve it until a man decides to marry her. Any expression of female sexuality is criticized (or “ slut-shamed “). We live in the 21st century, but old fossilized prejudices persist.

📜 History of Feminism Essay Topics

First wave of feminism & earlier.

  • Ancient and medieval promoters of feminist ideas.
  • “Debate about women” in medieval literature and philosophy.
  • The emergence of feminism as an organized movement.
  • Enlightenment philosophers’ attitudes towards women.
  • The legal status of women in Renaissance.
  • Women’s Liberation Movement Evolution in the US.
  • Mary Wollstonecraft’s views on women’s rights.
  • Sociopolitical background of the suffrage movement.
  • The most prominent suffrage activists.
  • The Liberation Theme Concerning Women.
  • “Declaration of sentiments”: key points and drawbacks.
  • What was special about Sojourner Truth and her famous speech?
  • The significance of the first feminist convention in Seneca Falls.
  • The National Woman Suffrage Association: goals and tactics.
  • The influence of abolitionism on feminism ideas.
  • Why did some women prefer trade unions to feminism?
  • Radical feminists’ criticism of the suffrage movement.
  • The UK suffragists’ approach to gaining voting rights for women.
  • Alice Paul and Emmeline Pankhurst’s role in the suffrage movement.
  • The Nineteenth Amendment: the essence and significance.
  • Infighting in the post-suffrage era.

Second Wave of Feminism Essay Titles

  • How did second-wave feminism differ from the suffrage movement?
  • The roots of the second wave of feminism.
  • John Kennedy’s policies concerning women’s rights.
  • Eleanor Roosevelt’s contribution to feminism.
  • Debates on gender equality in the late 1960s.
  • Feminism activists’ achievements in 1960-1970.
  • What was the focus of second-wave feminist research?
  • Why was there no comprehensive feminist ideology?
  • Anarcho-, individualist, “Amazon,” and separatist feminism: key ideas.
  • The nature of liberal feminism.
  • How did liberal and radical feminism differ?
  • Why was cultural feminism also called “difference” feminism?
  • Liberal and Postmodernist Theories of Feminism.
  • What is the difference between liberal and radical feminism?
  • Black feminists’ challenges and input to the fight for equity.
  • Sociocultural differences in views on female liberation.
  • The globalization of feminism: positive and negative aspects.
  • Taliban’s oppression of Afghani women.
  • Women in the US Military: World War II.
  • What were the main concerns of feminists from developing countries?
  • Why did Third World women criticize Western feminists?
  • Feminism achievements to the end of the 20th century.

Third Wave of Feminism Research Topics

  • What was peculiar about the third wave of feminism?
  • Why did third-wave feminists consider their predecessors’ work unfinished?
  • Social, political, economic, and cultural premises of third-wave feminism.
  • How did the information revolution impact feminism?
  • Third Wave Foundation’s major goals.
  • Women’s Rights and Changes Over the 20th Century.
  • Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards’ views on feminism.
  • The impact of second wavers success on third-wave feminism.
  • New approaches in fighting discrimination, utilized by third-wave feminists.
  • The influence of the postmodern movement on feminism.
  • The concept of a gender continuum.
  • How did sexist symbols turn into female empowerment tools?
  • What was specific about third-wave feminist art?
  • Third-wavers’ redefinition of women as powerful and assertive figures.
  • “ Girl power ” in pop culture.
  • How did the Internet impact third-wave feminism?
  • Sexualized behavior: sexual liberation or oppression in disguise?
  • Why was third-wave feminism criticized?
  • The multifaceted nature of third-wave feminism.
  • Is multivocality a strength or weakness of third-wave feminism?
  • How did third wavers counter the criticism?

Fourth Wave of Feminism Essay Topics

  • The premises of fourth-wave feminism.
  • Feminism’s major goals after 2012.
  • Peculiarities of fourth-wave feminism.
  • What behavior is sexual harassment?
  • Gender Equality at the Heart of Development.
  • Sexual harassment: different gender-based perspectives.
  • Social media: a feminist tool.
  • Can social media deepen discrimination?
  • Gender discrimination in video games.
  • Musical Preferences: Race and Gender Influences.
  • GamerGate’s alleged “men’s rights campaign.”
  • Sexism in Donald Trump’s speech.
  • Women’s March: reasons and significance.
  • Main steps in MeToo’s development.
  • Tarana Burke’s fight for justice.
  • Gender Stereotypes of Superheroes.
  • MeToo’s contribution to women’s rights.
  • The most impactful MeToo stories.
  • Harvey Weinstein’s case: outcome’s implications.
  • Gender Roles in the Context of Religion.
  • Sexual harassment awareness after MeToo.
  • MeToo’s influence on Hollywood’s ethics.
  • Reasons for criticism of MeToo.
  • Social Change and the Environment.
  • Are sexual violence discussions necessary?

🙋‍ Argumentative Essay Topics on Feminism Movements

Mainstream feminism topics.

  • What is the focus of mainstream feminism?
  • Mainstream feminism predispositions in the 19th century.
  • The place of politics within mainstream feminism.
  • What is males’ place in mainstream feminism?
  • The correlation of mainstream feminism and social liberalism.
  • The correlation between mainstream feminism and state feminism.
  • Gender equality in the doctrine of mainstream feminism.
  • Why sunflower is the symbol of mainstream feminism?
  • Anthony Gidden’s ideas regarding liberal feminism.
  • Liberal feminism, according to Catherine Rottenberg.
  • Mary Wollstonecraft and her vision of liberal feminism.
  • Liberal feminism through John Stuart Mill’s perspective.
  • Interdependence of mainstream feminism and political liberalism.
  • NOW’s activities and mainstream feminism.
  • LWV’s activities and mainstream liberalism.
  • LGBT’s place in mainstream liberalism’s doctrine.
  • Discourse Analysis of the Me Too Movement’s Media Coverage.
  • Frances Wright’s role in establishing mainstream feminism.
  • Mainstream feminism and the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
  • Constitutional Equity Amendment and mainstream feminism.
  • International Woman Suffrage Alliance’s activities and mainstream feminism.
  • Mainstream feminism and Gina Krog’s works.
  • Betty Friedan’s understanding of mainstream feminism.
  • Gloria Steinem’s theoretical contribution to mainstream feminism.
  • Simone de Beauvoir’s ideas and the framework of mainstream feminism.
  • Rebecca Walker and her vision within the scope of mainstream feminism.
  • NWPC’s activities and mainstream feminism.
  • WEAL’s activities and mainstream feminism.
  • Catherine Mackinnon and mainstream feminism’s critique.
  • “White woman’s burden” and mainstream feminism’s critique.
  • The roots of mainstream feminism in Europe.

Radical Feminism Essay Titles

  • Society’s order according to radical feminism.
  • Sexual objectification and radical feminism.
  • Gender roles according to radical feminism.
  • Shulamith Firestone’s ideas regarding the feminist revolution.
  • Ti-Grace Atkinson’s ideas in Radical feminism.
  • The vision of radical feminism on patriarchy.
  • Radical feminism’s impact on the women’s liberation movement .
  • Radical feminism’s roots in the early 1960s.
  • Kathie Sarachild’s role in radical feminism movements.
  • Carol Hanisch’s contribution to radical feminism.
  • Roxanne Dunbar and her radical feminism.
  • Naomi Weisstein and her vision of radical feminism.
  • Judith Brown’s activities in terms of radical feminism.
  • UCLA Women’s Liberation Front role in radical feminism.
  • Why have women come to be viewed as the “other?”
  • Ellen Willis’s ideas regarding radical feminism.
  • Redstockings’ role in radical feminism.
  • The feminist’s role in radical feminism.
  • Differences between The Feminists’ and Restokings’ positions.
  • The protest against Miss America in 1968.
  • 11-hour sit-in at the Ladies Home Journal headquarters.
  • Forms of direct action in radical feminism.
  • Protest of biased coverage of lesbians in 1972.
  • Lisa Tuttle’s vision of radical feminism.
  • Catharine MacKinnon’s position regarding pornography.
  • Peculiarities of radical lesbian feminism.
  • Recognition of trans women in radical feminism.
  • Radical feminism in the New Left.
  • Mary Daly’s vision of radical feminism.
  • Robin Morgan’s vision of radical feminism.

Other Interesting Feminism Essay Topics

  • Ecofeminism’s role in feminism’s popularization.
  • Greta Gaard, Lori Gruen, and ecofeminism.
  • Petra Kelly’s figure in ecofeminism.
  • Capitalist reductionist paradigm and ecofeminism.
  • Ecofeminism. How does the movement interpret modern science?
  • Essentials of vegetarian ecofeminism.
  • Peculiarities of materialist ecofeminism.
  • Interconnection between spiritual ecofeminism and cultural ecofeminism.
  • Henry David Thoreau’s influence on ecofeminism.
  • Aldo Leopold ’s influence on ecofeminism.
  • Rachel Carson’s influence on ecofeminism.
  • The social construction of gender in post-structural feminism.
  • Luce Irigaray as a post-structuralist feminist.
  • Julia Kristeva’s contribution to post-structuralist feminism.
  • Hélène Cixous and her activities as a post-structuralist feminist.
  • L’Écriture feminine in feminist theory.
  • Monique Wittig’s influence on post-structuralist feminism.
  • Kimberlé Crenshaw’s views on intersectionality.
  • Marxist feminist critical theory.
  • Representational intersectionality in feminist theory.
  • Marxism and Feminism: Similarities and Differences.
  • Interlocking matrix of oppression.
  • Standpoint epistemology and the outsider within.
  • Resisting oppression in feminist theory.
  • Women’s institute of science and feminism.
  • Peculiarities of the Black feminist movement.
  • Equity and race and feminism.
  • Pamela Abbott’s ideas regarding postmodern feminism.
  • Trans-exclusionary radical feminism today.
  • Lipstick feminism’s ideas in the political context.
  • Stiletto feminism and fetish fashion.
  • Adichie’s proof that we should all be feminists.
  • Analysis of Maya Angelou’s “And still I rise.”.
  • Susan Anthony – the abolitionist movement’s champion.
  • Maria Eugenia Echenique’s Contribution to Women’s Emancipation.
  • Patricia Arquette’s arguments on the gender pay gap topic.
  • Simone de Beauvoir’s role in feminism.
  • Madonna’s contribution to the female sexuality argument.
  • How did Clinton rebuild US politics?
  • Davis’s opinion on feminism and race.
  • Dworkin’s vision of a future society.
  • Friedan and feminism’s second wave.
  • Gay’s description of bad feminists.
  • Ruth Ginsburg – first woman champion in law.
  • Hook’s answer to “Is feminism for everybody”?
  • Dorothy Hughes – feminist leader of the civil rights movement.
  • Themes in Lessing’s The Golden Notebook.
  • Lorde’s explorations of women’s identity.
  • Mock’s role in transgender women’s equality movement.
  • Page’s championship in feminism.
  • Pankhurst’s arguments for women’s voting rights.
  • Rhimes’ strong women image in Grey’s Anatomy.
  • Sandberg’s opinion about female careers.
  • Sanger’s feminist ideas’ contribution to happy families.
  • Walker and her fight for women of color’s rights.
  • Oprah Winfrey’s role in promoting feminism.
  • Eleanor Roosevelt: history of the first politician – a woman.
  • Mary Wollstonecraft’s ideas about female education.
  • Youngest-ever Nobel laureate – Malala.
  • Emma Watson’s path from actress to feminist.
  • Why is Steinem’s name feminism synonymous?
  • Truth’s life from an enslaved person to activist.

🎯 Persuasive Women’s Rights Essay Topics

Healthcare and reproductive rights of women.

  • Is abortion morally acceptable?
  • Why is the fight for child care not over?
  • Should government participate in birth control?
  • Researching of Maternity Care in Haiti.
  • Government’s moral right to cancel abortions.
  • Should the government allow abortions?
  • What are birth control and its meaning?
  • Abortion rights recently disappeared in the US.
  • Gender Disparity in Colorectal Cancer Screening.
  • Why are women’s rights becoming less vital?
  • Western world’s degradation in women’s rights issue.
  • Canceling abortion endangers women’s human rights.
  • Female access to healthcare in developing countries.
  • Developed countries’ role in improving women’s healthcare.
  • Media’s contribution to legalizing abortions.
  • Middle-Aged Women’s Health and Lifestyle Choices.
  • Female genital mutilation’s moral side.
  • Feminism’s impact on LGBTQ healthcare rights.
  • The reproductive rights of women are everyone’s problem.
  • Abortion rights’ impact on country’s economy.
  • Protection From Infringement and Discrimination.
  • Women’s reproductive rights in developing countries.
  • Abortion rights crisis and the UN’s failure in achieving SDG#4.
  • UN’s contribution to achieving equal healthcare rights.
  • IGO’s impact on women’s reproductive rights issue.
  • Report on the Speech by Gianna Jessen.
  • Is birth control already at risk?
  • Why should abortions not be allowed?
  • Meaning of reproductive justice.
  • Reproductive rights movement’s role in the country’s development.
  • Single Mothers, Poverty, and Mental Health Issues.
  • The reproductive rights movement, as all social movements’ drivers.
  • Abortion’s relation to healthcare rights.
  • Healthcare rights’ impact on a country’s economic development.
  • Political agenda behind abortion cancellation.
  • Feminism’s role in national healthcare.

Economic Rights, Salaries, and Access to Education for Women

  • Definition of women’s economic rights.
  • Female economic rights’ impact on the economy.
  • Female economic rights and education.
  • Gender Prevalence in Medical Roles.
  • Can women do “male jobs”?
  • Gender inequality in the workplace.
  • Women’s economic rights movements.
  • How Wealth Inequality Affects Democracy in America.
  • Barriers to gender-equal economic rights.
  • Gender inequality by social classes.
  • Female economic rights and poverty.
  • Can equal economic rights solve SDG#1?
  • Gender-Based Discrimination in the Workplace.
  • Why is it important to have equal access to education?
  • How did the gender pay gap appear?
  • Why does the gender pay gap exist?
  • Women’s economic rights and industrialization.
  • Characteristics of Mayo Clinic.
  • Female economic rights worldwide.
  • Legal rights of women workers.
  • Laws that protect women’s economic rights.
  • Women as leaders in the workplace.
  • The Future of Women at Work in the Age of Automation.
  • Why are companies against women workers?
  • Fertility’s impact on female economic rights.
  • Quiet revolution’s impact female workforce.
  • Reasons to monitor occupational dissimilarity index.
  • Women’s Roles in Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.
  • Female economic rights in developing countries.
  • Democracy and female economic rights.
  • Gender pay gap as a global problem.
  • ILO’s role in the fight for equal economic rights?
  • Politics’ impact on female economic rights.
  • Health Disparities: Solving the Problem.
  • Female economic rights movement and the fight against racism.
  • The best practices in achieving gender-equal economic rights.
  • Democracy and gender pay gap.
  • Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value.

Women’s Political Rights Essay Topics

  • Women’s suffrage movement definition.
  • Female suffrage movement’s significance.
  • Causes of gender inequality in politics.
  • Women’s suffrage movement’s role today.
  • Female suffrage’s impact on democracy.
  • Women’s suffrage and economy.
  • Suffrage movement’s effect on politics in the US.
  • Do women need the right to vote?
  • Effects of gender inequality on politics.
  • Suffrage movement and politics in Britain.
  • Laws for gender-equal political rights.
  • The correlation between gender inequality in politics and authoritarianism.
  • The possible solutions to gender inequality in politics.
  • The role of IGOs in solving gender inequality in politics.
  • How has the UN participated in the women’s suffrage movement ?
  • What is women’s role in politics in developing countries?
  • How can women improve politics in their countries?
  • What can men do for women’s equal political rights?
  • Why equal rights to vote are everyone’s problem?
  • The impact of Antoinette Louisa Brown on women’s suffrage.
  • The effect of equal rights to education on equal political rights.
  • Are western policies for equal rights applicable in developing countries?
  • The importance of equal rights to vote.
  • How to eliminate the gender pay gap ?
  • Why had women not had equal rights in politics?
  • Is politics a “male job”?
  • Benefits of appearance of female leaders in politics.
  • Who created the women’s suffrage movement?
  • How does women’s suffrage impact racism?
  • Women’s suffrage contribution to LGBTQ communities’ equal political rights.

Family and Parenting Research Titles

  • Female and male roles in a family.
  • Sexism in families.
  • Eliminating sexism in families is the best solution to gender inequality.
  • Why is feminism a pro-family movement?
  • The Childbirth Process in Women’s Experiences.
  • The benefits of feminist upbringing.
  • The causes of sexism in families.
  • How does feminism help LGBTQ parents?
  • Why should sexism be legally banned?
  • Healthcare Resources and Equity in Their Distribution.
  • The effects of sexism in families.
  • The influence of sexist customs on society.
  • Why should every family be feminist?
  • How can feminism help solve the domestic violence issue?
  • Government’s role in creating feminist families.
  • What is feminist family value?
  • The relation of authoritarian parent-paradigm on politics.
  • Can feminist families bring democracy?
  • Teaching feminism at home vs. at school.
  • Traditional vs. Feminist parenting.
  • Why should women have the right to be child-free?
  • The impact of bringing up feminist daughters.
  • Can feminist parents bring up mentally healthy children?
  • Does the government have a moral right to endorse feminist values?
  • The role of media for feminist families.
  • How does feminism transform parent-child relationships?
  • Can feminism help families overcome poverty?
  • The role of feminist families in the economy.
  • The influence of hierarchal husband-wife relationships on children.
  • Do IGOs have moral rights to intervene in feminist families?
  • The movements endorsing feminism in families.
  • The effect of different views on feminism in parents on children.

Sexuality Essay Ideas

  • The views of radical feminists on women’s sexuality.
  • Who are sex-positive feminists, and their values?
  • Feminism’s impact on sexual orientation.
  • The role of feminism in sexual identity matters.
  • Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls.
  • How does feminism help eliminate sexual violence?
  • What is harassment, and why are feminists fighting it?
  • The role of media in women’s sexuality.
  • Traditional views on women’s sexuality.
  • How is feminism transforming sexuality?
  • Domestic Violence and COVID-19 Relation.
  • What are feminist sex wars?
  • Why are some feminists against pornography?
  • What are pro-pornography feminist arguments?
  • How is feminism protecting the rights of sex workers?
  • Rights of sex workers in developed vs. developing countries.
  • Media Promotion of Cosmetic Surgery in Women.
  • Feminist critique of censorship.
  • What is behind the issue of sex trafficking?
  • Children’s rape problem and feminism.
  • The role of feminism in solving the sex trafficking problem.
  • The Influence of the Women Image in the Media.
  • R v. Butler case discussion.
  • How is pornography enhancing sexual objectification?
  • How is poverty causing prostitution?
  • Can feminism eliminate prostitution by solving poverty?
  • Child Marriage in Egypt and Ways to Stop It.
  • Pro-sex worker feminists and their beliefs.
  • What are the perspectives of pro-sex workers?
  • The consequences of violence against women.
  • The role of feminism to LGBTQ sex workers.
  • Why are feminists trying to decriminalize prostitution?
  • Beauty Standards: “The Body Myth” by Rebecca Johnson.
  • Prostitution in developed vs. developing countries.
  • The effect of class and race differences on prostitution.
  • Short- and long-term impacts on sex workers.

👩‍🎓 Essay Topics on Women’s Rights in the World

Essay topics on feminism in developing countries.

  • Social taboos and abortion in Nigeria.
  • Access to sexual healthcare in Asia.
  • Human Papillomavirus Awareness in Saudi Women.
  • Sexual health and access to contraception in developing countries.
  • Coronavirus pandemic’s impact on gender inequalities.
  • Health and education access for women in Afghanistan.
  • Female Empowerment in the Islamic States.
  • Does poverty result in increased sexual violence?
  • Regulations on gender equality in developing countries.
  • Unsafe abortion, contraceptive use, and women’s health.
  • Female genital mutilation in the 21st century.
  • Practicing female genital mutation in Africa.
  • Gender Discrimination After the Reemergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
  • Which countries have the highest gender gap?
  • Forced and child marriages in humanitarian settings.
  • The Taliban’s view: Is woman a property?
  • Feminism in Latin America.
  • Honor killing in Pakistan: 1000 women are killed annually.
  • Women’s access to healthcare in Somalia.

Feminism Essay Topics in Developed Countries

  • “Broken Rung” and the gender pay gap.
  • What are the obstacles to reaching gender equality?
  • Do gender stereotypes result in workplace discrimination?
  • Increased educational attainment of young women.
  • Culture: Women With Hijab in Western Countries.
  • Ending sexual harassment and violence against women.
  • Is sexual harassment a form of discrimination?
  • Cracking the glass ceiling: What are the barriers and challenges?
  • Domestic drama: The impact of sexual violence on women’s health.
  • Socio-cultural Factors That Affected Sport in Australian Society.
  • Feminism and the problem of misogyny.
  • The challenges faced by women in developed counties.
  • Female participation in the labor market.
  • Discrimination Against Girls in Canada.
  • Unequal pay for women in the workplace.
  • How do developed countries improve women’s rights?
  • Nations with strong women’s rights.
  • Women’s employment: Obstacles and challenges.

👸 Antifeminist Essay Topics

  • Antifeminism: The right to abortion.
  • Gender differences in suicide .
  • Manliness in American culture.
  • Antifeminism view: Men are in crisis.
  • The threats of society’s feminization.
  • The meaning of antifeminism across time and cultures.
  • Antifeminism attracts both men and women.
  • Gender and Science: Origin, History, and Politics.
  • Antifeminism: The opposition to women’s equality?
  • How do religious and cultural norms formulate antifeminism?
  • Saving masculinity or promoting gender equality?
  • Traditional gender division of labor: Fair or not?
  • Are feminist theories of patriarchy exaggerated?
  • Oppression of men in the 21st century.
  • Psychological sex differences and biological tendencies.
  • Does feminism make it harder for men to succeed?
  • The change of women’s roles: Impact on the family.
  • How were traditional gender roles challenged in modern culture?
  • History of antifeminism: The pro-family movement.
  • Religion and contemporary antifeminism.
  • Antifeminist on the rights of minorities.
  • Heterosexual and patriarchal family: Facts behind antifeminism.
  • Women against feminism in Western countries.
  • Feminism versus humanism: What is the difference?
  • Does feminism portray women as victims?
  • Same-sex marriage: The dispute between feminists and antifeminists.
  • Male-oriented values of religions and antifeminism.
  • Does antifeminism threaten the independence of women?
  • Men’s rights movement: Manosphere.
  • Does antifeminism refer to extremism?
  • The fear of being labeled as a feminist.
  • A Vindication of the Right of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft.
  • Jane Austen: Criticism of inequitable social rules.
  • Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Frankenstein and aborted creations.
  • Undercutting female stereotypes in Jane Eyre.
  • “Throwing Like a Girl: A Phenomenology of Feminine Body” by Marion.
  • Oppression of woman’s traditional roles in The Awakening.
  • Society’s inequitable treatment of women in The Age of Innocence.
  • Virginia Woolf and her feminism.
  • Orlando: A Biography. Evolving from man to woman.
  • Harriet Jacobs’s Experiences as an Enslaved Black Woman.
  • Feminist criticism: A Room of One’s Own.
  • Social oppression in Three Guineas by Woolf.
  • Rape, illegitimacy, and motherhood in The Judge by Rebecca West.
  • Feminist utopias of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
  • Women’s rights and societal reform views of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
  • Feminist critics in a culture dominated by men.
  • Black women’s aesthetic in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
  • Alice Walker’s ideas on Feminist women of color.
  • Female sexuality in Fear of Flying by Erica Jong.
  • How do feminist novels address race and ethnicity?
  • Society’s inequitable treatment of women in the Age of Innocence.
  • Social and emotional pressures in Love Medicine by Erdrich.
  • Feminist Parenting: The Fight for Equality at Home – Psychology Today
  • Feminist Parenting: An Introduction – Transformation Central Home
  • Women’s suffrage – Britannica
  • Only half of the women in the developing world are in charge of their own bodies – Reuters
  • Gender Equality for Development – The World Bank
  • How #MeToo revealed the central rift within feminism today – The Guardian
  • Feminist Novels and Novelists – Literary Theory and Criticism
  • Health Care & Reproductive Rights – National Women’s Law Center

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The Revolutionary Practice of Black Feminisms

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The black feminist tradition grows not out of other movements, but out of the condition of being both black and a woman. It is a long tradition which resists easy definition and is characterized by its multi-dimensional approach to liberation.

In 1864, Sojourner Truth sold cartes-de-visite, small photographs mounted to a paper card, to support her activism. Featuring the slogan “I sell the shadow to support the substance,” Truth capitalized on the popularity of these collector’s items to support herself and fund her speaking tours. As a formerly enslaved person, claiming ownership of her image for her own profit was revolutionary. Truth reportedly said that she “used to be sold for other people’s benefit, but now she sold herself for her own.” Though expressions of black feminism can be seen in written accounts as far back as the 1830s, Sojourner Truth is the most widely known nineteenth-century black feminist foremother. Throughout her life, Truth linked the movement to abolish slavery and the movement to secure women’s rights, stating that for black women, race and gender could not be separated. 

Three images of sojourner truth

Truth’s speeches and activism represent an early expression of the black feminist tradition. Black feminism is an intellectual, artistic, philosophical, and activist practice grounded in black women’s lived experiences. Its scope is broad, making it difficult to define. In fact, the diversity of opinion among black feminists makes it more accurate to think of black feminisms in the plural. In an oral history interview from the Museum’s collection, noted activist and scholar Angela Davis speaks to this point:

I rarely talk about feminism in the singular. I talk about feminisms. And, even when I myself refused to identify with feminism, I realized that it was a certain kind of feminism . . . It was a feminism of those women who weren’t really concerned with equality for all women... Dr. Angela Davis August 5th, 2019, Oral History Interview, National Museum of African American History and Culture

Despite different visions, a few foundational principles do exist among black feminisms:

  • Black women’s experience of racism, sexism, and classism are inseparable.
  • Their needs and worldviews are distinct from those of black men and white women.
  • There is no contradiction between the struggle against racism, sexism, and all other-isms. All must be addressed simultaneously.

An oval pin in gold with the words "Lifting as we climb."

“Lifting as we climb,” the slogan of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), became a well-known motto for black women’s activism in the late nineteenth century. By this time, middle class black women organized social and political reform through women’s organizations, or clubs. Having had more resources and access to education than a woman like Sojourner Truth, these women’s experiences led them to a different expression of black feminism. Their project of racial uplift focused on combating harmful stereotypes surrounding black women’s sexuality and gender identity.

Problematically, they emphasized elevating poor women, less out of a sense of good-will, than out of a recognition that black women of any class would be judged through the circumstances of those “with the fewest resources and the least opportunity.” In discussing the motto of the NACW, Mary Church Terrell, founding president of the organization, said, “Even though we wish to shun them…we cannot escape the consequences of their acts… Self-preservation would demand that we go among the lowly… to whom we are bound by ties of race and sex.”

A gold pin.

Gallery Modal

The black feminism of the club movement is often overlooked, but as black feminist theorist Brittney Cooper points out, clubs such as the NACW can be seen as sites of development for black feminist leadership and thought despite their elitism. The club movement ushered in a new era of intellectual, artistic, and philosophical production by black women about their own experiences.

a placard with red lettering stating "stop racism now"

Pauli Murray , an activist, writer, Episcopal priest, and legal scholar, played an important role in several civil, social, and legal organizations including the National Organization of Women (NOW), which she cofounded in 1966. Throughout her life, Murray had romantic relationships with women but did not consider herself a lesbian. Her biographer, Rosalind Rosenburg, suggests that had Murray been alive today, she likely would have embraced a transgender identity. Murray wrote and theorized extensively on her experiences of black womanhood asserting that, for her, gender, race, and sexuality could not be separated. This refusal to separate her identity fueled her legal work and activism. In the NOW placard above from shortly after the group’s founding, the political connections between the women’s movement and anti-racist activity can be seen. However, Murray would soon become disillusioned with NOW as she saw the organization distance itself from economic and racial justice.

Photograph of Dr. Pauli Murray sitting at a typewriter.

As the only female student at Howard University Law School, Pauli Murray developed the term Jane Crow, the “twin evil of Jim Crow,” to describe the sexism black women faced. She would continue to develop theoretical, legal, and political frameworks for describing black women’s experiences. Her legal work connecting race-based and sex-based discrimination led to the inclusion of sex-based discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause. However, due to the Civil Rights Movement’s demands for “respectable” performances of black womanhood, Murray’s many contributions to civil rights history remain relatively unknown. Despite this neglect of her work, the legal and theoretical parallels she drew between racial discrimination and gender discrimination set the stage for feminist thinkers to follow.

One truth, especially within the context of black feminisms, is that queer black feminism has always been part of this. That queer black women, queer black folks have always been in these spaces. Dr. Treva Lindsey 2019 NMAAHC public program "Is Womanist to Feminists as Purple is to Lavender?: African American Women Writers and Scholars Discuss Feminism"

The 1970s marked an increase in explicitly black feminist organizing, due in part to tensions inflamed during the Women’s Liberation and Civil Rights Movements. By this time, queer black feminists were becoming more openly and visibly positioned within black feminist groups. They also began creating their own organizations—such as the Salsa Soul Sisters , one of the first out and explicitly multi-cultural lesbian organizations —due to tensions with straight black feminists as well as white gays and lesbians. The influential Combahee River Collective statement , co-authored by Barbara Smith, expressed a radical, queer black feminist platform still relevant to expressions of black feminism today.

Barbara Smith at a National Gay Rights March

In 1983, Alice Walker developed the term “womanist” to describe “a Black feminist or feminist of color.” Her term defined a more communal and humanist expression of feminism that acknowledged queer black women and aligned with long-standing traditions of black women’s thought and activism. Sister Outsider , by Audre Lorde, is one of many foundational womanist writings produced during this period. In her essays and speeches, Lorde discusses the connected issues of sexism, racism, classism, and heterosexism, while calling for new tactics that centered these intersections.

Black women are often thought to be at a disadvantage because of racism and sexism, but some black feminists view their position as one of possibility. They argue that in the struggle for freedom, the people most exposed to different forms of oppression understand best how to dismantle them. While late nineteenth century black feminisms were grounded in heterosexual black women’s bodies, by the end of the twentieth and into the twenty-first century, radical black feminisms came to center queer and trans black women, girls, and gender nonconforming people.

Photograph of protesters carrying signs and holding their fists in the air.

Outside black feminist circles, black feminisms are often described as an outgrowth of other freedom struggles. While black women’s experiences working within political and social movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries certainly informed articulations of black feminism, black feminisms have never been derivative, nor do they fit cleanly into the “waves” of feminist history . For black women and other women of color, race and gender are inseparable, and black feminists resist all movements that ignore this reality. From women’s suffrage to the Women’s March of 2017, they have been unwilling to compromise on the assertion that a feminism which does not incorporate different experiences of womanhood cannot achieve full liberation. Since before Sojourner Truth sold her “shadow,” women in the black feminist tradition have developed theoretical frameworks and practices born of their experiences, to get, as black feminist scholar Dr. Treva Lindsey put it, “freer and freer and freer.”

Browse Objects Relating to Feminism in the NMAAHC Collection

Written by Max Peterson, Fall 2019 Intern Published on March 4, 2019

Is Womanist to Feminist as Purple is to Lavender?: African American Women Writers and Scholars Discuss Feminism program - https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/124469629

Guy-Sheftall, Beverley, ed. Words of Fire: An Anthology of African American Feminist Thought. New York, NY: The New Press, 1995.

Cooper, Brittney C. Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual Thought of Race Women. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2017.

Springer, Kimberly. Living for the Revolution: Black Feminist Organizations, 1968-1980. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2005.

Lorde, Audre. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches. Freedom, CA: Crossing Press, 1984.

Walker, Alice.  In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens: Womanist Prose . San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983.

Subtitle here for the credits modal.

Black Feminist Thought Essay Questions

By patricia hill collins, essay questions.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

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Why is black feminism different from white feminism?

The White feminism does not consider the problems faced by black women in their everyday lives. They are not considered a part of White feminism because there is no place for the racial issues in White feminism. The black feminism includes the problems of women along with emphasizing the prejudice faced by the Afro-American women. The society compels them to choose between their African American identity and the identity of being a female.

How are black women treated in US?

Black women face the racial prejudice in schools, stores, offices and in their daily interactions. They are called as ‘mammy’, ‘matriarch’ or ‘hoochie.’ The society describe them as panthers and savage creatures. They are blamed for their own problems by the society. The US society either took them as sexless creatures or entirely focusing on their erotic passions. They are forced to live as outsider-within and are compelled to do low level jobs. They work in the houses or offices of Whites as maids or servants.

What is dialogical relationship?

Collins says that the altered experiences lead to change in consciousness. When the beliefs are changed they automatically change the consciousness. This relationship is known as dialogical relationship. There is a need for black intellectuals who would raise their voices regarding the oppression of black women. It is prerequisite to make the Afro-American women aware of the challenges and the obstacles in their way in order to change their consciousness.

How has the writer urge black women to resist?

The author has urged the black women to resist against their oppression and prejudice by referring to the black activism. Collins has given the examples of black female intellectuals, poets writers, musicians etc. The black women resisted their subjugation and achieved their status in society. They survived despite of facing the brutality and the worst treatment at the hands of Whites.

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Black Feminist Thought Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Black Feminist Thought is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for Black Feminist Thought

Black Feminist Thought study guide contains a biography of Patricia Hill Collins, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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“If, as Black feminists contended, oppression positioned Black women at the lowest rung on the social ladder, then eradicating their oppression would necessarily ameliorate oppression for everyone” -Robert J. Patterson 

Black feminism videos

Beverly Guy-Sheftall – Say Her Name: The Urgency of Black Feminism Now  Black feminist discourse and activism have been significant interventions in a variety of social justice movements in the U.S. since the 19th century, though this has not always been acknowledged. In the aftermath of reforms catalyzed by the Black Lives Matter Movement, a queer black feminist project, Guy-Sheftall’s talk will reflect upon the transformations in civil society, academe, electoral politics, the criminal justice system, and other spaces that have occurred over the past year as a result of recent protests around systemic racism and other issues.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: What We Can Learn From the Black Feminists of the Combahee River Collective We continue our interview with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor about the new collection of essays she edited that, titled How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective.

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2. black americans and their views on feminism.

The relationship between Black Americans and the U.S. feminist movement has been contentious since the 19th century. Feminist activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul racially stereotyped Black men during Reconstruction and kept Black women suffragists at the back of women’s marches in the early 20th century.

In the 1970s, Black women criticized the feminist movement for being narrowly focused on the issues of middle-class White women . Many White feminist activists expressed a desire to work outside the home, one that many Black feminist activists did not share because Black women had historically been a part of the labor force as enslaved workers, farmers and maids. And in an era that saw the codifying of Roe v. Wade, Black women’s fight for reproductive rights extended beyond abortion to advocacy against forced sterilizations .

Since the 1990s, Black Americans’ feminist tensions have often revolved around questions of intraracial harm and betrayal. Anita Hill’s sexual harassment allegation against Clarence Thomas, the women who have made sexual assault claims against hip-hop stars such as R. Kelly and Russell Simmons, and Meredith Watson’s sexual assault claim against former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax are all examples of Black women being positioned as race traitors who are “trying to bring a good brother down.” Indeed, Black Americans’ relationship with feminism is fraught from both external and internal challenges to the movement’s legitimacy.

This chapter draws data on Black adult’s views of feminism from a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted in March and April of 2020. 5

Black adults say feminism has had a significant impact on women’s rights

Chart shows About half of Black adults say feminism has helped Black women

Despite this history of tension, about three-quarters of Black adults (76%) say the feminist movement has done a lot to advance women’s rights in the U.S. This includes 28% who say the feminist movement has done a great deal to advance these rights and 48% who say it has done a fair amount. Much smaller shares say the feminist movement hasn’t done much (17%) or anything at all (6%) to advance women’s rights.   

While Black adults view feminism as impactful overall, they have different views on the extent to which the movement has helped various groups of women. About half of Black adults (49%) say feminism has helped Black women, either a little (33%) or a lot (16%). About a quarter of Black adults say feminism has hurt Black women (26%), either a little (10%) or a lot (15%). At the same time, 22% of Black adults say feminism has neither helped nor hurt Black women.

Black adults differ on this question primarily by education. Those with a bachelor’s degree (61%) are more likely than those with a high school diploma or less (45%) to say feminism has helped Black women. In contrast, about three-in-ten Black adults with a high school diploma or less or some college education (28% each) say feminism has hurt Black women, while 19% of Black adults with a bachelor’s degree say the same. And Black adults with a high school diploma or less (19%) are more likely than those with a bachelor’s degree (8%) to say feminism has hurt Black women a lot .

Reflecting some of the historical tension described above, Black adults are more likely to say that feminism has had a significant positive impact on White women than on Black women. While 42% of Black adults say feminism has helped White women a lot, a much smaller share say the same about Black women (16%).

When asked specifically about the impact of feminism on their personal lives, about a third of Black women (36%) say feminism has helped them personally, either a little (29%) or a lot (7%). Smaller shares say that feminism has hurt them (13%), either a little or a lot (7% respectively). And half of Black women say feminism has neither helped nor hurt them personally (49%).

How Black Americans describe feminism

Chart shows nearly seven-in-ten Black adults describe feminism in the U.S. as empowering

When asked how they would describe feminism in the U.S. today, the majority of Black adults say it is “empowering” (68%). This is higher than the shares who describe it as “inclusive” (45%), “polarizing” (34%) or “outdated” (24%).

About seven-in-ten Black women (71%) and 65% of Black men describe feminism as empowering, as do 70% of Black adults 18 to 49 and 65% of Black adults 50 and older.

However, Black adults differ by education on this question. While three-quarters of Black adults with a bachelor’s degree (75%) describe feminism as empowering, a smaller share of Black adults with a high school diploma or less share this view (63%).

Differences by education also appear in other descriptors of feminism. A majority of Black adults with a bachelor’s degree (57%) characterize feminism as inclusive. The same is true of only 39% of Black adults with a high school diploma or less and 44% of those with some college experience. While 41% of Black bachelor’s degree holders describe feminism as polarizing, only 30% of those with a high school diploma or less say the same. And roughly one-in-five Black bachelor’s degree holders (18%) describe feminism as outdated, while about a quarter of Black adults with a high school diploma or less (25%) or some college experience (26%) share this view.

And while Black adults (68%) and the general public (64%) are both most likely to view feminism as empowering, Black adults are less likely than Americans overall to characterize feminism as polarizing (34% vs. 45%) or outdated (24% vs. 30%).

Aside from their descriptions about feminism in the U.S. overall, Black adults were also asked about how well the term describes them personally. About half of Black adults say “feminist” does not describe them (48%), saying it applies either not too well (25%) or not well at all (24%). Roughly a third of Black adults say “feminist” describes them somewhat well (36%). And only 16% say it describes them very well.

Black men (63%) are much more likely than Black women (36%) to say “feminist” does not describe them well. Meanwhile, Black women are more likely than Black men to say that feminism describes them somewhat well (44% vs. 27%) or very well (20% vs. 10%).

And 54% of Black adults with a high school diploma or less say “feminist” does not describe them well, compared with 43% of those with a bachelor’s degree and 44% of those with college experience and no bachelor’s degree.

  • In this survey, Black adults only include U.S. adults who are single-race Black and have no Hispanic background, unless otherwise noted. ↩

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Table of contents, black americans have a clear vision for reducing racism but little hope it will happen, americans’ complex views on gender identity and transgender issues, race is central to identity for black americans and affects how they connect with each other, faith among black americans, a century after women gained the right to vote, majority of americans see work to do on gender equality, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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A Black Feminist Statement

BLM Protestors in Oakland, CA

BLM Protestors in Oakland, CA (December 14, 2014 ). Photo credit: Annette Bernhardt / Flickr / Creative Commons .

The Combahee River Collective Statement appeared as a movement document in April 1977. The final, definitive version was published in Zillah Eisenstein, ed., Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism (Monthly Review Press, 1979), 362–72. We reprint that version here in commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of its publication by Monthly Review Press.

We are a collective of black feminists who have been meeting together since 1974. 1 During that time we have been involved in the process of defining and clarifying our politics, while at the same time doing political work within our own group and in coalition with other progressive organizations and movements. The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be that we are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression and see as our particular task the development of integrated analysis and practice based upon the fact that the major systems of oppression are interlocking. The synthesis of these oppressions creates the conditions of our lives. As black women we see black feminism as the logical political movement to combat the manifold and simultaneous oppressions that all women of color face.

We will discuss four major topics in the paper that follows: (1) The genesis of contemporary black feminism; (2) what we believe, i.e., the specific province of our politics; (3) the problems in organizing black feminists, including a brief herstory of our collective; and (4) black feminist issues and practice.

1. The Genesis of Contemporary Black Feminism

Before looking at the recent development of black feminism, we would like to affirm that we find our origins in the historical reality of Afro-American women’s continuous life-and-death struggle for survival and liberation. Black women’s extremely negative relationship to the American political system (a system of white male rule) has always been determined by our membership in two oppressed racial and sexual castes. As Angela Davis points out in “Reflections on the Black Woman’s Role in the Community of Slaves,” black women have always embodied, if only in their physical manifestation, an adversary stance to white male rule and have actively resisted its inroads upon them and their communities in both dramatic and subtle ways. There have always been black women activists—some known, like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Frances E. W. Harper, Ida B. Wells Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell, and thousands upon thousands unknown—who had a shared awareness of how their sexual identity combined with their racial identity to make their whole life situation and the focus of their political struggles unique. Contemporary black feminism is the outgrowth of countless generations of personal sacrifice, militancy, and work by our mothers and sisters.

A black feminist presence has evolved most obviously in connection with the second wave of the American women’s movement beginning in the late 1960s. Black, other Third World, and working women have been involved in the feminist movement from its start, but both outside reactionary forces and racism and elitism within the movement itself have served to obscure our participation. In 1973 black feminists, primarily located in New York, felt the necessity of forming a separate black feminist group. This became the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO).

Black feminist politics also have an obvious connection to movements for black liberation, particularly those of the 1960s and 1970s. Many of us were active in those movements (civil rights, black nationalism, the Black Panthers), and all of our lives were greatly affected and changed by their ideology, their goals, and the tactics used to achieve their goals. It was our experience and disillusionment within these liberation movements, as well as experience on the periphery of the white male left, that led to the need to develop a politics that was antiracist, unlike those of white women, and antisexist, unlike those of black and white men.

There is also undeniably a personal genesis for black feminism, that is, the political realization that comes from the seemingly personal experiences of individual black women’s lives. Black feminists and many more black women who do not define themselves as feminists have all experienced sexual oppression as a constant factor in our day-to-day existence.

Black feminists often talk about their feelings of craziness before becoming conscious of the concepts of sexual politics, patriarchal rule, and, most importantly, feminism, the political analysis and practice that we women use to struggle against our oppression. The fact that racial politics and indeed racism are pervasive factors in our lives did not allow us, and still does not allow most black women, to look more deeply into our own experiences and define those things that make our lives what they are and our oppression specific to us. In the process of consciousness-raising, actually life-sharing, we began to recognize the commonality of our experiences and, from that sharing and growing consciousness, to build a politics that will change our lives and inevitably end our oppression.

Our development also must be tied to the contemporary economic and political position of black people. The post–World War II generation of black youth was the first to be able to minimally partake of certain educational and employment options, previously closed completely to black people. Although our economic position is still at the very bottom of the American capitalist economy, a handful of us have been able to gain certain tools as a result of tokenism in education and employment which potentially enable us to more effectively fight our oppression.

A combined antiracist and antisexist position drew us together initially, and as we developed politically we addressed ourselves to heterosexism and economic oppression under capitalism.

2. What We Believe

Above all else, our politics initially sprang from the shared belief that black women are inherently valuable, that our liberation is a necessity not as an adjunct to somebody else’s but because of our need as human persons for autonomy. This may seem so obvious as to sound simplistic, but it is apparent that no other ostensibly progressive movement has ever considered our specific oppression a priority or worked seriously for the ending of that oppression. Merely naming the pejorative stereotypes attributed to black women (e.g., mammy, matriarch, Sapphire, whore, bulldagger), let alone cataloguing the cruel, often murderous, treatment we receive, indicates how little value has been placed upon our lives during four centuries of bondage in the Western hemisphere. We realize that the only people who care enough about us to work consistently for our liberation is us. Our politics evolve from a healthy love for ourselves, our sisters, and our community which allows us to continue our struggle and work.

This focusing upon our own oppression is embodied in the concept of identity politics. We believe that the most profound and potentially the most radical politics come directly out of our own identity, as opposed to working to end somebody else’s oppression. In the case of black women this is a particularly repugnant, dangerous, threatening, and therefore revolutionary concept because it is obvious from looking at all the political movements that have preceded us that anyone is more worthy of liberation than ourselves. We reject pedestals, queenhood, and walking ten paces behind. To be recognized as human, levelly human, is enough.

We believe that sexual politics under patriarchy is as pervasive in black women’s lives as are the politics of class and race. We also often find it difficult to separate race from class from sex oppression because in our lives they are most often experienced simultaneously. We know that there is such a thing as racial-sexual oppression which is neither solely racial nor solely sexual, e.g., the history of rape of black women by white men as a weapon of political repression.

Although we are feminists and lesbians, we feel solidarity with progressive black men and do not advocate the fractionalization that white women who are separatists demand. Our situation as black people necessitates that we have solidarity around the fact of race, which white women of course do not need to have with white men, unless it is their negative solidarity as racial oppressors. We struggle together with black men against racism, while we also struggle with black men about sexism.

We realize that the liberation of all oppressed peoples necessitates the destruction of the political-economic systems of capitalism and imperialism as well as patriarchy. We are socialists because we believe the work must be organized for the collective benefit of those who do the work and create the products and not for the profit of the bosses. Material resources must be equally distributed among those who create these resources. We are not convinced, however, that a socialist revolution that is not also a feminist and antiracist revolution will guarantee our liberation. We have arrived at the necessity for developing an understanding of class relationships that takes into account the specific class position of black women who are generally marginal in the labor force, while at this particular time some of us are temporarily viewed as doubly desirable tokens at white-collar and professional levels. We need to articulate the real class situation of persons who are not merely raceless, sexless workers, but for whom racial and sexual oppression are significant determinants in their working/economic lives. Although we are in essential agreement with Marx’s theory as it applied to the very specific economic relationships he analyzed, we know that this analysis must be extended further in order for us to understand our specific economic situation as black women.

A political contribution which we feel we have already made is the expansion of the feminist principle that the personal is the political. In our consciousness-raising sessions, for example, we have in many ways gone beyond white women’s revelations because we are dealing with the implications of race and class as well as sex. Even our black women’s style of talking/testifying in black language about what we have experienced has a resonance that is both cultural and political. We have spent a great deal of energy delving into the cultural and experiential nature of our oppression out of necessity because none of these matters have ever been looked at before. No one before has ever examined the multilayered texture of black women’s lives.

As we have already stated, we reject the stance of lesbian separatism because it is not a viable political analysis or strategy for us. It leaves out far too much and far too many people, particularly black men, women, and children. We have a great deal of criticism and loathing for what men have been socialized to be in this society: what they support, how they act, and how they oppress. But we do not have the misguided notion that it is their maleness, per se—i.e., their biological maleness—that makes them what they are. As black women we find any type of biological determinism a particularly dangerous and reactionary basis upon which to build a politic. We must also question whether lesbian separatism is an adequate and progressive political analysis and strategy, even for those who practice it, since it so completely denies any but the sexual sources of women’s oppression, negating the facts of class and race.

3. Problems in Organizing Black Feminists

During our years together as a black feminist collective we have experienced success and defeat, joy and pain, victory and failure. We have found that it is very difficult to organize around black feminist issues, difficult even to announce in certain contexts that we are black feminists. We have tried to think about the reasons for our difficulties, particularly since the white women’s movement continues to be strong and to grow in many directions. In this section we will discuss some of the general reasons for the organizing problems we face and also talk specifically about the stages in organizing our own collective.

The major source of difficulty in our political work is that we are not just trying to fight oppression on one front or even two, but instead to address a whole range of oppressions. We do not have racial, sexual, heterosexual, or class privilege to rely upon, nor do we have even the minimal access to resources and power that groups who possess any one of these types of privilege have.

The psychological toll of being a black woman and the difficulties this presents in reaching political consciousness and doing political work can never be underestimated. There is a very low value placed upon black women’s psyches in this society, which is both racist and sexist. As an early group member once said, “We are all damaged people merely by virtue of being black women.” We are dispossessed psychologically and on every other level, and yet we feel the necessity to struggle to change our condition and the condition of all black women. In “A Black Feminist’s Search for Sisterhood,” Michele Wallace arrives at this conclusion:

We exist as women, who are black, who are feminists, each stranded for the moment, working independently because there is not yet an environment in this society remotely congenial to our struggle—because, being on the bottom, we would have to do what no one else has done: we would have to fight the world. 2

Wallace is not pessimistic but realistic in her assessment of black feminists’ position, particularly in her allusion to the nearly classic isolation most of us face. We might use our position at the bottom, however, to make a clear leap into revolutionary action. If black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.

Feminism is, nevertheless, very threatening to the majority of black people because it calls into question some of the most basic assumptions about our existence, i.e., that gender should be a determinant of power relationships. Here is the way male and female roles were defined in a black nationalist pamphlet from the early 1970s.

We understand that it is and has been traditional that the man is the head of the house. He is the leader of the house/nation because his knowledge of the world is broader, his awareness is greater, his understanding is fuller and his application of this information is wiser.… After all, it is only reasonable that the man be the head of the house because he is able to defend and protect the development of his home.… Women cannot do the same things as men—they are made by nature to function differently. Equality of men and women is something that cannot happen even in the abstract world. Men are not equal to other men, i.e., ability, experience, or even understanding. The value of men and women can be seen as in the value of gold and silver—they are not equal but both have great value. We must realize that men and women are a complement to each other because there is no house/family without a man and his wife. Both are essential to the development of any life. 3

The material conditions of most black women would hardly lead them to upset both economic and sexual arrangements that seem to represent some stability in their lives. Many black women have a good understanding of both sexism and racism, but because of the everyday constrictions of their lives cannot risk struggling against them both.

The reaction of black men to feminism has been notoriously negative. They are, of course, even more threatened than black women by the possibility that black feminists might organize around our own needs. They realize that they might not only lose valuable and hard-working allies in their struggles but that they might also be forced to change their habitually sexist ways of interacting with and oppressing black women. Accusations that black feminism divides the black struggle are powerful deterrents to the growth of an autonomous black women’s movement.

Still, hundreds of women have been active at different times during the three-year existence of our group. And every black woman who came, came out of a strongly felt need for some level of possibility that did not previously exist in her life.

When we first started meeting early in 1974 after the NBFO first eastern regional conference, we did not have a strategy for organizing, or even a focus. We just wanted to see what we had. After a period of months of not meeting, we began to meet again late in the year and started doing an intense variety of consciousness-raising. The overwhelming feeling that we had is that after years and years we had finally found each other. Although we were not doing political work as a group, individuals continued their involvement in lesbian politics, sterilization abuse and abortion rights work, Third World Women’s International Women’s Day activities, and support activity for the trials of Dr. Kenneth Edelin, Joan Little, and Inez Garcia. During our first summer, when membership had dropped off considerably, those of us remaining devoted serious discussion to the possibility of opening a refuge for battered women in a black community. (There was no refuge in Boston at that time.) We also decided around that time to become an independent collective since we had serious disagreements with NBFO’s bourgeois-feminist stance and their lack of a clear political focus.

We also were contacted at that time by socialist feminists, with whom we had worked on abortion rights activities, who wanted to encourage us to attend the National Socialist Feminist Conference in Yellow Springs. One of our members did attend and despite the narrowness of the ideology that was promoted at that particular conference, we became more aware of the need for us to understand our own economic situation and to make our own economic analysis.

In the fall, when some members returned, we experienced several months of comparative inactivity and internal disagreements which were first conceptualized as a lesbian-straight split but which were also the result of class and political differences. During the summer those of us who were still meeting had determined the need to do political work and to move beyond consciousness-raising and serving exclusively as an emotional support group. At the beginning of 1976, when some of the women who had not wanted to do political work and who also had voiced disagreements stopped attending of their own accord, we again looked for a focus. We decided at that time, with the addition of new members, to become a study group. We had always shared our reading with each other, and some of us had written papers on black feminism for group discussion a few months before this decision was made. We began functioning as a study group and also began discussing the possibility of starting a black feminist publication. We had a retreat in the late spring which provided a time for both political discussion and working out interpersonal issues. Currently we are planning to gather together a collection of black feminist writing. We feel that it is absolutely essential to demonstrate the reality of our politics to other black women and believe that we can do this through writing and distributing our work. The fact that individual black feminists are living in isolation all over the country, that our own numbers are small, and that we have some skills in writing, printing, and publishing makes us want to carry out these kinds of projects as a means of organizing black feminists as we continue to do political work in coalition with other groups.

4. Black Feminist Issues and Practice

During our time together we have identified and worked on many issues of particular relevance to black women. The inclusiveness of our politics makes us concerned with any situation that impinges upon the lives of women, Third World, and working people. We are of course particularly committed to working on those struggles in which race, sex, and class are simultaneous factors in oppression. We might, for example, become involved in workplace organizing at a factory that employs Third World women or picket at a hospital that is cutting back on already inadequate health care to a Third World community, or set up a rape crisis center in a black neighborhood. Organizing around welfare or daycare concerns might also be a focus. The work to be done and the countless issues that this work represents merely reflect the pervasiveness of our oppression.

Issues and projects that collective members have actually worked on are sterilization abuse, abortion rights, battered women, rape, and health care. We have also done many workshops and educationals on black feminism on college campuses, at women’s conferences, and most recently for high school women.

One issue that is of major concern to us and that we have begun to publicly address is racism in the white women’s movement. As black feminists we are made constantly and painfully aware of how little effort white women have made to understand and combat their racism, which requires among other things that they have a more than superficial comprehension of race, color, and black history and culture. Eliminating racism in the white women’s movement is by definition work for white women to do, but we will continue to speak to and demand accountability on this issue.

In the practice of our politics we do not believe that the end always justifies the means. Many reactionary and destructive acts have been done in the name of achieving “correct” political goals. As feminists we do not want to mess over people in the name of politics. We believe in collective process and a nonhierarchical distribution of power within our own group and in our vision of a revolutionary society. We are committed to a continual examination of our politics as they develop through criticism and self-criticism as an essential aspect of our practice. As black feminists and lesbians we know that we have a very definite revolutionary task to perform and we are ready for the lifetime of work and struggle before us.

  • ↩ This statement is dated April 1977.
  • ↩ Michele Wallace, “A Black Feminist’s Search for Sisterhood,” Village Voice , July 28, 1975, 6–7.
  • ↩ Mumininas of Committee for Unified Newark, Mwanamke Mwananchi (The Nationalist Woman) (Newark, New Jersey: Mumininas of Committee for Unified Newark, c. 1971), 4–5.

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CFSHRC

Black Women’s Rhetoric(s): A Conversation Starter for Naming and Claiming a Field of Study

black feminism essay topics

Peitho Volume 23 Issue 4, Summer 2021

Author(s): Ronisha Browdy

Ronisha Browdy is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at North Carolina State University where she teaches courses in rhetoric, writing, and cultural rhetorics. Her primary research centralizes Black women’s naming practices as acts of resistance and self-empowerment in both private and public spaces. Her goal as a scholar is to continue the work of making space for under-represented people, practices, and ways of making and communicating knowledge within (and outside) the field of rhetoric and composition, especially the voices and contributions of people of African descent and women of color. Her work has been published in Reflections Journal, Women and Language, Prose Studies , and multiple edited collections.

Abstract: In this essay, the author generally discusses the collective body of scholarly work at the intersections of Black womanhood, Black feminism, and rhetorical studies that has significantly impacted the field of rhetorical studies over the last 20+ years. Although individual scholars have considered whether or not to identify “Black women’s Rhetoric” as a rhetorical genre, while others have named their individual research and pedagogical work as some variation of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s),” there has lacked a direct and explicit claiming of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” as its own independent subject area and disciplinary community. Using personal experience, and analysis of two texts identified as African American/Black Women’s Rhetorics, the author argues that Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) must be named and claimed as a rhetorical genre and unique sub-field of rhetorical studies. This essay concludes with a call for collaborative identification and recognition of Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) as a collective, while offering a framework as a starting point for future discussions.

In the preface to her groundbreaking book, We Are Coming: The Persuasive Discourse of Nineteenth Century Black Women , Shirley Wilson Logan draws from Herbert Simon’s definition of rhetorical genre to articulate her project on interrogating African American women orators’ rhetorical tradition and practices.  Wilson Logan says:

Although I borrow from Simon’s term, ‘distinctive and recurring patterns of rhetorical practice, it is not my intention here to argue for a genre called ‘black women’s rhetoric’ based on the patterns I identify or to apply a scientifically verifiable approach to identify them. So, while I look for reoccurrences, I do not claim that they constitute a genre. Instead, my focus is both singular and collective in that I consider individual speakers and the occasions surrounding particular rhetorical acts but with an eye toward the features of that act that are shared by other rhetorical acts arising from similar but not identical rhetorical situations […] Thus rather than argue for genres, I identify common practices across rhetorical acts that were molded and constrained by prevailing conventions and traditions . (Wilson Logan xiv; emphasis added)

Through her work, readers gain insight into how the sociohistorical context of the 19th century shaped Black women’s oratory choices and discourse, particularly as they were employed around social issues related to Black women’s intersecting racialized and gendered struggles against the abolishment of slavery, women’s rights, mob violence, and racial uplift. Despite Wilson Logan not defining or naming a genre within rhetorical discourse called “black women’s rhetoric” (xiv) within this particular work, her scholarship has been foundational in the development of rhetorical studies that centralizes Black women subjects and speakers, Black female literacies and communication practices, and contextualizing how Black women negotiate, navigate, and use their unique positionalities to make and distribute knowledge across diverse spaces and audiences.

Over the last 20+ years, the influences of Wilson Logan, and others like Jacqueline Jones Royster and her book Traces of a Stream: Literacy and Social Change Among African American Women is represented in the plethora of scholarship by and about Black women’s rhetorical traditions, literacy practices, experiential knowledge(s), language, spaces/places, histories, and activism. This work has been published across the fields of rhetoric and composition studies, communication studies, literacy and language studies, women and gender studies, African American and African Diasporic studies, and education. Often informed by various feminist theoretical traditions, especially Black feminist thought and womanist theories, these works articulate and argue for alternative methods for understanding Black women’s subjectivities and centralizing Black women as rhetorical subjects. Despite the expansive scholarship and undeniable presence of Black women and Black women-centered scholarship within rhetorical studies, there has still yet to be an explicit naming of a collective body of scholarship, disciplinary community, or rhetorical genre called Black Women’s Rhetoric(s). 1

In this essay, I argue that there is substantial scholarly work (in print and in progress) at the intersections of Black womanhood, Black feminism, and rhetorical studies and it is time to interrogate this scholarship collectively to consider whether, or not, it should finally be explicitly named and defined as a rhetorical genre and sub-field called “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s).” Given the history of Black women’s experiences, knowledge, and contributions being marginalized, silenced, and/or subsumed under categories that do not equally prioritize their intersecting raced, gendered, and other identities, I consider how naming and identifying a Black women’s rhetorical homeplace (hooks 37) functions as an act of resistance against the racist and patriarchal systems and practices of academia (including rhetorical studies) that continue to omit and/or limit representations of Black women’s rhetorical histories, literacies, languages, spaces/places, and meaning-making practices within program curricula, course syllabi, publication spaces, conferences, etc.

Speaking from my own personal experience, I begin with a story about my connection to this topic, and my own articulation of this inexplicitly recognized—although clearly present and identifiable—sub-field of rhetorical studies. My purpose is to illustrate my own difficulties in locating and accessing scholarship that prioritizes Black women’s rhetorical perspectives because of the ways it is typically situated under various identifiers, e.g., “women’s/feminist rhetoric,” “African American/Black rhetorics,” “cultural rhetorics,” and “hip-hop rhetorics.” Also, since this work is highly interdisciplinary, it is common that scholars producing this scholarship see the influences and implications of their work as contributing within and beyond the realms of rhetorical studies, which leads to them publishing broadly across disciplinary communities like communication studies, women and gender studies, education, language studies, technical and professional writing, African and African American studies, as well as alternative and online spaces. From my experience, the complexities of how Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship is situated across many spaces, for many reasons, with various different names, makes it difficult to access as a cohesive, interconnected network of knowledge. Furthermore, this broad distribution of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” scholarship makes it difficult to bring all of these scholars and scholarship together as one collective body of knowledge with its specifications on subject matter and points of inquiry, methods and methodologies for conducting research, and functions for various audiences (including intersecting sub-fields and the entire rhetorical studies community). For students and scholars newly interested in this specialized area of study, these are important aspects of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” that need to be more thoroughly articulated beyond the realms of individual scholarship. I use my story as reasoning for why there needs to be a collaborative and collective naming and mapping out of this sub-field.

Next, I will interpret two texts that clearly identify their work as “Black/African American Women’s Rhetoric,” that is, Deborah F. Atwater’s African American Women’s Rhetoric: The Search for Dignity, Personhood, and Honor , and a multi-modal course and pedagogical space called “The Black Women’s Rhetoric Project” created, taught, and publicly shared by Carmen Kynard . Through my analysis of Atwater and Kynard’s individual representations of “Black Women’s Rhetoric,” I consider how their explicit naming of their research and teaching may serve as a guide for how this larger body of Black women-centered rhetorical work may also be named and formally recognized as “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s).” Drawing on the Black feminist concept of self-definition (Collins 107; Lorde 45), I argue that naming this rhetorical scholarship that emphasizing Black women’s subjectivities, unique practices, and thinking is important in fully affirming this area study and avoiding intentional and unintentional acts of erasure of Black women’s knowledge and labor.

I conclude offering sketch of a framework for defining and describing “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s).” My purpose is to prompt conversation about what are major themes of, or bridges across, “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” while also honoring the many contributors and influencers of this unofficially named field. These scholars that have made it possible to better understand how “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” can be “traced” back to a legacy, a “stream” if you will, of Black women speaking and doing for the betterment of themselves and their communities (Royster 4). I aim to spark a conversation about how participants, students, teachers, and contributors of this field might name this collective body of work that allows us all to better understand and celebrate how Black women “make space” for their unique knowledges and ethos even within “tight spaces,” or historical contexts and situations that attempt to deny them their humanity and equal opportunity (Atwater 2-3). This work allows us to consider how Black women use their mother wit as literacies to “protect and serve” themselves and others, “bring wreck” in the most spectacular way on those that disrespect and attempt to deny them a voice within their own communities, while still negotiating the power of “getting crunk” with other Black women to empower each other and work together to make visible complex narratives of Black women’s experiences and interpretations of the world. 2

I believe that it is necessary to consider the possibilities of formalizing Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship under a collective banner with its own name, and/or to consider how the existing ways of naming this work might be more explicitly connected as a network of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholarship. In “Disciplinary Landscaping, or Contemporary Challenges in the History of Rhetoric,” Royster calls for the shifting of the disciplinary landscape, a shift that has made Black women more visible as rhetorical subjects (158). I believe naming this scholarly work—or saying its name (or multiple names in tandem)—can be the next step in making a “shifting” disciplinary landscape “shake.”

A Reflection: Looking for and Locating Rhetoric by/on Black Women 

In her chapter “Looking for Zora” in In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens , Alice Walker describes her quest to locate the grave of anthropologist, folklorist, and writer, Zora Neale Hurston. Seeking the unmarked grave of her self-proclaimed ‘illegitimate aunt,’ Walker ventures to the location of the gravesite in South Florida. Walker, accompanied by her equally determined travel-companion, Rosalee, cautiously searched a deserted cemetery for Hurston’s burial place. When their eyes, their ability to physically see the location of Hurston’s grave, failed them, Walker resorted to another method of finding Zora. Walker called out to Zora. She describes this moment as follows:

Finding the grave seems positively hopeless. There is only one thing to do: ‘Zora!” I yell, as loud as I can (causing Rosalee to jump). ‘Are you out here?’ ‘Zora!’ I call again. ‘I’m here. Are you?’ […] ‘Zora!’ Then I start fussing with her. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m going to stand out here all day, with these snakes watching me and these ants having a field day. In fact, I’m going to call you just one or two more times.’ On a clump of dried grass, near a small bushy tree, my eye falls on one of the largest bugs I have ever seen. I walk toward it, and yell ‘Zo-ra!’ and my foot sinks into a hole. I look down. I am standing in a sunken rectangle that is about six feet long and about three or four feet wide […] ‘Well,’ I say, […] ‘Doesn’t this look like a grave to you?’ (105).

A majority of my formal education in rhetoric and composition has left me feeling like I, too, am cautiously stepping through a deserted cemetery filled with the remains of dead White men. Upon closer examination, I can read their names and list of credentials and achievements. Their contributions are undeniable, their works are unforgettable, what I learn from them is/was useful in my pursuit of understanding this field and term rhetoric , and yet, I’m still left longing for more. Within each institution in which I studied, I found myself searching, looking, listening, and waiting for some sense of familiarity and belonging.

As a Black woman student seeking a sense of belonging within a space where, to use words the words of Royster again in her CCCC Chair Address, “when the first voice you hear is not your own,” I needed an academic version of a “homeplace.” bell hooks describes the history of  homeplaces in Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural Politics as a kind of physical and spiritual space within the domestic households of enslaved Black women that served as “a site where one could freely confront the issue of humanization, where one could resist” (37). These homeplaces recognized Black subjectivities, uplifted the minds and hearts of the Black community, and served as a space of both resistance and affirmation (hooks 37). Although I do not recall screaming out like Walker, hollering the names of any particular Black woman rhetorician, scholar, or speaker, I do remember feeling like my eyes—what I could physically see before me within program curricula, course syllabi, and faculty—were deceiving me. I asked myself, “Where are the Black women? Is what I see all there is to rhetorical studies? Where is my home?”

I started using my other senses, calling for who and what I was missing.  My screaming and calling out happened while walking through the library stacks searching for books that no one informed me existed. I fussed while scrolling through pages of online databases as new names and voices became my unofficial teachers of a knowledge and rhetorical history that had been omitted from my formal education. I celebrated (with smiles and tears) as this new academic home formed around me, welcoming me in and opening up space for my own voice, too. These women were my illegitimate, intellectual aunts, sisters, and cousins—my home/community/family.

And like family, it is necessary to come together. To unite under a collective banner, not to erase our differences, but to embrace them, and offer spaces of support and solidarity across differences. What I was looking for as an inductee into this legacy of Black women making, studying, and doing rhetoric was a shared name for what they/we were doing that encapsulated these histories, sacrifices, action, activism, creativity, and labors of love. Although I came to call what I was seeking and trying to identify as “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s),” I noticed that this was not a shared name across scholarship, and it certainly was not a term I saw being used around me in academia. Instead, what I saw was what I called “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” subsumed under the disciplinary umbrellas of African American rhetoric(s) and/or feminist rhetorics, or existing on the borders of rhetorical studies and other intersecting disciplines, like women’s studies, communication studies, literature, literacy studies, linguistics and language studies, education, history, or African and African American studies. Although I could see and understand how this work dispersed and distributed across my own field and many others linked together to form a network of knowledge about Black women’s rhetorical legacy, I desired then—and still do now—formal recognition of this discourse as its own space by those making and publishing this work, as well as the larger field. For instance, there are book collections, special issues of journals, and conferences dedicated to broadly interrogating and defining African American rhetoric(s), feminist rhetorics, and cultural rhetorics. Within these spaces, Black women and Black women-centered scholarship are often represented, demonstrating the diversity and inclusivity of these sub-fields particularly as they make space for Black women’s rhetoric(s) in ways that traditional rhetorical studies does not always do. My concern is that because this work is often deeply merged with these other sub-fields, but is not explicitly named and identified as its own rhetorical genre and disciplinary community, Black women’s rhetorical scholarship is simultaneously visible and invisible.

In other words, rhetorical scholarship that centers Black women’s experiences, traditions, and practices is clearly represented within dominant rhetorical studies, and it has greatly shaped sub-fields of rhetorical studies including influencing the how these fields function and describe their identities as unique scholarly spaces. But, since “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” has not identified itself as its own discourse within and outside these other disciplinary spaces, it functions in ways that help to inform and contribute to others without fully claiming and affirming itself. I believe this contributes to the appearance and representation of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” as a culmination of individual works (with various different names) and individual scholars doing this work in various places and spaces, as opposed to a body of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholarship that collectively linked together, informs each other, and follows similar guiding principles, purposes, and practices no matter where it is located, published, taught, or spoken.

As a student of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s),” and still now as a junior faculty who identifies myself as a part of this community, I desire for this discourse that is predominately produced by Black women rhetorical scholars, about Black women rhetorical subjects/topics to officially have a name and space as its own disciplinary community within rhetorical studies. Can we give this scholarly area a name, so that future Black women scholars roaming through metaphorical cemeteries of deceased old White men, can say its name and find a home? Furthermore, can we give this discourse a name so that others within academia can acknowledge it, say its name, and put some respect on it?

In the sections that follow, I discuss the concept of self-definition and its significance to Black women’s rhetorical scholarship. Under this Black feminist naming framework, I introduce two texts in which authors explicitly name their scholarship as African American/Black women’s rhetorics: Deborah Atwater’s, African American Women’s Rhetoric: The Search for Dignity, Personhood, and Honor , and Carmen Kynard’s, “Black Women’s Rhetoric Project/BlackWomynRhetProject.” Through a brief analysis and introduction of these works, I consider the potential and power in having a shared name to describe Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship, as well as consider opposing arguments for identifying “Black Women’s Rhetorics(s)” as its own sub-field. I conclude with themes that I locate across Black women’s rhetoric(s) that may be used as a start to a much larger conversation about the uniqueness of this genre/sub-field, how it functions, and how it might be identified and described by those within, across, and outside of it.

Inspirations and Reasons for Naming Black Women’s Rhetoric 

Self-definition is a literacy with strong connections to Black women’s ways of being. Concepts like “mother tongue” and scholarship on Black women’s unique language and literacy practices that consider their mastery of signification and styles of communication, such as “loud-talking,” “polite assertiveness,” and “strategic silence,” make it clear that Black women and girls wield language to make space for their experiences and knowledge ( Smitherman ; Troutman ; Richardson ; Etter-Lewis ). This includes using language to identify and define their humanity, labor, and experiences.

Self-definition and self-determination are also intimately linked to Black feminist theory. According to Audre Lorde in Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches and Patricia Hill Collins Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment , self-definition is an essential component for Black people to survive and thrive in the midst a range of human-blindness (Lorde 45), and self-definition is a part of a part of a Black woman consciousness that is tied to Black women’s authority to name their own selves. Collins says:

The insistence on Black women’s self-definitions reframes the entire dialogue from one of protesting the technical accuracy of an image…to one stressing the power dynamics underlying the very process of definition itself. By insisting on self-definition, Black women question not only what has been said about African-American women but the credibility and the intentions of those possessing the power to define. When Black women define ourselves, we clearly reject the assumption that those in positions granting them the authority to interpret our reality are entitled to do so. Regardless of the actual content of Black women’s self-definitions, the act of insisting on Black female self-definitions validates Black women’s power as human subjects. (125-126)

In this sense, self-definition is not just about a person defining themselves. Instead, it is an interrogation of power—the possession of power and authority to interpret one’s own reality. In the case of rhetorical scholarship that centralizes Black women subjectivities, literacies, languages, cultural practices, etc., how individual scholars doing this work name and define their work, as well as themselves as creators and wielders of this knowledge, is an act of power. Furthermore, it is through these names—these individual self-definitions—bridges can be built across similar scholarship. Each name given to Black women-centered scholarship acts as a node within a larger interconnected web of knowledge that serves as irrefutable proof that this genre and discourse does exist, although the parameters and particularities of it have yet to be articulated.

What I am posing here as a concern is that these individual self-definitions and names for individual scholarship are so vast that it can make it difficult to understand how all of this work comes together to form one complex discourse at the intersections of Black women (identity) and rhetoric (disciplinary field). As stated above, scholarship that centralizes the rhetorical and literacy practices of Black women extends across rhetorical subfields and interdisciplinary communities. This work goes by so many names, ranging from explicitly calling it “Black/African American Women’s Rhetorics” to some version of “Rhetorics of Black Womanhood,” “Black Feminist Rhetorical Practices,” as well as combinations of “African American women + rhetoric/persuasion + some more specific area of focus (e.g., hip-hop, technology, history, embodiment, aesthetics, space/place, politics, a specific person(s), etc.).  Because of these wide-ranging labels, not to mention the equally diverse platforms and publication spaces in which this work lives, it can be difficult to easily locate Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship. This includes locating and acknowledging the labor of individual scholars doing this work.

What I am arguing for is to finally creating a disciplinary home for this work and those doing it—and giving it a name so that it can be recognized as its own scholarly space within the system of academia that emphasizes the compartmentalization/departmentalization of knowledge and outside of it. Put simply, there is strength in numbers and power in naming and claiming one’s own space and disciplinary home, especially within societies and institutions with histories and deeply rooted practices of erasure, omission, and silencing of women and BIPOC communities. By officially bringing Black women-centered scholarship together under one banner—one self- and group-affirming name—this subfield can continue to be interdisciplinary by drawing from, working with, and contributing to other fields and sub-fields, while also finally being recognized as its own sustainable sub-field. This naming of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” opens up the possibility of for broader recognition of this subject areas in the form of book collections, special issues, conferences, core and elective course(s) in undergraduate and graduate department curricula, a specialization for graduate students, and specifically identified area of research interest in job advertisements for the hiring of faculty.

If this is a potential course of action, and it truly is necessary for Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship to name and claim its own space, then an appropriate follow up question might be, “What shall we call it?”

In the following paragraphs, I’ll introduce two works that utilize African American/Black women’s rhetoric to name their individual scholarship. I consider how each scholar uses and presents their version of “African American/Black Women’s Rhetoric,” and how their similar choices of naming their individual work serves as representations of how we might officially name a “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” collective.

Deborah Atwater’s African American Women’s Rhetoric

Deborah Atwater’s book, African American Women’s Rhetoric: The Search for Dignity, Personhood, and Honor is a historiographical text that interrogates the lives and rhetorical practices of historical and contemporary African American women speaking, writing, and performing within their unique socio-political contexts throughout history. Atwater uses her discussion of these women’s lives, and her analysis of their rhetoric, to consider how each woman widens for herself and others “tight spaces,” or situations, circumstances, boundaries, and systems of oppression, meant to limit their abilities to be respected and treated equally as human-beings. What Atwater argues is that Black women have resisted such systemic and social barriers, widening tight spaces with their rhetoric (speeches, autobiographies, and other writings), which they have used to reimagine Black women’s ethos.

In the title of her book, Atwater clearly names her scholarship as “African American Women’s Rhetoric.” Although she does not explain what she means specifically by “African American Rhetoric,” offering no explicit breakdown of the term, it is assumed from the content of her book that focuses exclusively on African American women political activists, businesswomen, journalists, educators, and entertainers across various historical contexts—from Sara Baartman to Maria Stewart to Fannie Lou Hamer to Mary J. Blidge and so many other women in between—Atwater is interested in interrogating the stories and rhetorical practices of highly visible African American women writing, communicating, and performing within public spaces. Atwater’s “African American Women’s Rhetoric” is also interested in how Black women navigate systems of inequality such as racism and sexism, as well as negative stereotypes and perceptions of Black womanhood.

Her interpretations of African American women’s rhetoric emphasizes ethos, particularly how the women in her study, as well as how she as a researcher and teacher of this scholarship, present, represent, and describe African American women. She situates African American women’s rhetoric as an act of “widening tight spaces,” or resisting and redefining narrow and negative depictions of African American women’s realities (Atwater 141). In Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America , Melissa Harris-Perry draws from cognitive psychology to discuss the concept of the “crooked room” in relation to Black women’s navigation of racism and sexism. Harris-Perry says in regards to this concept that “[w]hen they confront race and gender stereotypes, black women are standing in a crooked room and they have to figure out which way is up. Bombarded with warped images of their humanity, some black women tilt and bend themselves to fit the distortion” (29). This concept of a “crooked room” is useful in understanding Atwater’s “African American Women’s Rhetoric” in that she closely examines the stories and actions of African American women within public discourses to consider how they manage to negotiate the “crooked rooms” each African American woman had to negotiate and navigate within their historical context to make visible the individual strategies they used to still manage to identify and present themselves respectfully, positively, and powerfully, i.e., “stand-up straight in a crooked room” (Harris-Perry 29).

Similar to Wilson Logan, Royster, and others, Atwater articulates a historical and feminist project that aims at centralizing Black women’s rhetorical choices and strategies. Atwater is engaging African American women’s rhetoric throughout history with a keen awareness of context and how it impacted Black women’s access and abilities to use rhetoric, pointing to the similarities in each rhetor’s rhetorical practices and choices despite differences. The culmination of these two lenses allows her to articulate her own defined and explicitly named space for interrogating African American women as makers and users of rhetoric. This space is centered around African American women’s actions and activism, while acknowledging the ways in which these actions served themselves, their children, Black men, and other women.

Ultimately, Atwater’s naming of her individual research as “African American Women’s Rhetoric” opens a conversation to consider what the parameters of her study are under this label, along with how it connects to similar historical rhetorical research that centers Black women. Her use of “African American Women’s Rhetoric” and how she illustrates it within her work also creates space to consider the possibilities of this kind of historically-driven work and how it might be extended or taken in new directions, as well as how it might be linked to significantly different Black women-centered rhetorical research where history and historiography are not primary methodologies.

Carmen Kynard’s BlackWomynRhetProjct

Carmen Kynard’s open, digital classroom and multi-modal pedagogical space called “Black Women’s Rhetoric Project” (or BlackWomynRhetProjct Channel on YouTube) is another phenomenal and empowering work of scholarship that explicitly named Black Women’s Rhetoric. It was composed to reach and teach undergraduate students about the rhetorical histories of Black women. It also utilizes digital platforms, including a blog space, course website, and YouTube, along with Black music, art, and oral speaking to offer an engaging and reflective space for students (and passersby observers like myself) to, as Kynard says in her blog post “Teaching Black Women’s Rhetoric: (Re)Hearing Feminist Discourses,” “re-hear black women by examining their multiple rhetorics” (n.p.).

Through the combination of both naming her course and digital space “Black Women’s Rhetoric,” and her visible and accessible presentation of Black feminist teaching and everyday practice—Kynard demonstrates how Black Women’s Rhetoric functions as a standalone subject matter and course. Her advancement of her curriculum to a social media platform (YouTube) is an example of how pedagogically we might broaden the limited representations of Black women identities and knowledges in rhetoric spaces and classrooms, as well as think critically about what this representation looks, sounds, and feels like. Kyndard’s “Black Women’s Rhetorics Project” makes space for her students within the confines of her classroom, and for the diverse audiences that engage this work, to understand how not only the written and printed texts of Black women, but also their voices, images, stories, and live performances can be recognized as rhetorical sites of inquiry and knowledge. Kynard’s description and dynamic image of “Black Women’s Rhetoric” is one that situates this discourse that has an embodied, multi-vocal, political and personal legacy that can, and must, be seen (and re-seen), heard (and re-heard), and felt (over and over again).

Name It and Claim It: Building Bridges Across a Multi-vocal Sub-field

The examples of Atwater and Kynard are two interpretations of a “Black Women’s Rhetoric.” In Atwater’s book “Black/African American Women’s Rhetoric” is a historiographical retelling on Black women public figures who navigated the constraints of their historical, social, and political position in time, and resisted negative stereotypes about Black women, to make space for themselves. They utilized their individual literacies—writing, speaking, stories, relationships, education, talent, etc.—strategically to assert and affirm their humanity, demand dignity and respect, and claim their authority as rhetorical subjects and makers of knowledge.

Similarly, Kynard’s undergraduate course—“Black Women’s Rhetoric Project”—and YouTube Channel (BlackWomynRhetProj) combine to showcase this history of Black women as rhetorical figures. Moving beyond the realms of essays, speeches, and other written texts, Kynard allows her students and other audiences to also witness through her digital platforms the creative, embodied, oral, musical, artistic, and political texts of Black women rhetors. Her representation of a Black Women’s rhetoric, like Atwater and others, is historical and allows one to map an extensive legacy of Black women’s rhetorical action and impact, yet Kynard uniquely presents this discourse as a multi-modal and poly-vocal rhetorical genre that engages all of the senses. In Kynard’s version, Black women’s rhetoric is not only a subject of study, it is an experience—something to not only learn, but live.

By closely examining these two individual pieces of scholarship that share similar names/titles, my aim is to consider how they might inform how we might name and describe a larger disciplinary community collectively called “Black Women’s Rhetoric.” The fact that these works, along with the extensive body of rhetorical scholarship that centralizes African American/Black women’s stories, literacies, languages, histories, art, music, beauty, and various texts, spaces/places, other methods of making and communicating knowledge, exist should be enough proof that this is a sub-field and there is a rhetorical genre called Black women’s rhetoric. Ultimately, I do not believe it is a matter of proving that Black women’s rhetorics exists—it clearly does—my concern is that there has yet to be an explicit, public assertion of its existence, as its own field of study, as its own disciplinary community existing outside of the realms of other sub-fields within rhetorical studies, like African American Rhetorics or feminist rhetorics.

As a counter-argument, there are understandable reasons for why this naming of “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” as a rhetorical genre and sub-field has not happened, and why there might be some resistance to such an act. Essentially, I am calling for a labeling of both a cultural and disciplinary community, and therefore, grouping individual scholars and their research within a category that they may, or may not identify with, or use to describe who they are and what they do. This is unlike the contentious relationship that Black women for decades have had with the word “feminism,” opting out of such labeling of their writings, stories, music, and other modes of expression and communication as “feminist” because of its connection to white feminism. Also, there may be some who might agree with the need to name Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship as a sub-field, but may not agree with the term “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s),” preferring another name, or multiple names to describe this discourse. For example, Atwater used “African American Women’s Rhetoric” to describe her work, while Kynard preferred “Black Women’s Rhetoric” to name hers, and there are many other variations, such as Keith Gilyard and Adam Bank’s in On African American Rhetorics use of “Rhetorics of Black Feminism” to describe the influences of Black feminist theory within African American rhetorical scholarship. This potential lack of consensus on a name is a reminder of the long-term debates over the terms Black feminism versus womanism. Finally, this call to distinguish “Black Women’s Rhetorics” as both a part of various disciplinary communities and sub-fields, but also its own unique and independent scholarly entity may be perceived by mixed audiences as separatist. This call may be drastically misunderstood as Black women-centered rhetorical scholarship severing ties with other intersecting sub-fields and disciplines, isolating itself from other cultural rhetorical spaces and people, limiting who can and cannot participate and contribute to this discourse, and strictly binding scholars and scholarship within a “Black Women’s Rhetoric” labelled box that only minimally describes the scope and academic and non-academic significance of this work.

As a Black woman researcher, teacher, and participant of this community, I understand these concerns, and the many others that this call for naming a Black women’s rhetorical genre and sub-field might pose, and respect these positions and arguments. To be clear, my intention is not to impose labels or categories on anyone or their work, or to limit the possibilities of what the name for this scholarly community might be called, or to suggest that one name is better than any other. My intentions are not to place impenetrable boundaries around “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” that would prevent it from being the inclusive, interdisciplinary, multi-functional scholarly community that it already is, or to suggest that any scholarship that might be identified as “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” cannot be recognized in all of its multiplicity and fluidity.

What I am saying is that “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” needs its own clearly identifiable seat at the rhetorical studies table. Individual scholars and teachers have built this scholarly discourse and given it many names for their own purposes, yet within mainstream and sub-fields of rhetoric there has not been a space to collectively acknowledge this rhetorical scholarship, its methods and methodologies, its scope, its implications within and outside rhetoric/academia, and—most importantly—the people (i.e., primarily Black women) producing and teaching this work.

Within our current socio-political context, it is still common practice to see Black women’s labor, contributions, and lives be erased, omitted, and forgotten (see the herstory of the Black Lives Matter Movement, #MeToo movement, and #SayHerName for real-life and real-time examples). Academics are not immune to these acts, subsuming, using, and inserting Black women and Black women’s scholarship into curriculum, syllabi, and textbooks when it is convenient, and swiftly forgetting them when they are not explicitly being called to do so. In other words, when gentle nudges at inclusion are no longer a priority. Given these realities, I believe the time for explicitly naming and identifying “Black Women’s Rhetoric” as a rhetorical genre and sub-field is now.

Towards a Black Women’s Rhetoric Framework

Although mapping out the unique tenets of a “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” as its own body of scholarship and disciplinary community cannot be properly considered within the scope of this essay, or by one person, I would like to end by offering a starting point for considering four major themes I identify as part of Black Women’s Rhetoric(s). These are shared ideas, practices, and influences that can be located across this body of scholarship, and they may be a starting point for articulating the disciplinary principles, purposes, and practices of this sub-field.

Re-centers Black Women as Rhetorical Subjects and Agents

The first theme of this rhetoric is that Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) scholarship centralizes Black women subjectivities, stories, and experiences, histories, traditions, and cultural practices, languages, literacies, and various modes of composing and communicating. Often guided by Black feminist theories, it recognizes the ways Black women have historically been pushed to the margins of society rendering Black women’s knowledge invisible. As a part of feminist historical rhetorics, it acknowledges how historical and contemporary Black women compose, speak, and perform as rhetorical agents. Similarly rooted in African rhetorical traditions, Black women’s rhetoric asserts that the everyday lives and meaning-making practices of Black people matter. In so doing, it often interrogates head-on how racism, sexism, patriarchy, and white supremacy have denied Black women equal access to human and civil rights, accurate representation, and a voice within movements and spaces meant to uplift and empower Black people and women. While calling out injustice and misrepresentation is essential to this rhetoric, action is its ultimate power, as scholars interrogate how, why, where, and by what means Black women negotiate barriers of oppression, speak-up and act up, subvert power dynamics (or flip the script), and invent new rules and standards for understanding and judging their actions.

Claims Black Women’s Lived Experience as Method and Theory

A second theme is informed by the understanding that Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) are rooted in Black women’s daily realities. This includes everyday experiences of micro-aggressions, coping with trauma including physical violence (and threats of violence), and systemic racism and sexism. Informed by Black feminist epistemologies, where lived experiences are valid points of inquiry (Collins), Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) challenges the private and public dichotomy that often situates rhetoric as an outward, visible, and public performance. Instead, rhetorical sites in Black Women’s Rhetoric are also subversive and silent acts taking place both in public spaces and places (from television, social media, film, concert arena, and political stage), as well as private spaces (the hair salon, kitchen table, home garden, living room, or amongst home girls). In other words, the everyday is a major contextual space from which Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) stems, or goes back to, affirming Black women’s ethos as authorities of their own lives, well-being, histories, and stories. Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) roots understanding in Black women’s thought processes and languages instead of imposing outside theories on Black women’s bodies and minds. Thus, Black Women’s Rhetoric recognizes that part of Black women’s struggle for freedom includes being free from stereotypes and controlling images that undermine Black women and Black womanhood on a daily basis. By engaging everyday experiences, actions, and literacies, Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) asserts and affirms both the ordinary and extraordinary of Black womanhood, girlhood, and sista-hood, while making space to theorize the past and present experiences of Black women that have the potential to positively or negatively impact Black women’s futures.

Employs All Available Means for Necessary Action

Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) is disruptive, resistant, alternative, and creative because it has to be. Although it is often subsumed under African American rhetorics, feminist rhetorics, cultural rhetorics and/or a more institutionalized disciplinary branch like rhetoric, composition and communication, African American studies, or Women and Gender Studies, Black Women’s Rhetoric has an ability to combine, appropriate, and readapt the conventions of these other fields and disciplines to interrogate the under-represented knowledges of Black women. As a disciplinary perspective of its own, it shifts subject matter within these more formalized spaces, but it also demands that the practices, methods, and structures of these spaces also shift so that Black women and other under-represented groups can claim their rightful spot at the table, or even more so, finally be acknowledged for already being there. This disruption is often enacted by any and all communicative, embodied, vocalized, non-verbal, digital, and multi-modal methods available and relevant for their particular historical moment and context. It is important to note that upon initial examination, the methods and modes of expression employed within Black Women’s Rhetorics may not be deemed “appropriate,” or aligning with scholarly decorum, according to dominant academic standards. But, for participants within this discourse fighting for freedom, respect, and equality, all means are necessary.

Multi-consciousness and Multi-voiced Meaning-making

Since it is informed by Black women’s lived experiences, Black Women’s Rhetoric is founded on an awareness that those experiences are informed by Black women’s intersecting identities, contradicting and unequal positions of power, multi-lensed ways of seeing and understanding the world, and multi-vocal ways of theorizing and communicating that understanding to others. In other words, Black Women’s Rhetorics interrogates and performs many consciousnesses and voices simultaneously, always with an understanding that the contradictions, incommensurable data, and complexities that get in the way of neatly packaged outcomes are expected. In other words, better understanding how, why, where, and for what purpose human-beings make meaning is a messy endeavor. It takes time, patience, and care (for subjects and self) to do this work that more than likely will, at some point, include discussions of historical trauma, racially and culturally-centered pain, sexism and misogyny, and distorted images of what it means to be Black and female at the same time. Multiple awareness of the truths of Black womanhood, as well as awareness of the hateful acts and reasoning for destroying those truths, are often vocalized within Black Women’s Rhetoric(s). These multi-conscious and multi-voiced representations are a part of what allows this work to speak across, and be useful to, multiple and mixed audiences.

In this essay, I have that is time for Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) to be officially named as its own rhetorical genre and sub-field of rhetorical studies.  Given its roots in Black feminist theory, it is necessary for Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) to employ practices of self-definition to collectively name and institute a disciplinary community that has been here, but has yet to be explicitly and independently acknowledged.  As illustrated through my own story, the reluctance to clearly identify Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) as its own rhetorical genre and sub-field can leave those new, or unaware of this discourse, feeling disconnected from a potential scholarly homeplace. Drawing inspiration from Atwater and Kynard who both name their individual works “African American/ Black women’s rhetoric ,” I consider how this same terminology could be used to name a collective scholarly community that centralizes Black women’s histories, communication, literacies, and other knowledges within rhetorical theory and studies. Although I acknowledge some possible concerns and hesitancies for naming this sub-field, I ultimately argue that identifying a Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) creates opportunities for advancing this scholarship, especially making it and the labor of Black women contributing and inspiring this discourse more visible within other intersecting sub-fields and the broader rhetoric field. I conclude by offering a start to a much larger conversation about potential themes that constitute a Black Women’s Rhetoric(s).

Overall, I hope that this conversation will be taken up, furthered, and complicated, especially by scholars who may or may not name or see their work as a part of a collective body of Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) scholarship, or who have differing opinions about whether such naming of a sub-field or rhetorical genre is necessary at all. I also would call those who do recognize that a Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) sub-field and scholarly community exists to either continue, or start, writing, teaching, publishing, presenting in ways that make this scholarly space visible.

In all cases, my purpose is to spark dialogue as I speak from the position of a Black woman scholar who does rhetorical work. In my own academic journey, locating Black women rhetorical scholars and Black women rhetorics scholarship was not readily available to me within institutional spaces, which made locating my voice as a member of this field even more difficult and complicated. I found myself wandering through rhetorical studies, and similar fields of study, looking for voices that sounded like my own and research that engaged subject matter relevant to my own growth and freedom as a Black woman. Because Black women’s experiences and Black women scholars still remain under-represented on college syllabi and curriculum pages, the opportunities to locate a field called “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” is oftentimes the tedious efforts of those who may not have a name, or a map pointing them to this academic space, but who rely on their instincts, intuition, and faith that if they call out—Black women will answer.

  • In this essay, I will primarily use the term Black Women’s Rhetoric(s) to name both a genre of rhetorical studies and a disciplinary community, or subfield of rhetorical studies, that centralizes Black women rhetorical subjects, histories, discourse communities, spaces/places, languages and literacies. My reasoning for using “Black Women,” as opposed to African American women is twofold. First, I am aligning my naming practices with Wilson Logans word choices cited on the previous page. Wilson Logan did not want to explicitly name a “black women’s rhetoric” at the time, but I aim to claim this identification while honoring a major influencer to my argument in this essay. Secondly, by choosing “Black Women’s Rhetoric(s)” my intention is to use an inclusive term that does not limit this rhetorical perspective to the experiences. This scholarly discourse includes African American women, as well as all women of African descent. “Black Woman” is meant to refer to all women across the African Diaspora and rhetoric(s) is meant to acknowledge all of our culturally and ethnically diverse ways of understanding and doing rhetoric.     -return to text
  • These are indirect references to well-known Black women’s rhetorical scholarship, including Elaine Richardson’s CCC article “To Protect and Serve: African American Female Literacies,” Gwendolyn Pough ’s iconic book Check It, While I Wreck It: Black Womanhood, Hip-Hop Culture, and the Public Sphere , and the collaborative digital and print work of Brittany Cooper, Susana Morris, and Robin Boylorn in The Crunk Feminist Collective .     -return to text

Works Cited

  • Atwater, Deborah. African American Women’s Rhetoric: The Search for Dignity, Personhood, and Honor . Lexington Books, 2009.     -return to text
  • Collins, Patricia. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment . Routledge, 2000.     – return to text
  • Cooper, Brittany, Susana Morris, and Robin Boylorn. The Crunk Feminist Collective . Feminist Press, 2017.      -return to text
  • Etter-Lewis, Gwendolyn. “Standing Up and Speaking Out: African American Women’s Narrative Legacy.” Discourse & Society , vol. 2, no. 4, 1991, pp. 425-437.     -return to text
  • Gilyard, Keith and Adam Banks. On African American Rhetoric . Routledge, 2018.     -return to text
  • Harris-Perry, Melissa. Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America . Yale University Press, 2011.     -return to text
  • hooks, bell. Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural politics . South End Press, 1999.     -return to text
  • Kynard, Carmen. An Open, Digital Classroom on Gender, Intersectionality & Black Women’s Rhetorics . Web. http://www.blackwomenrhetproject.com/black-womens-rhetorics.html     -return to text
  • Kynard, Carmen. BlackWomynRhetProjct . YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSEjUiSEJlu7Xtw0xHIicLw?feature=emb_ch_name_ex     -return to text
  • Kynard, Carmen. “Teaching Black Women’s Rhetoric: (Re)Hearing Feminist Discourse.” Web. http://carmenkynard.org/teaching-black-womens-rhetoric-digitally     -return to text
  • Lorde, Audre. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde . Crossing Press, 2007.     -return to text
  • Pough, Gwendolyn. Check It While I Wreck It: Black Womanhood, Hip-Hop Culture, and the Public Sphere . Northeastern University Press, 2004.     -return to text
  • Richardson, Elaine. “To Protect and Serve: African American Female Literacies.” College Composition and Communication , vol. 53, no.4, 2002, pp.675-704.     -return to text
  • Royster, Jacqueline. “Disciplinary landscaping, or Contemporary Challenges in the History of Rhetoric.” Philosophy & Rhetoric , vol.36, no. 2, 2003, pp. 148-167.     -return to text
  • Royster, Jacqueline. Traces of a Stream: Literacy and Social Change Among African American Women . University of Pittsburgh Press, 2000.     -return to text
  • Smitherman, Geneva. Talkin and Testifyin: The Language of Black America . Wayne State University Press, 1986.     -return to text
  • Smitherman, Geneva. Word From the Mother: Language and African Americans . Routledge, 2006.     -return to text
  • Troutman, Denise. “Attitude and Its Situatedness in Linguistic Politeness” Poznań Studies in Contemporary Linguistics , vol. 46, no. 1, 2010, pp. 85-109.    -return to text
  • Walker, Alice. In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose . Harcourt Books, 1983.     -return to text
  • Wilson Logan, Shirley. We Are Coming: The Persuasive Discourse of Nineteenth Century Black Women . SIU Press, 1999.     -return to text

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International Socialist Review

Black feminism and intersectionality

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“Although we are in essential agreement with Marx’s theory as it applied to the very specific economic relationships he analyzed, we know that his analysis must be extended further in order for us to understand our specific economic situation as Black women.” —the Combahee River Collective Statement, 1977 1

“The concept of the simultaneity of oppression is still the crux of a Black feminist understanding of political reality and, I believe, one of the most significant ideological contributions of Black feminist thought.” —Black feminist and scholar Barbara Smith, 1983 2

Black legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in her insightful 1989 essay, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics.” 3 The concept of intersectionality is not an abstract notion but a description of the way multiple oppressions are experienced. Indeed, Crenshaw uses the following analogy, referring to a traffic intersection, or crossroad, to concretize the concept:

Consider an analogy to traffic in an intersection, coming and going in all four directions. Discrimination, like traffic through an intersection, may flow in one direction, and it may flow in another. If an accident happens in an intersection, it can be caused by cars traveling from any number of directions and, sometimes, from all of them. Similarly, if a Black woman is harmed because she is in an intersection, her injury could result from sex discrimination or race discrimination. . . . But it is not always easy to reconstruct an accident: Sometimes the skid marks and the injuries simply indicate that they occurred simultaneously, frustrating efforts to determine which driver caused the harm. 4

Crenshaw argues that Black women are discriminated against in ways that often do not fit neatly within the legal categories of either “racism” or “ sexism”—but as a combination of both racism and sexism. Yet the legal system has generally defined sexism as based upon an unspoken reference to the injustices confronted by all (including white) women, while defining racism to refer to those faced by all (including male) Blacks and other people of color. This framework frequently renders Black women legally “invisible” and without legal recourse.

Crenshaw describes several employment discrimination-based lawsuits to illustrate how Black women’s complaints often fall between the cracks precisely because they are discriminated against both as women and as Blacks. The ruling in one such case, DeGraffenreid v. General Motors , filed by five Black women in 1976, demonstrates this point vividly. 

The General Motors Corporation had never hired a Black woman for its workforce before 1964—the year the Civil Rights Act passed through Congress. All of the Black women hired after 1970 lost their jobs fairly quickly, however, in mass layoffs during the 1973–75 recession. Such a sweeping loss of jobs among Black women led the plaintiffs to argue that seniority-based layoffs, guided by the principle “last hired-first fired,” discriminated against Black women workers at General Motors, extending past discriminatory practices by the company.

Yet the court refused to allow the plaintiffs to combine sex-based and race-based discrimination into a single category of discrimination:

The plaintiffs allege that they are suing on behalf of black women, and that therefore this lawsuit attempts to combine two causes of action into a new special sub-category, namely, a combination of racial and sex-based discrimination…. The plaintiffs are clearly entitled to a remedy if they have been discriminated against. However, they should not be allowed to combine statutory remedies to create a new “super-remedy” which would give them relief beyond what the drafters of the relevant statutes intended. Thus, this lawsuit must be examined to see if it states a cause of action for race discrimination, sex discrimination, or alternatively either, but not a combination of both. 5

In its decision, the court soundly rejected the creation of “a new classification of ‘black women’ who would have greater standing than, for example, a black male. The prospect of the creation of new classes of protected minorities, governed only by the mathematical principles of permutation and combination, clearly raises the prospect of opening the hackneyed Pandora’s box.” 6

Crenshaw observes of this ruling that “providing legal relief only when Black women show that their claims are based on race or on sex is analogous to calling an ambulance for the victim only after the driver responsible for the injuries is identified.” 7

“Ain’t we women?” After Crenshaw introduced the term intersectionality in 1989, it was widely adopted because it managed to encompass in a single word the simultaneous experience of the multiple oppressions faced by Black women. But the concept was not a new one. Since the times of slavery, Black women have eloquently described the multiple oppressions of race, class, and gender—referring to this concept as “interlocking oppressions,” “simultaneous oppressions,” “double jeopardy,” “triple jeopardy” or any number of descriptive terms. 8  

Like most other Black feminists, Crenshaw emphasizes the importance of Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech delivered to the 1851 Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio:

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I could have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman? 9

Truth’s words vividly contrast the character of oppression faced by white and Black women. While white middle-class women have traditionally been treated as delicate and overly emotional—destined to subordinate themselves to white men—Black women have been denigrated and subject to the racist abuse that is a foundational element of US society. Yet, as Crenshaw notes, “When Sojourner Truth rose to speak, many white women urged that she be silenced, fearing that she would divert attention from women’s suffrage to emancipation,” invoking a clear illustration of the degree of racism within the suffrage movement. 10

Crenshaw draws a parallel between Truth’s experience with the white suffrage movement and Black women’s experience with modern feminism, arguing, “When feminist theory and politics that claim to reflect women’s experiences and women’s aspirations do not include or speak to Black women, Black women must ask, “Ain’t we women?” 

Intersectionality as a synthesis of oppressions Thus, Crenshaw’s political aims reach further than addressing flaws in the legal system. She argues that Black women are frequently absent from analyses of either gender oppression or racism, since the former focuses primarily on the experiences of white women and the latter on Black men.  She seeks to challenge both feminist and antiracist theory and practice that neglect to “accurately reflect the interaction of race and gender,” arguing that “because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.” 11  

Crenshaw argues that a key aspect of intersectionality lies in its recognition that multiple oppressions are not each suffered separately but rather as a single, synthesized experience. This has enormous significance at the very practical level of movement building. 

In Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment , published in 1990, Black feminist Patricia Hill Collins extends and updates the social contradictions raised by Sojourner Truth, while crediting collective struggles waged historically with establishing a “collective wisdom” among Black women:

If women are allegedly passive and fragile, then why are Black women treated as “mules” and assigned heavy cleaning chores? If good mothers are supposed to stay at home with their children, then why are US Black women on public assistance forced to find jobs and leave their children in day care? If women’s highest calling is to become mothers, then why are Black teen mothers pressured to use Norplant and Depo Provera? In the absence of a viable Black feminism that investigates how intersecting oppressions of race, gender, and class foster these contradictions, the angle of vision created by being deemed devalued workers and failed mothers could easily be turned inward, leading to internalized oppression. But the legacy of struggle among US Black women suggests that a collectively shared Black women’s oppositional knowledge has long existed. This collective wisdom in turn has spurred US Black women to generate a more specialized knowledge, namely, Black feminist thought as critical social theory. 12

Like Crenshaw, Collins uses the concept of intersectionality to analyze how “oppressions [such as ‘race and gender’ or ‘sexuality and nation’] work together in producing injustice.” But Collins adds the concept “matrix of dominations” to this formulation: “In contrast, the matrix of dominations refers to how these intersecting oppressions are actually organized. Regardless of the particular intersections involved, structural, disciplinary, hegemonic, and interpersonal domains of power reappear across quite different forms of oppression.” 13

Elsewhere, Collins acknowledges the crucial component of social class among Black women in shaping political perceptions. In “The Contours of an Afrocentric Feminist Epistemology,” she argues that “[w]hile a Black woman’s standpoint and its accompanying epistemology stem from Black women’s consciousness of race and gender oppression, they are not simply the result of combining Afrocentric and female values— standpoints are rooted in real material conditions structured by social class. ” 14 [Emphasis added.]

Fighting sexism in a profoundly racist society Because of the historic role of slavery and racial segregation in the United States, the development of a unified women’s movement requires recognizing the manifold implications of this continuing racial divide. While all women are oppressed as women, no movement can claim to speak for all women unless it speaks for women who also face the consequences of racism—which place women of color disproportionately in the ranks of the working class and the poor. Race and class therefore must be central to the project of women’s liberation if it is to be meaningful to those women who are most oppressed by the system.

Indeed, one of the key weaknesses of the predominantly white US feminist movement has been its lack of attention to racism, with enormous repercussions. Failure to confront racism ends up reproducing the racist status quo.

The widely accepted narrative of the modern feminist movement is that it initially involved white women beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, who were later joined by women of color following in their footsteps. But this narrative is factually incorrect. 

Decades before the rise of the modern women’s liberation movement, Black women were organizing against their systematic rape at the hands of white racist men. Women civil rights activists, including Rosa Parks, were part of a vocal grassroots movement to defend Black women subject to racist sexual assaults—in an intersection of oppression unique to Black women historically in the United States.

Danielle L. McGuire, author of At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance—A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power 15 argues that

throughout the twentieth century…Black women regularly denounced their sexual misuse. By deploying their voices as weapons in the wars against white supremacy, whether in the church, the courtroom, or in congressional hearings, African American women loudly resisted what Martin Luther King, Jr., called the “thingification” of their humanity. Decades before radical feminists in the women’s movement urged rape survivors to “speak out,” African American women’s public protests galvanized local, national, and even international outrage and sparked larger campaigns for racial justice and human dignity. 16

The invention of the Black “matriarchy” In the 1960s, the contrast between white middle-class and Black women’s oppression could not have been more obvious. The same “experts” who prescribed a life of happy homemaking for white suburban women, as documented in Betty Friedan’s enormously popular The Feminine Mystique , reprimanded Black women for their failure to conform to this model. 17 Because Black mothers have traditionally worked outside the home in much larger numbers than their white counterparts, they were blamed for a range of social ills on the basis of their relative economic independence.

Socialist-feminist Stephanie Coontz describes “Freudians and social scientists” who “insisted that Black men had been doubly emasculated—first by slavery and later by the economic independence of their women.” Many in the African-American media also accepted this analysis. A 1960 Ebony magazine article stated plainly that the traditional independence of the Black woman meant that she was “more in conflict with her innate biological role than the white woman.” 18  

This theme emerged full throttle in 1965, when the US Department of Labor issued a report entitled, “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action.” The report, authored by future Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, describes a “Black matriarchy” at the center of a “tangle of pathology” afflicting Black families, leading to a cycle of poverty. “A fundamental fact of Negro American family life is the often reversed roles of husband and wife,” in which Black women consistently earn more than their men, argues Moynihan.

The report states, “In essence, the Negro community has been forced into a matriarchal structure which, because it is so out of line with the rest of the American society, seriously retards the progress of the group as a whole.” The report explains why this is the case:

There is, presumably, no special reason why a society in which males are dominant in family relationships is to be preferred to a matriarchal arrangement. However, it is clearly a disadvantage for a minority group to be operating on one principle, while the great majority of the population, and the one with the most advantages to begin with, is operating on another. This is the present situation of the Negro. Ours is a society which presumes male leadership in private and public affairs. The arrangements of society facilitate such leadership and reward it. A subculture, such as that of the Negro American, in which this is not the pattern, is placed at a distinct disadvantage. 19  

This example demonstrates why gender discrimination cannot be effectively understood without factoring in the role of racism. And Black feminists since that time have made a priority of examining the interlocking relationship between gender, race, and class that many white feminists tended to ignore at the time. In so doing, they demonstrated that women of color are not merely “doubly oppressed” by both sexism and racism. Black women’s experience of sexism is shaped equally by racism and class inequality and is therefore different in certain respects from the experience of white, middle-class women.

“Two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal” The 1950s and1960s was also a period of intensive racial polarization in the United States, as the massive Civil Rights Movement struggled to end both Jim Crow segregation throughout the South and de facto racial segregation in the North. Interracial marriage was still banned in sixteen states in 1967 when the Supreme Court finally ruled such bans unconstitutional in the Loving v. Virginia decision.

Urban rebellions swept the country in the mid- to late-sixties, touched off by police brutality and other forms of racial discrimination in poverty-stricken Black ghettoes. In 1967, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, also known as the Kerner Commission, was established to investigate the root causes of urban rebellions. In 1968, the Commission issued a report that included scathing indictment of racism and segregation in US society. The report concludes:  

Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.… Segregation and poverty have created in the racial ghetto a destructive environment totally unknown to most white Americans. What white Americans have never fully understood but what the Negro can never forget—is that white society is deeply implicated in the ghetto. White institutions created it, white institutions maintain it, and white society condones it. 20

The Kerner Commission emphasized that much of the problem was rooted in “[p]ervasive discrimination and segregation in employment, education and housing, which have resulted in the continuing exclusion of great numbers of Negroes from the benefits of economic progress.” The Commission concluded that the degree of housing segregation was such that “to create an unsegregated population distribution, an average of over 86 percent of all Negroes would have to change their place of residence within the city.” 21  

In response to the extreme degree of racism and sexism they faced in the 1960s, Black women and other women of color began organizing against their oppression, forming a multitude of organizations. In 1968, for example, Black women from the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) formed the Third World Women’s Alliance. In 1973, a group of notable Black feminists, including Florynce Kennedy, Alice Walker, and Barbara Smith, formed the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO). In 1974, Barbara Smith joined with a group of other Black lesbian feminists to found the Boston-based Combahee River Collective as a self-consciously radical alternative to the NBFO. The Combahee River Collective was named to commemorate the successful Underground Railroad Combahee River Raid of 1863, planned and led by Harriet Tubman, which freed 750 slaves. 

The Combahee River Collective’s defining statement, issued in 1977, described its vision for Black feminism as opposing all forms of oppression—including sexuality, gender identity, class, disability, and age oppression—later embedded in the concept of intersectionality.

The most general statement of our politics at the present time would be that we are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression, and see as our particular task the development of integrated analysis and practice based upon the fact that the major systems of oppression are interlocking. The synthesis of these oppressions creates the conditions of our lives. As Black women we see Black feminism as the logical political movement to combat the manifold and simultaneous oppressions that all women of color face. 22  

They added, “We know that there is such a thing as racial-sexual oppression which is neither solely racial nor solely sexual, e.g., the history of rape of Black women by white men as a weapon of political repression.” 23

The consequences of ignoring class and racial differences between women As noted above, Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique , published in 1963, gave voice to the anguish of white middle-class homemakers who were trapped in their suburban homes, doomed to lives revolving around fulfilling their families’ every need. The book immediately struck a chord with millions of women who desperately sought to escape the stultifying world of household drudgery. 

Friedan’s book, however, ignored the importance of the very real class and racial differences that exist between women. She made a conscious decision to target this particular audience of white middle-class women. As Coontz notes, “[T]he content of The Feminine Mystique and the marketing strategy that Friedan and her publishers devised for it ignored Black women’s positive examples of Friedan’s argument.” Friedan surely knew better. She had traveled in left-wing labor circles during the 1930s and 1940s but decided in the mid-1950s (at the height of the anticommunist witch hunts of the McCarthy era) to reinvent herself as an apolitical suburban wife. 24  

Few Black women or working-class women of any race would have been able to afford Friedan’s proposal that women hire domestic workers to perform their daily household chores while they were at work. Thus, “Black women who did read the book seldom responded as enthusiastically as did her white readers.” 25

Friedan praises those stay-at-home moms who had shown the courage to break from their traditional roles to seek well-paying careers, writing sympathetically that these women “had problems of course, tough ones—juggling their pregnancies, finding nurses and housekeepers, having to give up good assignments when their husbands were transferred.” 31 Yet she doesn’t deem it worthy to comment on the lives of the nursemaids and the housekeepers these career women hire, who also work all day but then return home to face housework and child care responsibilities of their own.

Soon after The Feminine Mystique was published, left-wing civil rights activist and women’s historian Gerda Lerner wrote to Friedan, praising the book but also expressing “one reservation:” Friedan had addressed the book “solely to the problems of middle class, college-educated women.” Lerner notes that “working women, especially Negro women, labor not only under the disadvantages imposed by the feminine mystique, but under the more pressing disadvantages of economic discrimination.” 26  

It is also worth noting that Friedan introduces a profoundly anti-gay theme in The Feminine Mystique that would reverberate in her organizing efforts into the 1970s. She argues that “the homosexuality that is spreading like a murky smog over the American scene” has its roots in the feminine mystique, which can produce “the kind of mother-son devotion that can produce latent or overt homosexuality…. The boy smothered by such parasitical mother-love is kept from growing up, not only sexually, but in all ways.” 27  

Reproducing the myth of the Black rapist But racism was not limited to the more conservative wing of the women’s movement. Susan Brownmiller, author of Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape , published in 1975, describes the root of women’s oppression in the crudest of biological terms, based on men’s physical ability to rape: “When men discovered that they could rape, they proceeded to do it…. Man’s discovery that his genitalia could serve as a weapon to generate fear must rank as one of the most important discoveries of prehistoric times, along with the use of fire and the first crude stone axe. From prehistoric times to the present, I believe, rape has played a critical function.” On this basis, Brownmiller concludes that men use rape to enforce their power over women: “[I]t is nothing more and nothing less than a conscious process by which all men keep all women in a state of fear.” 28

This theoretical framework, based purely on the supposed biological differences between men and women, allowed Brownmiller to justify reactionary assumptions in the name of combating women’s oppression. She reaches openly racist conclusions in her account of the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. Fourteen-year-old Till, visiting family in Jim Crow Mississippi that summer, committed the “crime” of whistling at a married white woman named Carolyn Bryant, in a teenage prank. Till was tortured and shot before his young body was dumped in the Tallahatchie River.

Despite Till’s lynching, Brownmiller describes Till and his killer as sharing power over a “white woman,” using stereotypes that Black activist and scholar Angela Davis called “the resuscitation of the old racist myth of the Black rapist.” 29 

Brownmiller’s own words illustrate Davis’s insight:

Rarely has one single case exposed so clearly as Till’s the underlying group male antagonisms over access to women, for what began in Bryant’s store should not be misconstrued as an innocent flirtation…. Emmett Till was going to show his black buddies that he, and by inference, they could get a white woman and Carolyn Bryant was the nearest convenient object. In concrete terms, the accessibility of all white women was on review. 30 

Brownmiller also wrote, 

And what of the wolf whistle, Till’s ‘gesture of adolescent bravado?’… The whistle was no small tweet of hubba-hubba or melodious approval for a well turned ankle…. It was a deliberate insult just short of physical assault, a last reminder to Carolyn Bryant that this black boy, Till, had in mind to possess her. 31

The acclaimed novelist, poet, and activist Alice Walker responded in the New York Times Book Review in 1975, “Emmett Till was not a rapist. He was not even a man. He was a child who did not understand that whistling at a white woman could cost him his life.” 32 Davis described the contradictions inherent in Brownmiller’s analysis of rape: “In choosing to take sides with white women, regardless of the circumstances, Brownmiller herself capitulates to racism. Her failure to alert white women about the urgency of combining a fierce challenge to racism with the necessary battle against sexism is an important plus for the forces of racism today.” 33

In 1976, Time magazine named Susan Brownmiller one of its “women of the year,” praising her book as “the most rigorous and provocative piece of scholarship that has yet emerged from the feminist movement.” 34 The objections to Brownmiller’s overtly racist standpoint from accomplished Black women such as Davis and Walker went largely unnoticed by the political mainstream. 

Fighting sexism and racism in the 1970s It must be acknowledged that many women of color who identified as feminists in the 1970s and 1980s were strongly critical of mainstream feminism’s refusal to challenge racism and other forms of oppression. Barbara Smith, for example, argued for the inclusion of all the oppressed in a 1979 speech, in a clear challenge to white, middle-class, heterosexual feminists:

The reason racism is a feminist issue is easily explained by the inherent definition of feminism. Feminism is the political theory and practice to free all women: women of color, working-class women, poor women, physically challenged women, lesbians, old women, as well as white economically privileged heterosexual women. Anything less than this is not feminism, but merely female self-aggrandizement . 35

But during the 1960s and 1970s, many Black women and other women of color also felt sidelined and alienated by the lack of attention to women’s liberation inside nationalist and other antiracist movements. The Combahee River Collective, for example, was made up of women who were veterans of the Black Panther Party and other antiracist organizations. In this political context, Black feminists established a tradition that rejects prioritizing women’s oppression over racism, and vice versa. This tradition assumes the connection between racism and poverty in capitalist society, thereby rejecting middle-class strategies for women’s liberation that disregard the centrality of class in poor and working-class women’s lives. 

Black feminists such as Angela Davis contested the theory and practice of white feminists who failed to address the centrality of racism. Davis’s groundbreaking book, Women, Race and Class , for example, examines the history of Black women in the United States from a Marxist perspective beginning with the system of slavery and continuing through to modern capitalism. Her book also examines the ways in which the issues of reproductive rights and rape, in particular, represent profoundly different experiences for Black and white women because of racism. Each of these is examined below.

• Reproductive rights and racist sterilization abuse Mainstream feminists of the 1960s and 1970s regarded the issue of reproductive rights as exclusively the winning of legal abortion, without acknowledging the racist policies that have historically prevented women of color from bearing and raising as many children as they wanted. 

Davis argues that the history of the birth control movement and its racist sterilization programs necessarily make the issue of reproductive rights far more complicated for Black women and other women of color, who have historically been the targets of this abuse. Davis traces the path of twentieth-century birth-control pioneer Margaret Sanger from her early days as a socialist to her conversion to the eugenics movement, an openly racist approach to population control based on the slogan, “[More] children from the fit, less from the unfit.” 

Those “unfit” to bear children, according to the eugenicists, included the mentally and physically disabled, prisoners, and the non-white poor. As Davis noted, “By 1932, the Eugenics Society could boast that at least twenty-six states had passed compulsory sterilization laws, and that thousands of ‘unfit’ persons had been surgically prevented from reproducing.” 

In launching the “Negro Project” in 1939, Sanger’s American Birth Control League argued, “[T]he mass of Negroes, particularly in the South, still breed carelessly and disastrously.” In a personal letter, Sanger confided, “We do not want word to get out that we want to exterminate the Negro population and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to their more rebellious members.” 36

Racist population-control policies left large numbers of Black women, Latinas, and Native American women sterilized against their will or without their knowledge. In 1974, an Alabama court found that between 100,000 and 150,000 poor Black teenagers were sterilized each year in Alabama. 

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed an epidemic of sterilization abuse and other forms of coercion aimed at Black, Native American, and Latina women—alongside a sharp rise in struggles against this mistreatment. A 1970s study showed that 25 percent of Native American women had been sterilized, and that Black and Latina married women had been sterilized in much greater proportions than married women in the population at large. By 1968, one-third of women of childbearing age in Puerto Rico—still a US colony—had been permanently sterilized. 37  

Yet mainstream white feminists not only ignored these struggles but also added to the problem. Many embraced the goals of population control with all its racist implications as an ostensibly “liberal” cause.

In 1972, for example, a time when Native Americans and other women of color were struggling against coercive adoption policies that targeted their communities, Ms. Magazine asked its predominantly white and middle-class readership, “‘What do you do if you’re a conscientious citizen, concerned about the population explosion and ecological problems, love children, want to see what one of your own would look like, and want more than one?’ Ms. offered as a solution: ‘Have One, Adopt One.’” 38 The children on offer for adoption were overwhelmingly Native American, Black, Latino, and Asian.

To be sure, the legalization of abortion in the US Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision was of paramount importance to all women and the direct result of grassroots struggle. Because of both the economic and social consequences of racism, the lives of Black women, Latinas, and other women of color were most at risk when abortion was illegal. Before abortion was made legal in New York City in 1970, for example, Black women made up 50 percent of all women who died after an illegal abortion, while Puerto Rican women were 44 percent. 39  

The legalization of abortion in 1973 is usually regarded as the most important success of the modern women’s movement. That victory however was accompanied at the end of that decade by the far less heralded but equally important victories against sterilization abuse, the result of grassroots struggles waged primarily by women of color. In 1978, the federal government conceded to demands by Native American, Black, and Latina activists by finally establishing regulations for sterilization. These included required waiting periods and authorization forms in the same language spoken by the woman agreeing to be sterilized. 40

Davis notes that women of color “were far more familiar than their white sisters with the murderously clumsy scalpels of inept abortionists seeking profit in illegality,” 41 yet were virtually absent from abortion rights campaigns. She concludes, “[T]he abortion rights activists of the early 1970s should have examined the history of their movement. Had they done so, they might have understood why so many of their Black sisters adopted a posture of suspicion toward their cause.” 42

• The racial component of rape Rape is one of the most damaging manifestations of women’s oppression the world over. But rape also has had a toxic racial component in the United States since the time of slavery, as a key weapon in maintaining the system of white supremacy. Davis argues that rape is “an essential dimension of the social relations between slave master and slave,” involving the routine rape of Black slave women by their white masters. 43  

She describes rape as “a weapon of domination, a weapon of repression, whose covert goal was to extinguish slave women’s will to resist and, in the process, to demoralize their men.” 44 The institutionalized rape of Black women survived the abolition of slavery and took on its modern form: “Group rape, perpetuated by the Ku Klux Klan and other terrorist organizations of the post–Civil War period, became an uncamouflaged political weapon in the drive to thwart the movement for Black equality.” 45

Black Marxist-feminist Gloria Joseph makes the following insightful observation of the shared experience of racism among Black women and men: “The slave experience for Blacks in the United States made an ironic contribution to male-female equality. Laboring in the fields or in the homes, men and women were equally dehumanized and brutalized.” In modern society, she concludes, “The rape of Black women and the lynching and castration of Black men are equally heinous in their nature.” 46

The caricature of the virtuous white Southern belle under constant prey by Black male rapists had its opposite in the promiscuous Black woman seeking the sexual attention of white men. As Davis argues, “The fictional image of the Black man as rapist has always strengthened its inseparable companion: the image of the Black woman as chronically promiscuous…. Viewed as ‘loose women’ and whores, Black women’s cries of rape would necessarily lack legitimacy.” 47 As Lerner likewise describes, “The myth of the Black rapist of white women is the twin of the myth of the bad Black woman—both designed to apologize for and facilitate the continued exploitation of Black men and women.” 48

Brownmiller was not alone in failing to challenge racist assumptions about rape, with the consequence of reproducing them. Davis strongly criticizes 1970s-era white feminists for neglecting to integrate an analysis of racism with the theory and practice of combating rape: “During the contemporary anti-rape movement, few feminist theorists seriously analyzed the special circumstances surrounding the Black woman as rape victim. The historical knot binding Black women—systematically abused and violated by white men—to Black men—maimed and murdered because of the racist manipulation of the rape charge—has just begun to be acknowledged to any significant extent.” 49

Left-wing Black feminism as a politics of inclusion This article has attempted to show how Black feminists since the time of slavery have developed a distinct political tradition based upon a systematic analysis of the interlocking oppressions of race, gender, and class. Since the 1970s, Black feminists and other feminists of color in the United States have built upon this analysis and developed an approach that provides a strategy for combating all forms of oppression within a common struggle.  

Black feminists—along with Latinas and other women of color—of the 1960s era, who were critical of both the predominantly white feminist movement for its racism and of nationalist and other antiracist movements for their sexism, often formed separate organizations that could address the particular oppressions they faced. And when they rightfully asserted the racial and class differences between women, they did so because these differences were largely ignored and neglected by much of the women’s movement at that time, thereby rendering Black women and other women of color invisible in theory and in practice. 

The end goal was not, however, permanent racial separation for most left-wing Black and other feminists of color, as it has come to be understood since. Barbara Smith conceived of an inclusive approach to combat multiple oppressions, beginning with coalition building around particular struggles. As she observed in 1983, “The most progressive sectors of the women’s movement, including radical white women, have taken [issues of racism], and many more, quite seriously.” 50 Asian American feminist Merle Woo argues explicitly: “Today…I feel even more deeply hurt when I realize how many people, how so many people, because of racism and sexism, fail to see what power we sacrifice by not joining hands.” But, she adds, “not all white women are racist, and not all Asian-American men are sexist. And there are visible changes. Real, tangible, positive changes.” 51

The aim of intersectionality within the Black feminist tradition has been toward building a stronger movement for women’s liberation that represents the interests of all women. Barbara Smith described her own vision of feminism in 1984: “I have often wished I could spread the word that a movement committed to fighting sexual, racial, economic and heterosexist oppression, not to mention one which opposes imperialism, anti-Semitism, the oppressions visited upon the physically disabled, the old and the young, at the same time that it challenges militarism and imminent nuclear destruction is the very opposite of narrow.” 52

This approach to fighting oppression does not merely complement but also strengthens Marxist theory and practice—which seeks to unite not only all those who are exploited but also all those who are oppressed by capitalism into a single movement that fights for the liberation of all humanity. The Black feminist approach described above enhances Lenin’s famous phrase from What is to be Done? : “Working-class consciousness cannot be genuine political consciousness unless the workers are trained to respond to all  cases of tyranny, oppression, violence, and abuse, no matter  what class  is affected—unless they are trained, moreover, to respond from a Social-Democratic point of view and no other.” 53

The Combahee River Collective, which was perhaps the most self-consciously left-wing organization of Black feminists in the 1970s, acknowledged its adherence to socialism and anti-imperialism, while rightfully also arguing for greater attention to oppression: 

We realize that the liberation of all oppressed peoples necessitates the destruction of the political-economic systems of capitalism and imperialism as well as patriarchy. We are socialists because we believe that work must be organized for the collective benefit of those who do the work and create the products, and not for the profit of the bosses. Material resources must be equally distributed among those who create these resources. We are not convinced, however, that a socialist revolution that is not also a feminist and anti-racist revolution will guarantee our liberation…. Although we are in essential agreement with Marx’s theory as it applied to the very specific economic relationships he analyzed, we know that his analysis must be extended further in order for us to understand our specific economic situation as Black women. 54

At the same time, intersectionality cannot replace Marxism—and Black feminists have never attempted to do so. Intersectionality is a concept for understanding oppression, not exploitation. Even the commonly used term “classism” describes an aspect of class oppression—snobbery and elitism—not exploitation. Most Black feminists acknowledge the systemic roots of racism and sexism but place far less emphasis than Marxists on the connection between the system of exploitation and oppression. 

Marxism is necessary because it provides a framework for understanding the relationship between oppression and exploitation (i.e., oppression as a byproduct of the system of class exploitation), and also identifies the strategy for creating the material and social conditions that will make it possible to end both oppression and exploitation. Marxism’s critics have disparaged this framework as an aspect of Marx’s “economic reductionism.” 

But, as Marxist-feminist Martha Gimenez responds, “To argue, then, that class is fundamental is not to ‘reduce’ gender or racial oppression to class, but to acknowledge that the underlying basic and ‘nameless’ power at the root of what happens in social interactions grounded in ‘intersectionality’ is class power.” 55 The working class holds the potential to lead a struggle in the interests of all those who suffer injustice and oppression. This is because both exploitation and oppression are rooted in capitalism. Exploitation is the method by which the ruling class robs workers of surplus value; the various forms of oppression play a primary role in maintaining the rule of a tiny minority over the vast majority. In each case, the enemy is one and the same.

The class struggle helps to educate workers—sometimes very rapidly—challenging reactionary ideas and prejudices that keep workers divided. When workers go on strike, confronting capital and its agents of repression (the police), the class nature of society becomes suddenly clarified. Racist, sexist, or homophobic ideas cultivated over a lifetime can disappear within a matter of days in a mass strike wave. The sight of hundreds of police lined up to protect the boss’s property or to usher in a bunch of scabs speaks volumes about the class nature of the state within capitalism.

The process of struggle also exposes another truth hidden beneath layers of ruling-class ideology: as the producers of the goods and services that keep capitalism running, workers have the ability to shut down the system through a mass strike. And workers not only have the power to shut down the system, but also to replace it with a socialist society, based upon collective ownership of the means of production. Although other groups in society suffer oppression, only the working class possesses this objective power.

These are the basic reasons why Marx argues that capitalism created its own gravediggers in the working class. But when Marx defines the working class as the agent for revolutionary change, he is describing its historical potential, rather than a foregone conclusion. This is the key to understanding Lenin’s words, cited above. The whole Leninist conception of the vanguard party rests on understanding that a battle of ideas must be fought inside the working class movement. A section of workers won to a socialist alternative and organized into a revolutionary party, can win other workers away from ruling-class ideologies and provide an alternative worldview. For Lenin, the notion of political consciousness entails workers’ willingness to champion the interests of all the oppressed in society, as an integral part of the struggle for socialism.

As an additive to Marxist theory, intersectionality leads the way toward a much higher level of understanding of the character of oppression than that developed by classical Marxists, enabling the further development of the ways in which solidarity can be built between all those who suffer oppression and exploitation under capitalism to forge a unified movement.

  • The Combahee River Collective, April 1977. Quoted, for example, in Beverly Guy-Sheftall, ed., Words of Fire: An Anthology of African-American Feminist Thought (New York: The New Press, 1995), 235. The statement is available online at www. circuitous.org/scraps/combahee.html .
  • Barbara Smith, ed., Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2000), xxxiv.
  • Kimberlé Crenshaw, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics,” University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989, 139–67.
  • Ibid., 149.
  • Crenshaw, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex,” 142.
  • Ibid., 143.
  • See, for example, Guy-Sheftall, Words of Fire .
  • Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?” Women’s Convention, Akron, Ohio, May 28-29, 1851. Quoted in Crenshaw, 153.
  • Ibid., 140.
  • Patricia Hill Collins, Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment , second edition (New York: Routledge, 2001), 11–12.
  • Quoted in Guy-Sheftall, Words of Fire , 345.
  • Danielle L. McGuire, At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance—A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power (New York: Random House, 2010).
  • Ibid., xix–xx.
  • Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique (New York: W.W. Norton, 1964).
  • Stephanie Coontz, A Strange Stirring: The Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the 1960s  (Basic Books, 2011), 124.
  • Office of Planning and Research, US Department of Labor, “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action, (March 1965).” Available online at www.dol.gov/asp/programs/history/webid-m... .
  • Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (New York: Bantam Books, 1968), 1–29. Available online at www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/docs/kerner... .
  • Combahee River Collective Statement.
  • Coontz, A Strange Stirring , 140.
  • Ibid., 126.
  • Ibid., 101.
  • Friedan, The Feminine Mystique , 263–64.
  • Susan Brownmiller, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape (New York: Ballantine, 1993), 14–15.
  • Angela Y. Davis, Women, Race, and Class (New York: Vintage, 1983), 178.
  • Brownmiller, Against Our Will , 272.
  • Ibid., 247.
  • Alice Walker quoted in D.H. Melhem, Gwendolyn Brooks: Poetry and the Heroic Voice (Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky, 1987), 249.
  • Davis, Women, Race, and Class , 188–89.
  • Ibid., 178.
  • Quoted in Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa, eds., This Bridge Called my Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (New York: Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1983), 61.
  • Davis, Women, Race & Class , 213–15.
  • Rickie Solinger, ed., Abortion Wars: A Half Century of Struggle, 1950–2000 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998), 132; Committee for Abortion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse (CARASA) and Susan E. Davis, ed., Women Under Attack (Boston: South End Press, 1988), 28.
  • Quoted in Meg Devlin O’Sullivan, “‘We Worry About Survival’: American Indian Women, Sovereignty, and the Right to Bear and Raise Children in the 1970s,” Dissertation, (Chapel Hill: 2007). Available online at www. cdr.lib.unc.edu/indexablecontent?id=uuid:7a462a63-5185-4140-8f3f-ad094b75f04d&ds=DATA_FILE . 
  • Guardian (US), April 12, 1989, 7.
  • Jael Silliman, Marlene Gerber Fried, et al., Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice (Cambridge: South End Press, 2004), 10.
  • Davis, 204.
  • Ibid., 215.
  • Ibid., 175.
  • Ibid., 176.
  • Lydia Sargent, ed,  Women and Revolution: A Discussion of the Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism  (Cambridge, Mass.: South End Press, 1981), 94.
  • Davis, 182.
  • Quoted in Davis, 174.
  • Ibid., 173.
  • Smith, op cit., xxxi.
  • Moraga and Anzaldúa, The Bridge Called My Back , 146.
  • Smith, Home Girls , 257–58.
  • Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, “What Is To Be Done? Burning Questions of our Movement,” Lenin’s Collected Works Vol. 5 (Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1973), 412. Available online at www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1901/witbd/iii.htm .
  • Combahee River Collective.
  • Martha Gimenez, “Marxism and Class, Gender and Race: Rethinking the Trilogy,” Race, Gender & Class (2001: Vol. 8, No. 2), 22–33. Available online at www.colorado.edu/Sociology/gimenez/work/cgr.html .

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black feminism essay topics

"A sense of hope and the possibility for solidarity"

Sapronov and the russian revolution, standing up to the zionist backlash against bds, legacies of colonialism in africa, austerity, neoliberalism,
and the indian working class, disability and the soviet union: advances and retreats, the critical communism of antonio labriola, austerity, neoliberalism, and the indian working class, the legacy of louis althusser, "a sense of hope and the possibility of solidarity", islamic fundamentalism, the arab spring, and the left, knocking down straw figures, have the democrats evolved, giving voice to the syrian revolution, from “waste people”
to “white trash”, defending our right to criticize israel.

WeAreMany.org

Global Feminisms Project

Black Feminisms Lesson Plan

Creator: Marisol Fila Duration: 2 class periods Published : Summer 2021

In this lesson, students will draw from the analysis of primary and secondary sources to discuss the unique features of Black feminisms. Students will analyze and discuss interviews with Black feminist women from four different countries in connection with secondary sources. Students will be able to identify common understandings among them,  the relation between personal and political identities in Black feminisms, and shared elements with mainstream or dominant feminisms.

Keywords : Race, Class, Gender, Identity, African Diaspora, Intersectionality Country sites:  Brazil , Nicaragua , Germany , USA

Learning Objectives

  • Use prior knowledge to conceptualize the topic of Black feminisms
  • Analyze primary and secondary sources to identify common understandings and differences among Black feminists
  • Summarize findings to identify the unique features of Black feminisms.
  • Identify shared elements with mainstream or dominant feminisms.
  • Develop reasoning abilities and recognize causal relationships by reflecting on how one’s own thinking has changed through the study of the topic.

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291 Feminism Topics

Much has been written about feminism, yet there always are good feminism essay topics and issues to debate about. Here, we invite you to delve into this movement advocating for gender equality, women’s rights, and the dismantling of patriarchal norms. With our feminist topics, you can encompass a wide range of perspectives and theories that challenge systemic discrimination and promote social change.

380 Powerful Women’s Rights & Feminism Topics [2024]

Are you looking for perfect feminist topics? Then you’ve come to the right place. With our help, you can be sure to craft a great essay. Here, you can find feminist topics for discussion, feminism research topics and other ideas and questions for students.

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Some people think all feminists hate men. It couldn’t be further from the truth! Feminists are people of all genders who believe that they are socially and politically equal. Thanks to their achievements, women’s rights around the world are progressing.

If you want to contribute to the discussion, this article has what you need. Here, our custom writing experts compiled:

  • Creative feminism topics for your paper,
  • Tips to help you pick the perfect topic.

Let’s dive right in!

🔝 Top 10 Feminism Essay Topics

  • ✅ How to Choose a Topic

⚖️ Top 10 Women’s Rights Essay Topics

🔬 top 10 feminism research topics.

  • 📜 Women’s Rights History Topics
  • 💪👩 Feminism Topics
  • 📚 Feminist Theory
  • 👩‍💻 Women Empowerment
  • 👩‍🎓 Women’s Studies
  • 🏥 Abortion Topics
  • 🙅‍♀️ Domestic Violence

🔍 References

  • The 4 waves of feminism
  • Liberal vs. radical feminism
  • What is feminist psychology?
  • Feminist views on trans rights
  • Why ecofeminism is important
  • How has feminism changed culture?
  • Feminism interactions with socialism
  • The effects of liberal feminism on the society
  • Civil rights movement’s influence on feminism
  • The main proponents of feminist standpoint theory

✅ How to Choose a Feminism Topic

Picking the right topic is a crucial first step for any assignment. Check out these tips for a little starting help:

  • Formulate your topic as a question , such as “What makes Alice Schwarzer a controversial feminist figure?” This trick will help you clearly determine what your essay will be about.
  • Compile a keyword list . Once you have a general idea of what you want to work on, think of related words and phrases. For example, if our area of interest is “ Feminism in America , ” some of our keywords might be women’s suffrage movement , Fifteenth Amendment, birth control . You can use them to outline your research.
  • A concept map can be a helpful brainstorming tool to organize your ideas. Put your area of interest (for instance, women empowerment ) in a circle in the middle. Write all related concepts around it, and connect them with lines.
  • Stay clear from overused themes . Writing on popular subjects might be tempting. But can you offer a unique perspective on the issue? Choose such topics only if your answer is “yes.”
  • Make sure there is enough information available . Sure, an essay on the role of women in 17th century Tongan culture sounds exciting. Unfortunately, finding good sources on this topic might prove difficult. You can refer to subjects of this kind if you’re researching a thesis or a dissertation.

Now you’re ready to find your perfect topic. Keep reading and let one of our exciting suggestions inspire you.

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  • Gender bias in driving
  • Girls’ education in Afghanistan
  • Women’s political rights in Syria
  • Women’s land ownership rights
  • Overincarceration of women in the US
  • Resettlement of women refugees: risks
  • Abortion rights in conservative countries
  • Reproductive rights and HIV among women
  • Honor killings as women’s rights violation
  • Access to cervical cancer prevention for women of color
  • Gender equity vs. gender equality
  • Adverse effects of child marriage
  • #Metoo movement’s impact on society
  • Environmental crisis as a feminist issue
  • The importance of women’s education
  • Is gender equality a social justice issue?
  • Why is teen pregnancy dangerous?
  • How can gender biases be lessened?
  • Ethics of artificial reproductive technologies
  • Legacy of women’s suffrage movement

📜 History of Women’s Rights Topics

The history of women’s rights in America is long and full of struggles. The US is still far from having achieved complete equality. And in many developing countries, the situation is even worse. If you’re interested in the feminist movements and activists who paved the way thus far, this section is for you.

  • The role of women in the first American settlements.
  • Why weren’t women allowed to serve in combat positions in the US army until 2013?
  • What happened at the Seneca Falls Convention?
  • Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Women’s Suffrage in America.
  • Discuss the impact of Sojourner Truth’s Ain’t I a Woman? speech.
  • Explore gender equality in 20th century Britain.
  • Trace the timeline of events that led to the 19th amendment.
  • Why was the invention of the pill a milestone in the fight for equal rights ?
  • The legacy of Amelia Earhart.
  • What was The Bitch Manifesto ?
  • Outline the history of women in American politics .
  • The role of women in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • How did the Comstock Laws affect the struggle for women’s rights?
  • How did Ruth Bader Ginsburg fight against gender discrimination in the US?
  • In what ways did the introduction of Islamic law improve women’s rights in Arabia?
  • Artemisia Gentileschi: forerunner of feminism.
  • In 2016, the first female president was nominated by a major US party. Why did it take so long?
  • Explore the origins of witch trials in Europe.
  • What did Molly Dewson achieve?
  • The history of women’s rights in Russia vs. England.
  • How did WWI influence the fight for equal rights ?
  • What were the goals of the Women’s Trade Union League?
  • The effects of the Equal Pay Act.

Cheris Kramarae quote.

  • Study the connection between women’s health and rights throughout history. 
  • When did women receive the right to own property in America? Why was it important? 
  • Debate the role of women in history of theater.  
  • In the past, Russia was one of the first European countries to introduce women’s suffrage . In 2016, it decriminalized domestic violence. What led to this change? 
  • Women in the workforce: the long road towards workplace equality . 
  • Minna Canth: the history of women’s rights activism in Finland. 
  • Who were “The Famous Five”? 
  • Why was Japan quicker to enact equality laws than its European counterparts? 
  • The role and visibility of women writers in the 19th century. 
  • What problems did the National Organization for Women face? 
  • Discuss the foundation and impact of the Redstockings. Did they reflect the general attitude of women towards liberation at the time? 
  • Who or what was responsible for the failure of the ERA ? 
  • The role of women in Ancient Greek communities.  
  • Alice Paul and the Silent Sentinels: how did they contribute to establishing the right to vote for women? 
  • Why was Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique critical to the progress of feminism in the 20th century? 
  • The presidential candidacy of Victoria Woodhull. 
  • What was the purpose of the Hull House? How did it advance women’s rights? 
  • Why did Elizabeth Cady Stanton oppose the Fifteenth Amendment? 
  • Lucy Stone’s influence on the abolitionist and women’s rights movements . 
  • Discuss the significance of literature for the success of the suffragist movement in America. 
  • Slavery: compare women’s and men’s narratives.  
  • How Frances Ellen Watkins Harper’s speeches and poetry changed the world. 
  • Emmeline Pankhurst as the central figure of the UK’s suffragette movement. 
  • Why did it take so long for suffragette movements around the globe to gain traction? 
  • From a historical perspective, why weren’t women’s rights the same as human rights? 
  • Trace the development of women liberation in Morocco. 
  • Investigate the founding of women’s day. 

👩👍 Feminism Topics to Research

Feminism is a global phenomenon. That’s why it’s not surprising that the term has many definitions. What to consider sexism? What can we do about it? How important is the concept of gender? Those are central questions feminists around the world seek to answer. Feminism’s areas of study include politics, sociology, and economics.

  • Compare feminist issues on a global scale.
  • What distinguishes radical feminists from liberal ones?
  • Black feminism: is it a separate movement?
  • When does “being a gentleman” become sexist?
  • Is feminism always anti-racist?
  • What do we need gender concepts for?
  • Feminism oppression in Islamic countries.
  • How do gender stereotypes form in children?
  • Why are societies around the globe still struggling to achieve full equality?
  • The effects of gender-oriented politics.
  • Can men be feminists? (Consider Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists )
  • How did the patriarchy develop?
  • Would a matriarchal society be more peaceful than a patriarchal one? Draw your conclusions from real-life examples.
  • Compare and contrast Judith Butler and Alice Schwarzer.
  • Effectiveness of provocative methods in feminism.
  • What’s the problem with unisex bathrooms in restaurants and bars?
  • Discuss the prejudice transgender people face. What should we do about it?
  • Why are reproductive rights a crucial issue on the way to equality?
  • Describe various types of feminism.
  • How can hairstyle function as a political statement?
  • Which feminist movements are most prevalent in Asia?
  • Trace the history of feminist ethics.
  • What’s the “pink tax,” and why should it be abolished?
  • Discuss Audre Lorde’s feminism.
  • How does feminist research methodology influence education?
  • Sexism in advertising : why is it still a problem?
  • What are the goals of Girls Who Code?
  • The role of literacy politics in achieving gender equality .
  • Stay at home moms: are they a step back on the feminist agenda?
  • Explore the origins of color-coding pink and blue as girl and boy colors, respectively.
  • Are beauty pageants harmful to women’s positive body image?
  • The problem of ableism in intersectional feminist movements.
  • What is identity politics , and why is it important?
  • New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, recently introduced her new cabinet. Of the 20 people who serve in it, eight are women, five Maori, three belong to the minority Pasifika, and three are queer. Is it what all future cabinets should strive for?
  • What makes racism a feminist issue?
  • Describe how objectification works and why it is harmful.
  • A history of women inventors who didn’t get credit for their innovations.
  • Female circumcision as an example of women’s oppression disguised as a cultural tradition.
  • The infantilization of women: origins and effects.

Infantilization of women.

  • Define how feminism influences science.
  • How does one avoid gender bias when raising a child?
  • What popular ideas about feminism are myths?
  • Gender inequality in politics of India and Iran .
  • What is the definition of ecofeminism? Describe its merits.
  • How do men benefit from feminism?
  • Why do we need gender equality in language?
  • Problems of reconciling religion and the LGBTQ community.
  • More and more fitness clubs introduce “women’s hours.” Some bars are only open for women. They claim to do this to create safe spaces. What’s your position on this development?
  • Anti-feminism: is it a movement for the far-right?
  • The impact of #metoo on work culture.

📚 Feminist Theory Topics to Look Into

Feminist theory criticizes how culture perpetuates misogyny. The best way to look at it is to divide feminism into three waves:

  • First-wave feminism (the late 1700s – early 1900s). It includes the women’s suffrage movement.
  • Second-wave feminism (the 1960s – ’70s.) Key points are equal working conditions and feminist political activism.
  • Third-wave feminism (1990s – today). It encompasses not only women but all marginalized groups.

Take a look at culture from a feminist perspective with our topics:

  • Discuss the concept of feminism in Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy.
  • Explain the success of Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women.
  • What inequalities between men and women does Mary Wollstonecraft mention in A Vindication of the Rights of Women ?
  • Masculinity and femininity in William Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage.
  • An existentialist view: how Simone de Beauvoir influenced the feminist discourse.
  • The role of women in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah.
  • Discuss the power dynamics between men and women in the Terminator series.
  • How does rap music perpetuate traditional concepts of masculinity ?
  • Daisy’s character in The Great Gatsby through a feminist lens.
  • Write about the depiction of women and the patriarchy in Mad Men.
  • What distinguishes the third wave of feminism from the other two?
  • Women’s history and media in Susan Douglas’ Where the Girls Are .
  • What is the goal of gynocriticism?
  • Possibilities of sisterhood in Hulu’s TV show A Handmaid’s Tale .
  • Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar : where does Esther Greenwood see her place in society?
  • Early feminist perspectives in Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
  • Compare and contrast how the characters in Mulan react to the protagonist as a woman vs. a man.
  • Life stages of women in Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma .
  • Why were feminists unhappy about Prado’s exhibition Uninvited Guests ?
  • Sexuality and society in Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire .
  • Gender expectations in The Little Mermaid .
  • Feminist concepts and issues in Netflix’s Thirteen Reasons Why .
  • Challenging traditional femininity: independence and rebellion in Thelma and Louise.
  • The target audience of Mad Max: Fury Road is stated as male. Yet, the central character of the film Furiosa is a strong rebel woman. Does this make it a feminist movie?
  • Persepolis : what it means to grow up as a liberal woman in Iran.
  • Blockbuster movies have an enormous reach. Does it obligate them to support feminist issues?
  • Marjorie Liu’s Monstress : what does it tell us about feminism?
  • The Berlin Film Festival announced that they would no longer crown the best actor and actress. Instead, they honor the best performance in either a leading or supporting role. What are the consequences of this?
  • What does it mean to criticize an art piece from a feminist point of view?
  • Compare and contrast the portrayal of female characters in horror genre throughout the years.
  • Analyze Donna Haraway’s A Cyborg Manifesto . Why does the author use the cyborg metaphor? What arguments does it help bring across?
  • How do black women characters in Toni Morrison’s novels experience society?
  • What makes various awards an important instrument of feminism?
  • Analyze Katniss Everdeen archetype in Hunger Games.
  • Many classic children’s stories include outdated depictions of women and people of color. Because of this, some people are demanding to ban or censor them. Do you think this is the right way to tackle the problem?
  • What does the term “male gaze” mean, and why is it a problem?
  • The role of the body in feminist aesthetics.
  • Discuss the impact of women philosophers on renowned male scholars of their time.
  • What distinguishes feminist art from other art forms?
  • Debate the political dimension of using women in body art.
  • Does the message in Lemonade make Beyoncé a feminist icon?
  • Why are misogynist song lyrics still widely accepted?
  • How did Aretha Franklin’s music impact the Civil Rights Movement in America?
  • Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray from a queer theoretical perspective.
  • Objectification in film: analyzing Rachel’s character in The Dark Knight.
  • Investigate the Star Wars’ representation problem. How did the franchise develop into a battleground for diversity?
  • Misogynist vs. psycho: feminist aspects of David Fincher’s Gone Girl.
  • Was the diversity in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse a good thing?
  • The cultural significance of strong female characters.
  • Examine the concept of femininity in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.

👩‍💻 Women Empowerment Topics to Write About

Women were excluded from crucial work areas such as the military and politics for a long time. This situation is changing now. Empowerment programs encourage women to seek professions in typically male-dominated areas. Do you want to research ways of increasing women’s control over their choices? Check out the following topics:

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  • Joan of Arc as a leadership idol.
  • The role of She Should Run in encouraging women to run for political positions.
  • What should we do about higher education barriers for African American women?
  • Examine current trends in female empowerment .
  • Importance of the women’s empowerment principles.

Virginia Woolf quote.

  • How can businesses use the Gender Gap Analysis Tool to promote equality in their companies?
  • Why is there such a big gap between committing to advancing equality and corporate efforts to implement women’s empowerment programs?
  • What business practices need to change so that men and women benefit from work programs equally?
  • Analyse the reasons behind poor body image among young women.
  • How does the transition from cash to digital payrolls help empower women in developing countries?
  • What challenges do large companies face when it comes to gender equality ?
  • How does making fashion a circular economy impact women?
  • Discuss what everyone can do to empower the women in their community.
  • Why is it important to demand fair pay?
  • The impact of Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine.
  • What does it mean to be empowered?
  • The influence of climate change on gender equality.
  • Women in leadership positions: the rhetoric and the reality.
  • Social stigma and family planning: the work of HER project in Kenya.
  • CARE: why providing women with access to clean water is crucial for empowerment.
  • How do you teach a girl that she can make a difference?
  • Achievements of the global Women Deliver Conferences.
  • How does Pro-Mujer help underprivileged women in Latin America?
  • Why is workplace health a particular concern for women empowerment?
  • What can businesses do to bridge the financial inclusion gender gap?
  • Debate how strengthening women’s social position helps fight discrimination against all kinds of marginalized groups.
  • Analyze the various benefits of women empowerment.
  • Fighting gender stereotypes in the 21st century.
  • The connection between a lack of women in politics and missing programs to support marginalized groups.
  • What are patriarchal taboos that keep women from seeking power?
  • How can a gender perspective on resilience activities assist businesses in finding ways to combat climate change?
  • What methods does the #WithHer movement use to raise awareness of violence against women?
  • The Spotlight Initiative: training sex workers to escape violence in Haiti.
  • Define the gender digital divide.
  • What’s the problem with the female gendering of AI assistants?
  • Criticize the Gender Empowerment Measure.
  • What role does the internet play in empowering girls?
  • Compare the Gender Parity Index in the US and South Africa.
  • How is Every Mother Counts working to decrease deaths related to pregnancies?
  • Debate the reliability of the Gender Development Index.
  • Child Marriage : the impact of Girls Not Brides.
  • What are the political and social constraints that hamper women’s empowerment in Nigeria?
  • How can you encourage women to give public speeches ?
  • How does e-learning help women worldwide gain independence?
  • Explore the influence of the women’s rights movement on anti-descrimination activities.
  • Challenges of women business in Mauritius.
  • Labibah Hashim as an inspirational figure for women empowerment in Lebanon.
  • How did Malaka Saad’s magazine al-Jens al-Latif inspire women to educate themselves in the Arab world?
  • The development of sexual harassment policies in East Africa.
  • How does microfinance in South America help women to start businesses?

👩‍🎓 Interesting Women’s Studies Topics for an Essay

Women’s or gender studies is an interdisciplinary science. It combines research from many fields, such as economics, psychology, and the natural sciences. Key aspects are women’s experiences and cultural as well as social constructs surrounding gender.

  • What is velvet rope discrimination?
  • The IT sphere is comparatively modern. Why does it still have such a gender gap problem?
  • Is paid maternity/ paternity leave a fundamental right for workers?
  • How do we break the glass ceiling in today’s society?
  • Discussing social taboos: postnatal depression.
  • Women in religion: why shouldn’t women be priestesses?
  • The queer of color critique: history and theory.
  • Should feminists be against supporting care policies?
  • Does foreign aid benefit women entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa?
  • Gender bias in criminal justice.
  • What does legalized prostitution mean for sex workers?
  • Does “stealthing” make otherwise consensual sex nonconsensual? Should this practice have legal consequences?
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks : a gendered analysis.
  • Rojava: give an overview of the egalitarian feminist society.
  • The role of women in modern nation-building processes.
  • How do we include transgender athletes into sex-segregated competitive sports?
  • Discuss the significance of gender in the euthanasia debate .
  • Chivalry and capital punishment : why are women who commit murders less likely to be sentenced to death?
  • Why do men have less confidence in women’s abilities than in men’s?
  • Are hijabs always a symbol of oppression?
  • Write about the role of feminism in international relations.
  • Universal basic income: changing perspectives for women.
  • Gamergate: what does it tell us about some men’s view on the video game industry?
  • Discuss the social construction of gender roles.
  • What is benevolent sexism, and why is it a problem?
  • The military seems to be especially notorious when it comes to discriminating against LGBT people. Where might this originate from?
  • Many army officers don’t hide that they don’t want women to serve. Why do women still do it? Why should they?
  • The Eurovision Song Contest gave drag queen Conchita Wurst an enormous audience. How did she use this opportunity?
  • Why are men who wear typically female clothing stigmatized?
  • How have The Guerilla Girls shaped the art world in the past 30 years?
  • Healthcare: what challenges do transgender patients face?
  • Femme invisibility: discrimination inside the LGBT community.
  • How did the idea develop that gay men and lesbians have to act and look a certain way to be considered queer?
  • The history of sodomy laws in the US.
  • “The Squad” as an example of the current success of left-wing women in politics.
  • Should women use their attractiveness to get what they want?
  • Are the careers of women scientists more affected by turmoil than those of their male counterparts?

Some of the most important female scientists.

  • Do children’s toys restrict gender criteria?
  • Many drugs are only tested on male subjects. How does this affect women?
  • Enumerate some qualities that are seen as positive in men and negative in women. Why do you think this happens?
  • Discuss the significance of the “Transgender Tipping Point.”
  • The meaning of “home” and home spaces for women over the centuries.
  • How do gender issues influence lawmaking?
  • Analyze queer narratives from post-soviet states. How do gender norms in these countries differ from those in your community?
  • Transgender representation in media: views of Viviane Namaste and Julia Serano.
  • Nuclear power between politics and culture: a feminist perspective.
  • Women guards in national socialist concentration camps.
  • What reasons do women have for sex tourism ?
  • The problem of eurocentrism in European education.
  • Explore the connection between citizenship and race.

🏥 Abortion Topics to Research

For some, abortion is a fundamental healthcare right. Others view it as a criminal act. Many conservative governments continue to restrict the access to this procedure. Because of this discrepancy, abortion remains a fiercely debated topic all around the globe. Consider one of these thought-provoking ideas:

  • Why was Roe v. Wade such a landmark decision?
  • Discuss why some CEOs step up against abortion bans .
  • Abortion in transgender and intersex people.
  • From a biological point of view, when does life begin?
  • What signs should indicate that it is too late to terminate the pregnancy?
  • Who influenced the abortion debate before Roe v. Wade?
  • Is abortion morally wrong? If so, does that mean it’s always impermissible?
  • Under what circumstances is terminating a life justified?
  • Who or what defines if a being has the right to life or not?
  • Analyse the access to abortion clinics as a policy issue.
  • Reproductive rights and medical access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • People terminate pregnancies, whether it’s illegal or not. Why would one still outlaw abortions?
  • Investigate the occurrence of forced abortions during China’s one-child policy .
  • Is the fetus’ right to life more important than the mother’s right to have control over her body?
  • What rights are more essential than the right to life?
  • Discuss women’s health as their integral right.
  • Should there be restrictions on abortions?
  • Can better access to contraceptives reduce the number of abortions?
  • At what point does a fetus become a human being?
  • Is selective abortion ethical?
  • Germany’s paragraph 219a prohibits the display of information on abortion services. In 2019, the government decided to revise it, and now patients can consult a list provided by the department for health education. Is this compromise enough?
  • What is the moral status of a human embryo?
  • Should pregnancy terminations be free for low-income women?
  • Is the criminalization of abortion discrimination?
  • The social and psychological impact of pregnancy terminations on families.
  • Should the man have a say in whether the woman has an abortion or not?
  • What non-religious persuasive arguments against abortion are there?
  • Are there good and bad reasons for ending a pregnancy?
  • Should it be required for teenagers to have their parents’ consent for the abortion procedure?
  • Examine the arguments of pro-life movement.
  • Analyze how the public’s attitude towards abortion has changed over the past 50 years.
  • Is withholding access to abortions a violation of human rights?
  • After week-long strikes, the Polish government has delayed its proposed abortion ban. Is this a victory for the local feminist movement?
  • Compare and contrast the various legal abortion methods.
  • Analyze A Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson.
  • How is abortion viewed in Eastern vs. Western countries?
  • Describe potential health issues surrounding late-term pregnancy terminations.
  • How can we prevent unsafe abortions ?
  • What complications can occur during the abortion process?
  • Debate the impact of the March for Life.
  • Discuss whether women should have an abortion if diagnostics show fetal abnirmalities.
  • What does Planned Parenthood do, and why is the organization important?
  • Should Helms Amendment be repealed?
  • How does the Hyde Amendment impact women of color in particular?
  • Is forcing a woman to carry out an undesired pregnancy morally permissible?
  • Mexican newspaper coverage on issues surrounding abortions.
  • What are the possible health consequences of an abortion?
  • Reproductive justice and women of color: the history of SisterSong.
  • Compare organizations that offer information on abortions.
  • How is the topic of abortion approached in Jason Reitman’s film Juno ?

🙅‍♀️ Domestic Violence Topics for a Paper

Domestic violence comes in many shapes, and it’s not always directed against women. It traumatizes not only the victim but the whole family. The long-term impacts on the victims are catastrophic, too. If you want to write a research paper on this topic, be sure to steel yourself before starting your reading.

  • How did the COVID-19 lockdowns influence domestic violence cases?
  • Domestic violence in closed religious communities.
  • Does the type of abuse differ if the perpetrator is a man or a woman?
  • Compare the problem of spousal abuse in the US, Asia, and Africa.
  • Why do many victims choose not to report their cases of domestic violence?
  • From a psychological perspective, why does domestic violence happen?
  • Domestic violence prevention : the role of parental communication.
  • Should a person with a history of abuse have custody over their child?
  • Why are men more likely to resort to violence than women?
  • Identify risk factors that can lead to elder abuse.
  • Trace how the frequency of reports on domestic violence has changed in your community over the past 30 years.

Domestic abuse is characterized by the following pattern.

  • Why do some victims choose to stay with their abusive partners?
  • What actions would you classify as domestic abuse?
  • Domestic violence and feminism in Bell Hooks’ theory.
  • Cultural perspectives on domestic violence : Saudi Arabia vs. Japan.
  • What do different religions say about IPV ?
  • If a victim kills its abuser to escape the violence, what legal consequences should they face?
  • Examine the legislature of different states concerning marital rape .
  • The social and legal concept of consent in marriage.
  • Domestic violence and integrity among women of color.
  • Abuse in teenage relationships.
  • Common psychological characteristics of a person who commits parricide.
  • Effects of emotional neglect on a child’s mental development .
  • Discuss the effectiveness of art therapy for victims of domestic violence.
  • The significance of Oregon v. Rideout.
  • Explore the link between spousal and animal abuse.
  • What is the Battered Woman Syndrome?
  • Analyze different forms of domestic violence using case studies.
  • Study the psychology behind victim blaming.
  • How do mental illnesses and domestic violence affect each other?
  • What are the signs of coercive control? How can one get out of it?
  • The problem of control in gay relationships.
  • How does one develop Stockholm Syndrome, and what does it entail?
  • Analyze the discourse surrounding domestic violence in Hong Kong.
  • The pseudo-family as a sociological concept.
  • Compare cases of domestic violence in military and religious families.
  • What is compassionate homicide, and how does the law deal with it?
  • If a juvenile delinquent was abused as a child, should that lessen their sentence?
  • Parental abduction: why do parents feel the need to kidnap their children?
  • Domestic violence: new solutions.
  • Is one sibling bullying the other a form of domestic abuse?
  • How do communities typically respond to domestic violence ?
  • Explore the link between women’s suicide and abuse.
  • What can healthcare specialists do to identify victims of violence more effectively?
  • What are the economic and social consequences of leaving an abusive relationship ?
  • How does Netflix’s show You portray the relationship between a stalker and his victim?
  • Treatment of perpetrators of domestic violence .
  • Why do some people repeatedly end up in relationships with IPV ?
  • What are the main motives for femicides ?
  • Discuss the psychological aggression men and women suffer during separation processes.

With all these great ideas in mind, you’re ready to ace your assignment. Good luck!

Further reading:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

  • 560 Unique Controversial Topics & Tips for a Great Essay
  • 480 Sociology Questions & Topics with Bonus Tips
  • 182 Free Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
  • A List of 450 Powerful Social Issues Essay Topics
  • 147 Social Studies Topics for Your Research Project
  • 255 Unique Essay Topics for College Students [Update]
  • 229 Good Dissertation Topics and Thesis Ideas for Ph.D. & Masters
  • 150 Argumentative Research Paper Topics [Upd.]
  • Feminism: Encyclopedia Britannica
  • Picking a Topic: University of Michigan-Flint
  • Women’s History Milestones: History.com
  • Women Rising: Women’s Activism That Has Shaped the World as You Know It: UN Women
  • Topics in Feminism: The University of Sydney
  • Four Waves of Feminism: Pacific University
  • Feminist Philosophy: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Women’s Empowerment: BSR
  • Women Empowerment: United Nations Populations Fund
  • Women’s & Gender Studies Research Network: SSRN
  • Gender Studies: UCLA
  • Key Facts on Abortion: Amnesty.org
  • Abortion Ethics: NIH
  • New Perspectives on Domestic Violence: Frontiers
  • Domestic Violence against Women: Mayo Clinic
  • What Is Domestic Abuse?: United Nations
  • Feminist Research: SAGE Publications Inc
  • Topic Guide: Feminism: Broward College
  • Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment: UN Women
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277 Feminism Topics & Women’s Rights Essay Topics

18 January 2024

last updated

Feminism topics encompass a comprehensive range of themes centered on advocating for gender equality. These themes critically address the social, political, and economic injustices primarily faced by females, aiming to dismantle patriarchal norms. Feminism topics may span from intersectional feminism, which underscores the diverse experiences of women across various intersections of race, class, and sexuality, to reproductive rights that advocate for women’s bodily autonomy and healthcare accessibility. They also involve the examination of workplace discrimination through concepts, such as the gender wage gap and the glass ceiling. Violence against women, including work and domestic abuse, sexual assault, and harassment, is a hot aspect, providing many discussions. In turn, one may explore the representation of women in media, politics, and STEM fields. Explorations of gender roles, gender identity, and the significance of male feminism are integral parts of these discussions. As society continues to evolve, feminism topics persistently adapt to confront and address emerging forms of gender inequality.

Best Feminism & Women’s Rights Topics

  • Achievements of Women in Politics: A Global Perspective
  • Emphasizing Gender Equality in the 21st-Century Workplace
  • Evolving Representation of Women in Media
  • Fight for Women’s Voting Rights: The Historical Analysis
  • Intersectionality: Examining its Role in Feminism
  • Unpacking Feminism in Third-World Countries
  • Dissecting Misogyny in Classical Literature
  • Influence of Religion on Women’s Rights Worldwide
  • Unveiling Bias in STEM Fields: Female Experiences
  • Gender Pay Gap: Global Comparisons and Solutions
  • Probing the Historical Evolution of Feminism
  • Reshaping Beauty Standards Through Feminist Discourse
  • Importance of Reproductive Rights in Women’s Health
  • Exploring Women’s Role in Environmental Activism
  • Glass Ceiling Phenomenon: Women in Corporate Leadership
  • Trans Women’s Struggles in Feminist Movements
  • Empowering Girls: The Role of Education
  • Intersection of Race, Class, and Feminism
  • Effects of Feminism on Modern Art
  • Impacts of Social Media on Women’s Rights Movements
  • Deconstructing Patriarchy in Traditional Societies
  • Single Mothers’ Challenges: A Feminist Perspective
  • Dynamics of Feminism in Post-Colonial Societies
  • Queer Women’s Struggles for Recognition and Rights
  • Women’s Contributions to Scientific Discovery: An Underrated History
  • Cybersecurity: Ensuring Women’s Safety in the Digital Age
  • Exploring the Misrepresentation of Feminism in Popular Culture
  • Repositioning Sexuality: The Role of Feminism in Health Discourse
  • Women’s Economic Empowerment: The Impact of Microfinance
  • Investigating Sexism in Video Gaming Industry
  • Female Leadership During Global Crises: Case Studies

Feminism Topics & Women’s Rights Essay Topics

Easy Feminism & Women’s Rights Topics

  • Power of Women’s Protest: A Historical Study
  • Feminist Movements’ Role in Shaping Public Policy
  • Body Autonomy: A Key Aspect of Feminist Ideology
  • Cyber Feminism: Women’s Rights in Digital Spaces
  • Violence Against Women: International Legal Measures
  • Feminist Pedagogy: Its Impact on Education
  • Depiction of Women in Graphic Novels: A Feminist Lens
  • Comparing Western and Eastern Feminist Movements
  • Men’s Roles in Supporting Feminist Movements
  • Impacts of Feminism on Marriage Institutions
  • Rural Women’s Rights: Challenges and Progress
  • Understanding Feminist Waves: From First to Fourth
  • Inclusion of Women in Peace Negotiation Processes
  • Influence of Feminism on Modern Advertising
  • Indigenous Women’s Movements and Rights
  • Reclaiming Public Spaces: Women’s Safety Concerns
  • Roles of Feminist Literature in Social Change
  • Women in Sports: Overcoming Stereotypes and Bias
  • Feminism in the Context of Refugee Rights
  • Media’s Roles in Shaping Feminist Narratives
  • Women’s Rights in Prisons: An Overlooked Issue
  • Motherhood Myths: A Feminist Examination
  • Subverting the Male Gaze in Film and Television
  • Feminist Critique of Traditional Masculinity Norms
  • Rise of Female Entrepreneurship: A Feminist View
  • Young Feminists: Shaping the Future of Women’s Rights

Interesting Feminism & Women’s Rights Topics

  • Roles of Feminism in Promoting Mental Health Awareness
  • Aging and Women’s Rights: An Overlooked Dimension
  • Feminist Perspectives on Climate Change Impacts
  • Women’s Rights in Military Service: Progress and Challenges
  • Achieving Gender Parity in Academic Publishing
  • Feminist Jurisprudence: Its Impact on Legal Structures
  • Masculinity in Crisis: Understanding the Feminist Perspective
  • Fashion Industry’s Evolution through Feminist Ideals
  • Unheard Stories: Women in the Global Space Race
  • Effects of Migration on Women’s Rights and Opportunities
  • Women’s Land Rights: A Global Issue
  • Intersection of Feminism and Disability Rights
  • Portrayal of Women in Science Fiction: A Feminist Review
  • Analyzing Post-Feminism: Its Origins and Implications
  • Cyberbullying and Its Impact on Women: Measures for Protection
  • Unveiling Gender Bias in Artificial Intelligence
  • Reimagining Domestic Work Through the Lens of Feminism
  • Black Women’s Hair Politics: A Feminist Perspective
  • Feminist Ethical Considerations in Biomedical Research
  • Promoting Gender Sensitivity in Children’s Literature
  • Understanding the Phenomenon of Toxic Femininity
  • Reconsidering Women’s Rights in the Context of Climate Migration
  • Advancing Women’s Participation in Political Activism

Feminism Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Intersectionality’s Impact on Modern Feminism
  • Evolution of Feminist Thought: From First-Wave to Fourth-Wave
  • Gender Wage Gap: Myths and Realities
  • Workplace Discrimination: Tackling Unconscious Bias
  • Feminist Theory’s Influence on Contemporary Art
  • Intersection of Feminism and Environmental Activism
  • Men’s Roles in the Feminist Movement
  • Objectification in Media: A Feminist Perspective
  • Misconceptions about Feminism: Addressing Stereotypes
  • Feminism in the Classroom: The Role of Education
  • Feminist Analysis of Reproductive Rights Policies
  • Transgender Rights: An Extension of Feminism
  • Intersection of Feminism and Racial Justice
  • Body Shaming Culture: A Feminist Viewpoint
  • Feminism’s Influence on Modern Advertising
  • Patriarchy and Religion: A Feminist Critique
  • Domestic Labor: Feminist Perspectives on Unpaid Work
  • Sexism in Sports: The Need for Feminist Intervention
  • The MeToo Movement’s Influence on Modern Feminism
  • Feminism and the Fight for Equal Representation in Politics
  • Women’s Rights in the Digital Age: A Feminist Examination
  • Feminist Critique of Traditional Beauty Standards
  • Globalization and Its Effects on Women’s Rights
  • The Role of Feminism in LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy
  • Popular Culture and Its Reflection on Feminist Values

Controversial Feminist Research Paper Topics

  • Intersectionality in Modern Feminist Movements: An Analysis
  • Representation of Women in High-Powered Political Roles
  • Cultural Appropriation Within the Feminist Movement: An Inquiry
  • The Role of Feminism in Defining Beauty Standards
  • Women’s Reproductive Rights: A Debate of Autonomy
  • Feminism and Religion: The Question of Compatibility
  • Male Allies in the Feminist Movement: An Evaluation
  • Shift in Traditional Gender Roles: Feminist Perspective
  • Impacts of Media on Perceptions of Feminism
  • Dissecting the Wage Gap: A Feminist Examination
  • Menstrual Equity: A Battle for Feminist Activists
  • Feminism in Popular Music: Power or Appropriation?
  • Climate Change: The Unseen Feminist Issue
  • Education’s Role in Shaping Feminist Beliefs
  • Power Dynamics in the Workplace: A Feminist Scrutiny
  • Cyber-Feminism: Harnessing Digital Spaces for Activism
  • Healthcare Disparities Faced by Women: An Analysis
  • Transgender Women in Feminist Discourse: An Exploration
  • Feminist Perspectives on Monogamy and Polyamory
  • Feminist Analysis of Modern Advertising Campaigns
  • Exploring Sexism in the Film Industry through a Feminist Lens
  • Debunking Myths Surrounding the Feminist Movement
  • Childcare Responsibilities and Their Feminist Implications
  • Women’s Sports: Evaluating Equity and Feminist Advocacy

Feminist Research Paper Topics in Feminism Studies

  • Evaluating Feminist Theories: From Radical to Liberal
  • Women’s Health Care: Policies and Disparities
  • Maternal Mortality: A Global Women’s Rights Issue
  • Uncovering Sexism in the Tech Industry
  • Critique of Binary Gender Roles in Children’s Toys
  • Body Positivity Movement’s Influence on Feminism
  • Relevance of Feminism in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
  • Women in Coding: Breaking Stereotypes
  • The Role of Women in Sustainable Agriculture
  • Feminism in the Cosmetics Industry: A Dual-Edged Sword
  • The Influence of Feminism on Modern Architecture
  • Bridging the Gap: Women in Higher Education Leadership
  • The Role of Feminism in Advancing LGBTQ+ Rights
  • Menstrual Equity: A Key Women’s Rights Issue
  • Women in Classical Music: Breaking Barriers
  • Analyzing Gendered Language: A Feminist Approach
  • Women’s Rights and Humanitarian Aid: The Interconnection
  • Exploring the Role of Women in Graphic Design
  • Addressing the Lack of Women in Venture Capitalism
  • Impact of Feminism on Urban Planning and Design
  • Maternal Labor in the Informal Economy: A Feminist Analysis
  • Feminism’s Influence on Modern Dance Forms
  • Exploring the Role of Women in the Renewable Energy Sector
  • Women in Esports: An Emerging Frontier
  • Child Marriage: A Grave Violation of Women’s Rights

Feminist Topics for Discussion

  • Feminist Criticism of the Fashion Modelling Industry
  • Domestic Violence: Feminist Legal Responses
  • Analyzing the Success of Women-Only Workspaces
  • Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Human Rights Issue
  • Women’s Role in the Evolution of Cryptocurrency
  • Women and the Right to Water: A Feminist Perspective
  • Gender Stereotypes in Comedy: A Feminist View
  • Intersection of Animal Rights and Feminist Theory
  • Roles of Feminism in the Fight Against Child Labor
  • Representation of Women in Folklore and Mythology
  • Women’s Rights in the Gig Economy: Issues and Solutions
  • Revisiting Feminism in Post-Soviet Countries
  • Women in the Space Industry: Present Status and Future Trends
  • The Influence of Feminism on Culinary Arts
  • Unraveling the Impact of Fast Fashion on Women Workers
  • Feminist Perspectives on Genetic Engineering and Reproduction
  • Assessing the Progress of Women’s Financial Literacy
  • Sex Work and Feminism: A Controversial Discourse
  • Women in Cybernetics: An Untapped Potential
  • Uncovering the Women Behind Major Historical Events
  • The Impact of the #MeToo Movement Globally
  • Women’s Rights in the Cannabis Industry: Challenges and Progress
  • Redefining Motherhood: The Intersection of Feminism and Adoption
  • Roles of Feminist Movements in Combatting Child Abuse

Women’s Rights Essay Topics for Feminism

  • Evolution of Women’s Rights in the 20th Century
  • Roles of Women in World War II: Catalyst for Change
  • Suffrage Movement: Driving Force Behind Women’s Empowerment
  • Cultural Differences in Women’s Rights: A Comparative Study
  • Feminist Movements and Their Global Impact
  • Women’s Rights in Islamic Societies: Perceptions and Realities
  • Glass Ceiling Phenomenon: Analysis and Impacts
  • Pioneering Women in Science: Trailblazers for Equality
  • Impacts of Media Portrayal on Women’s Rights
  • Economic Autonomy for Women: Pathway to Empowerment
  • Women’s Rights in Education: Global Perspective
  • Gender Equality in Politics: Global Progress
  • Intersectionality and Women’s Rights: Race, Class, and Gender
  • Legal Milestones in Women’s Rights History
  • Inequities in Healthcare: A Women’s Rights Issue
  • Modern-Day Slavery: Women and Human Trafficking
  • Climate Change: A Unique Threat to Women’s Rights
  • Body Autonomy and Reproductive Rights: A Feminist Analysis
  • Globalization’s Effect on Women’s Rights: Opportunities and Threats
  • Gender Violence: An Erosion of Women’s Rights
  • Indigenous Women’s Rights: Struggles and Triumphs
  • Women’s Rights Activists: Unsung Heroes of History
  • Empowerment Through Sports: Women’s Struggle and Success
  • Balancing Act: Motherhood and Career in the 21st Century
  • LGBTQ+ Women: Rights and Recognition in Different Societies

Women’s Rights Research Questions

  • Evolution of Feminism: How Has the Movement Shifted Over Time?
  • The Workplace and Gender Equality: How Effective Are Current Measures?
  • Intersectionality’s Influence: How Does It Shape Women’s Rights Advocacy?
  • Reproductive Rights: What Is the Global Impact on Women’s Health?
  • Media Representation: Does It Affect Women’s Rights Perception?
  • Gender Stereotypes: How Do They Impede Women’s Empowerment?
  • Global Disparities: Why Do Women’s Rights Vary So Widely?
  • Maternal Mortality: How Does It Reflect on Women’s Healthcare Rights?
  • Education for Girls: How Does It Contribute to Gender Equality?
  • Cultural Norms: How Do They Influence Women’s Rights?
  • Leadership Roles: Are Women Adequately Represented in Positions of Power?
  • Domestic Violence Laws: Are They Sufficient to Protect Women’s Rights?
  • Roles of Technology: How Does It Impact Women’s Rights?
  • Sexual Harassment Policies: How Effective Are They in Protecting Women?
  • Pay Equity: How Can It Be Ensured for Women Globally?
  • Politics and Gender: How Does Women’s Representation Shape Policy-Making?
  • Child Marriage: How Does It Violate Girls’ Rights?
  • Climate Change: How Does It Disproportionately Affect Women?
  • Trafficking Scourge: How Can Women’s Rights Combat This Issue?
  • Female Genital Mutilation: How Does It Contradict Women’s Rights?
  • Armed Conflicts: How Do They Impact Women’s Rights?
  • Body Autonomy: How Can It Be Safeguarded for Women?
  • Women’s Suffrage: How Did It Pave the Way for Modern Women’s Rights?
  • Men’s Role: How Can They Contribute to Women’s Rights Advocacy?
  • Legal Frameworks: How Do They Support or Hinder Women’s Rights?

History of Women’s Rights Topics

  • Emergence of Feminism in the 19th Century
  • Roles of Women in the Abolitionist Movement
  • Suffragette Movements: Triumphs and Challenges
  • Eleanor Roosevelt and Her Advocacy for Women’s Rights
  • Impacts of World War II on Women’s Liberation
  • Radical Feminism in the 1960s and 1970s
  • Pioneering Women in Politics: The First Female Senators
  • Inception of the Equal Rights Amendment
  • Revolutionary Women’s Health Activism
  • Struggle for Reproductive Freedom: Roe vs. Wade
  • Birth of the Women’s Liberation Movement
  • Challenges Women Faced in the Civil Rights Movement
  • Women’s Roles in the Trade Union Movement
  • Intersectionality and Feminism: Examining the Role of Women of Color
  • How Did the Women’s Rights Movement Impact Education?
  • Sexuality, Identity, and Feminism: Stonewall Riots’ Impact
  • Influence of Religion on Women’s Rights Activism
  • Women’s Empowerment: The UN Conferences
  • Impact of Globalization on Women’s Rights
  • Women’s Movements in Non-Western Countries
  • Women in Space: The Fight for Equality in NASA
  • Achievements of Feminist Literature and Arts
  • Evolution of the Women’s Sports Movement
  • Advancement of Women’s Rights in the Digital Age
  • Cultural Shifts: The Media’s Role in Promoting Women’s Rights

Feminism Essay Topics on Women’s Issues

  • Career Challenges: The Gender Wage Gap in Contemporary Society
  • Examining Microfinance: An Empowering Tool for Women in Developing Countries
  • Pioneers of Change: The Role of Women in the Space Industry
  • Exploring Beauty Standards: An Analysis of Global Perspectives
  • Impacts of Legislation: Progress in Women’s Health Policies
  • Maternity Leave Policies: A Comparative Study of Different Countries
  • Resilience Through Struggles: The Plight of Female Refugees
  • Technology’s Influence: Addressing the Digital Gender Divide
  • Dissecting Stereotypes: Gender Roles in Children’s Media
  • Influence of Female Leaders: A Look at Political Empowerment
  • Social Media and Women: Effects on Mental Health
  • Understanding Intersectionality: The Complexity of Women’s Rights
  • Single Mothers: Balancing Parenthood and Economic Challenges
  • Gaining Ground in Sports: A Look at Female Athletes’ Struggles
  • Maternal Mortality: The Hidden Health Crisis
  • Reproductive Rights: Women’s Control Over Their Bodies
  • Feminism in Literature: Portrayal of Women in Classic Novels
  • Deconstructing Patriarchy: The Impact of Gender Inequality
  • Body Autonomy: The Battle for Abortion Rights
  • Women in STEM: Barriers and Breakthroughs
  • Female Soldiers: Their Role in Military Conflicts
  • Human Trafficking: The Disproportionate Impact on Women
  • Silent Victims: Domestic Violence and Women’s Health

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black feminism essay topics

19 Black Feminist Books You Need In Your Library

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Erika Hardison

Erika Hardison is a writer, social media junkie, podcaster, publisher and aspiring novelist from Chicago currently residing in New Jersey. When she's not bridging the gap between Black feminism and superheroes on FabulizeMag.com, she's spending sleepless nights as a new mom with her talkative toddler playing and giggling under the covers.

View All posts by Erika Hardison

I never realized the importance of Black feminist books and literature until I was an adult. I simply didn’t understand Black feminism until I was much older. I believe my first introduction to Black feminism was Assata Shakur’s autobiography. Reading about her life and how she found political asylum in Cuba impacted me so much as a teen because I could not conceptualize having so much courage when everything and everyone is against you.

When I watched The Color Purple as a young girl, I was traumatized but also it was a reminder that as a Black girl, my experiences as far different than white women and Black men. I suddenly found myself going down a rabbit hole of Black women writers who centered Black feminism in their works. Alice Walker, who coined the term womanism, gave me a better grasp of how Black women navigate and the language needed to express how I felt.

When people ask me for a list of Black feminist reads, it’s almost an impossible task because there are just so many! So here I have listed a mix of fiction and nonfiction books, illustrated novels, and comics that are full of Black feminist thought, critiques, storytelling and historical analysis.

black feminism essay topics

Wicked Flesh: Black Women, Intimacy, and Freedom in the Atlantic World (Early American Studies) by Jessica Marie Johnson

Black womanhood and sexuality as it relates to feminism are typically discussed under the lens of how Black bodies are often sexualized and exploited. Johnson presents historical documents to illustrate the physiological and emotional impact slavery had on Black women from a reproductive point of view. Johnson also centers New Orleans as the epicenter of how Black women reclaimed their agency and embraced their sensuality.

black feminism essay topics

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

Poor Black women can be feminists, too. Even though their voices seem to get silenced in mainstream conversations, the impact of poor and working class Black women are often overlooked. They remain some of the biggest advocates and organizers and in this collection of essays, Kendall praises them.

black feminism essay topics

Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

I read this book when I was a teen and it has stuck with me all these years. It’s a unique autobiography at a first-hand account of being a Black Panther as a Black woman. She details how she got involved in the movement as well as her experiences as being a Black woman revolutionary.

black feminism essay topics

Letters to the Future: Black Women/Radical Writing by Erica Hunt (Editor), Dawn Lundy Martin (Editor)

A collection of writings and poems that centers not just cis het Black women but also Black LGBTQ+ people. The poems and essays include Black voices and experiences across generations and the African diaspora.

black feminism essay topics

The Selected Works of Audre Lorde by Audre Lorde and Roxane Gay

Audre Lorde is rightfully praised for her groundwork for Black feminism as a self-identified lesbian. This would make a great introduction for someone who is new to Lorde’s writing and work. Lorde’s Black queer theory is legendary amongst Black feminist scholars and readers. The book will be available on September 8, 2020.

black feminism essay topics

Black From the Future: A Collection of Black Speculative Writing by Stephanie Andrea Allen (Author, Editor), Lauren Cherelle (Editor)

Is there room in Afrofuturism for feminism? Of course there is. Looking in the future is where a lot of hope lies and for Black women that write sci-fi and speculative fiction, and dismantling patriarchy is not only possible in the future, it is required.

black feminism essay topics

Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers

If you need a crash course on how to be an intersectional Black feminist, this is a good crash course to fit in your bag if you are on the go. It’s straight to the point without any fluff and it centers Black queer women—who are more marginalized than cis het Black women.

black feminism essay topics

The Black Woman: An Anthology by Toni Cade Bambara and Eleanor W Traylor

This book was published in 1970 and it is remarkable how evergreen these essays remain. This book covers all topics including race, sex, politics, entertainment and the economy. No topic is left untouched. Read the works of Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, and more before they were known as bestselling authors and writers.

black feminism essay topics

Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday by Angela Davis

You may not have thought about music, let alone Blues, as a feminist medium for Black women, but Dr. Angela Davis lays the framework on how these three Black women used Blues to voice their radical sentiments on Black womanhood.

black feminism essay topics

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

I can’t believe I found out about this book on Twitter. This book is for people who love dark fantasy books, witches, and occult stories with a feminist tone. It centers Immanuelle Moore who tries to follow the law of the land. However, she finds herself learning of her mother’s life and how it ties to witches and makes it her mission to undo all the wrong the Church in Bethel has done.

black feminism essay topics

(H)afrocentric Comics: Volumes 1–4 by Juliana “Jewels” Smith (Author), Mike Hampton (Illustrator), Ronald Nelson (Illustrator), Kiese Laymon (Foreword)

There aren’t a lot of Black feminist comics, however, (H)Afrocentric does a great job in illustrating what radical social justice movements entail. Enjoy the illustrations of a story that paints a picture of how Black women and other people of color fight gentrification in their neighborhood and local campus.

black feminism essay topics

The Keepers: Origins by by Jazmin Truesdale and (Author), Remero Colston (Illustrator)

Truesdale has created an entire universe of women characters that are superheroes. In this illustrated space opera adventure, women are selected to be the keepers of their universe. This is a book for all ages, especially younger readers who need to see more representation of themselves.

black feminism essay topics

Sula By Toni Morrison

Sula examines Black feminism on how women treat each other in platonic relationships, especially when you involve men. This book is both a drama and a slight horror story on how intra-community dynamics can be just as harmful as navigating mainstream society.

black feminism essay topics

To Be Young, Gifted and Black By Lorraine Hansberry

Hanberry became the first Black woman playwright to have a play on Broadway for A Raisin in the Sun , but her autobiography paints her life as an ambitious queer Black creative from Chicago. In her book, she talks about how she navigates Blackness with her sexuality and art.

black feminism essay topics

I Love Myself When I Am Laughing…And Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader by Zora Neale Hurston

Hurston, a writer, visionary, and anthropologist, wrote in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in a lot of her works. She highlighted southern Black life as a culture that was often forgotten when it came to Black America. This is book that combines Black folk art storytelling and feminism.

black feminism essay topics

Stupid Black Girl: Essays from an American African by Aisha Redux (Author), Brianna McCarthy (Illustrator)

There is no one way of being Black, and being Black as a first generation American can be a uniquely different experience altogether. Redux talks about a variety of topics such as gentrification to their personal experience with the September 11 tragedy.

black feminism essay topics

In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose By Alice Walker

Walker created the term womanism which means Black feminism and is meant to center Black women’s experience, because white feminism does not. In this collection of essays, Walker relives her experiences and recounts of the Civil Rights Movement under the scope of Black womanism thought.

black feminism essay topics

Young Revolutionary: A Teen’s Guide to Activism by Chanice Lee

When I was a teen, I would have loved to have had the chance to read about other Black teen girls and how they are making waves to have a progressive future. This guide is perfectly executed as teens give their experiences on how they became activists and what they seeking to change.

black feminism essay topics

Unf*uckablewith: Rising From The Ashes Into Your Black Woman Badassery by Catrice M. Jackson

Sometimes we just need to sit and think about the women who came before us. Jackson gives us a bold and unapologetic self-help guide that’s also a memoir on Black feminism, self-care and being resilient when the odds are against you.

black feminism essay topics

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Black Women’s History in the United States Report (Assessment)

Introduction, sexual violence, black motherhood, beauty standards, works cited.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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IvyPanda. (2021, May 12). Black Women's History in the United States. https://ivypanda.com/essays/black-womens-history-in-the-united-states/

"Black Women's History in the United States." IvyPanda , 12 May 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/black-womens-history-in-the-united-states/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Black Women's History in the United States'. 12 May.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Black Women's History in the United States." May 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/black-womens-history-in-the-united-states/.

1. IvyPanda . "Black Women's History in the United States." May 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/black-womens-history-in-the-united-states/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Black Women's History in the United States." May 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/black-womens-history-in-the-united-states/.

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  2. The Revolutionary Practice of Black Feminisms

    Black feminism is an intellectual, artistic, philosophical, and activist practice grounded in black women's lived experiences. Its scope is broad, making it difficult to define. In fact, the diversity of opinion among black feminists makes it more accurate to think of black feminisms in the plural.

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    As a field of study, Black feminism differs from mainstream feminism in that it seeks to understand the injustices affecting the daily lives of Black women; it is also distinguished by a long-standing emphasis on intersectionality (i.e., the interaction and cumulative effects of multiple forms of discrimination, including institutional racism, c...

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    This is achieved through the following critical perspectives and strategies: racism, inclusion/exclusion, the role of Black queer women, the recognition of differences among women, the interlocking systems of oppression, and agenda making. Black sororities have stood at the forefront of Black achievement for more than a century

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    About seven-in-ten Black women (71%) and 65% of Black men describe feminism as empowering, as do 70% of Black adults 18 to 49 and 65% of Black adults 50 and older. However, Black adults differ by education on this question. While three-quarters of Black adults with a bachelor's degree (75%) describe feminism as empowering, a smaller share of ...

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    Black legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" in her insightful 1989 essay, "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics." 3 The concept of intersectionality is not an abstract notion but a description of the way multiple oppressions are experienced.

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    In class, the students begin by discussing the essay, then consider the connections between the essay and the interviews they worked with. The activity ends by reflecting on the unique features of Black feminist thought, along with the elements that it shares with mainstream or dominant feminisms. Duration: 50 minutes: Download Materials

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  16. Black feminism

    Black feminism, also known as Afro-feminism chiefly outside the United States, is a branch of feminism that focuses on the African-American woman's experiences and recognizes the intersectionality of racism and sexism . Black feminism also acknowledges the additional marginalization faced by black women due to their social identity .

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    Essential Black feminist books, non-fiction, and comics that are full of Black feminist thought, critiques, storytelling and analysis. Articles. ... This book was published in 1970 and it is remarkable how evergreen these essays remain. This book covers all topics including race, sex, politics, entertainment and the economy. No topic is left ...

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    The National Black Feminist Organization's Statement of Purpose, issued in 1973 (Customer had provided the reference). This essay, "Black Feminism: A Revolutionary Practice" is published exclusively on IvyPanda's free essay examples database. You can use it for research and reference purposes to write your own paper.

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  22. Black Women's History in the United States Report (Assessment)

    This essay will provide three problems of black feminism. We will write a custom essay on your topic a custom Assessment on Black Women's History in the United States. 808 writers online . Learn More . Sexual Violence. Male and female slaves' experiences were only similar to a certain extent. Regardless of gender, before the abolition ...

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    No one experience is the same. Knowing this somehow women around the world can relate to one another from struggles all of us for having a vagina have been through. Although some cases may be harsher than others, it is all the same concept. We can connect to other women because we have those feelings as well.