America has proven to be sexually repressive of African American men and women, yet they are displayed through mass media as being inherently wild and sexually deviant. Collins identifies this concept as controlling images of gender ideologies within mass media. African American women are either the “mammy” figure, or a woman who plays a role within the white household who is kind and subservient or they are a wild, sexual, or erotic woman which can be used to justify sexual violence against them. The same ideas are portrayed for African-American men as well.
On one hand, the Uncle Tom figure is a man who has assimilated to racism and the world of the white man yet still managed to be a kind man. And on the other hand, the are viewed as …show more content…
Most theorists that the sociological theory class has studied do not believe in individual agency but the power of social structures. Although Collins does believe that these social institutions are powerful and have shaped African American families and their lives, she also states that the “power of a free mind” gives people within these social institutions the ability to achieve individual agency(2005: 305). By doing so, these social messages will matter less and not affect the self like they use to. However, Collins says that this is also a paradox because having a free mind is sometimes what causes imprisonment, whether that be figuratively or a reality (2005: 305-306). This strength of the book allows the reader to believe that there is a chance for individual agency to …show more content…
She builds upon other contemporary theorists by acknowledging that institutions do play a large role in African American communities as well as how social structure is socially constructed which is why individual agency has the ability to change social structures.Also, Collins’ theory combines the theories of Audre Lorde through her argument of including excluded voices and the role of individual agency and Trinh T Minh-ha by proving that words can change which relies on politics; both women are intersectional feminists who have similar concerns as Collins; however, Collins theory relate African American intersecting identities and how institutions shape their realities.
Additionally, this book is relevant to American society because Collins is theorizing about the social institutions that have created the disparities and ideologies that affect the African American community. Collins’ theory is not completely applicable to other countries. The role of social structure has been socially constructed over centuries to create a disparity between races and other minority groups. Hegemonic masculinity creates many social problems for minority groups which make social structure difficult to change but does slowly change over the
On one hand, the Uncle Tom figure is a man who has assimilated to racism and the world of the white man yet still managed to be a kind man. And on the other hand, the are viewed as …show more content…
Most theorists that the sociological theory class has studied do not believe in individual agency but the power of social structures. Although Collins does believe that these social institutions are powerful and have shaped African American families and their lives, she also states that the “power of a free mind” gives people within these social institutions the ability to achieve individual agency(2005: 305). By doing so, these social messages will matter less and not affect the self like they use to. However, Collins says that this is also a paradox because having a free mind is sometimes what causes imprisonment, whether that be figuratively or a reality (2005: 305-306). This strength of the book allows the reader to believe that there is a chance for individual agency to …show more content…
She builds upon other contemporary theorists by acknowledging that institutions do play a large role in African American communities as well as how social structure is socially constructed which is why individual agency has the ability to change social structures.Also, Collins’ theory combines the theories of Audre Lorde through her argument of including excluded voices and the role of individual agency and Trinh T Minh-ha by proving that words can change which relies on politics; both women are intersectional feminists who have similar concerns as Collins; however, Collins theory relate African American intersecting identities and how institutions shape their realities.
Additionally, this book is relevant to American society because Collins is theorizing about the social institutions that have created the disparities and ideologies that affect the African American community. Collins’ theory is not completely applicable to other countries. The role of social structure has been socially constructed over centuries to create a disparity between races and other minority groups. Hegemonic masculinity creates many social problems for minority groups which make social structure difficult to change but does slowly change over the