Analysing the works of Mimi Mariuncci, Audre Lorde, and Rosemarie Garland- Thomson I hope to answer the question of why intersectionality is imperative to feminist discourse and praxis.
Feminism, in simple terms, refers to collective desire to end the oppression of women. Because oppression takes various forms and affects those who are victim to it in a number of different though often intersecting ways, feminism can therefore be termed a multifaceted set of movements working towards multiple aims and ends. In terms of intersectionality, feminist discourse faces the task of acknowledging and addressing all forms of oppression as a logic of domination. A term coined by ecofeminist philosopher Karen Warren which refers to a way of understanding …show more content…
She suggests that the solidarity between queer theory and feminist theory is "born of a deep understanding that the oppression of women and the suppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender existence are deeply intertwined." Her main argument is that the union of queer theory and feminist theory is vital to gaining a comprehensive understanding of both, issues pertaining to the oppression of women, and issues pertaining to the oppression of lgbtqia+ identities. She claims that queer feminist theory is a platform which mutually promises a significantly increased consideration of sexuality within feminist theory, and vice versa, a significantly increased consideration of gender within queer theory; both working in conjunction to understand theories surrounding gender and sexuality from the others perspective, from their own respective …show more content…
She claims “the failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson” criticising the kind of non-inclusive, heteronormative, classist, ageist, ‘white feminism’ that overlooks difference and prescribes a one size fits all model of feminism in feminist discourse and literature. The problem that this kind of 'white American feminist theory ' poses is that it contributes to the subordination of marginalised groups by way of erasure and through the dismissal of issues regarding ethno/race, class, age, and sexuality as irrelevant to feminist theory; and therefore allows systems of oppression to continue oppressing women who do not fit into the narrow cast of young, straight, white, middle class, feminist
Feminism, in simple terms, refers to collective desire to end the oppression of women. Because oppression takes various forms and affects those who are victim to it in a number of different though often intersecting ways, feminism can therefore be termed a multifaceted set of movements working towards multiple aims and ends. In terms of intersectionality, feminist discourse faces the task of acknowledging and addressing all forms of oppression as a logic of domination. A term coined by ecofeminist philosopher Karen Warren which refers to a way of understanding …show more content…
She suggests that the solidarity between queer theory and feminist theory is "born of a deep understanding that the oppression of women and the suppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender existence are deeply intertwined." Her main argument is that the union of queer theory and feminist theory is vital to gaining a comprehensive understanding of both, issues pertaining to the oppression of women, and issues pertaining to the oppression of lgbtqia+ identities. She claims that queer feminist theory is a platform which mutually promises a significantly increased consideration of sexuality within feminist theory, and vice versa, a significantly increased consideration of gender within queer theory; both working in conjunction to understand theories surrounding gender and sexuality from the others perspective, from their own respective …show more content…
She claims “the failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson” criticising the kind of non-inclusive, heteronormative, classist, ageist, ‘white feminism’ that overlooks difference and prescribes a one size fits all model of feminism in feminist discourse and literature. The problem that this kind of 'white American feminist theory ' poses is that it contributes to the subordination of marginalised groups by way of erasure and through the dismissal of issues regarding ethno/race, class, age, and sexuality as irrelevant to feminist theory; and therefore allows systems of oppression to continue oppressing women who do not fit into the narrow cast of young, straight, white, middle class, feminist