In the essay “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power”, from the Sister Outsider (a book of essays and speeches), Audre Lorde (feminist writer) re-interprets the use of the word ‘erotic’ and highlights the importance that it has in empowering women; living within a male dominated world. By directing her analysis towards women, Lorde is able to build a commonality amongst herself and the audience. Furthermore, by stating including her personal identity and experience with eroticism, she can effectively delineate/express her claims. Which influences the reader, male or female, to question their perception of the erotic and how it goes unnoticed as a source of power.
Within Lorde’s socio-theoretical analysis of the ‘erotic’, the article itself …show more content…
Such statement is powerful considering it provides validity to her writing, as she is indisputably oppressed to vast extents; being a woman, black, and a lesbian. Her claims and points of erotic empowerment come to be more effective as she is living under and experiencing all the effects of an oppressive system. In comparison to, if a white woman were to be discussing such topic, yes, the reader (assuming it is a woman) would be able to grasp at what she is interpreting however a significantly narrower perspective would be presented as she would not be able to include race or sexuality within her argument. Thus, sliming the representation within the analysis. One cannot discuss gender, race, sexuality, or class without delving into how these elements of life intersect one another; such theory or practice is called intersectionality - a term coined by Kimberlee Crenshaw. Consequently, having this important similarity and mention of her sexuality, race, and gender, Lorde can delve further into her arguments/claims, providing greater …show more content…
She stresses that women “[are] warned against [the erotic] all [their] lives by the male world, which values this depth of feeling enough to keep women around in order to exercise it in the service of men” (53-54). Men are the reason for the stigmatization of eroticism, pertaining to women. As previously mentioned, Lorde believes if women accept/embrace the erotic they will become powerful, maybe too powerful for a certain hegemonic group (men); as “women so empowered are dangerous” (55). Moreover, perhaps that is why Lorde mentions that men/society warn against the erotic, relating it to an image of pornography when that is far from the actuality of what eroticism within women is
Within Lorde’s socio-theoretical analysis of the ‘erotic’, the article itself …show more content…
Such statement is powerful considering it provides validity to her writing, as she is indisputably oppressed to vast extents; being a woman, black, and a lesbian. Her claims and points of erotic empowerment come to be more effective as she is living under and experiencing all the effects of an oppressive system. In comparison to, if a white woman were to be discussing such topic, yes, the reader (assuming it is a woman) would be able to grasp at what she is interpreting however a significantly narrower perspective would be presented as she would not be able to include race or sexuality within her argument. Thus, sliming the representation within the analysis. One cannot discuss gender, race, sexuality, or class without delving into how these elements of life intersect one another; such theory or practice is called intersectionality - a term coined by Kimberlee Crenshaw. Consequently, having this important similarity and mention of her sexuality, race, and gender, Lorde can delve further into her arguments/claims, providing greater …show more content…
She stresses that women “[are] warned against [the erotic] all [their] lives by the male world, which values this depth of feeling enough to keep women around in order to exercise it in the service of men” (53-54). Men are the reason for the stigmatization of eroticism, pertaining to women. As previously mentioned, Lorde believes if women accept/embrace the erotic they will become powerful, maybe too powerful for a certain hegemonic group (men); as “women so empowered are dangerous” (55). Moreover, perhaps that is why Lorde mentions that men/society warn against the erotic, relating it to an image of pornography when that is far from the actuality of what eroticism within women is