Grace Lee Boggs Documentary American Revolutionary - Essay Example

Rich helped me become more confident in claiming knowledge by being more responsible for thinking about my thinking and criticizing the thinking behind patriarchal texts in the past and present times. The second concept is “sexism.” Before, I used to think that sexism is about men subjecting women to prejudice and discrimination. Bell Hooks, in “Where We Stand: Feminist Politics,” argued that sexism also involves how sexist feminists undercut revolutionary feminists by accepting assimilation. Assimilation means that feminism ends with women being equal to men without changing the system that patriarchy is built on.

Hooks encouraged me to become more critical of feminism in light of what women are no longer fighting for because of their assimilation into lifestyle feminism. The third concept is “revolution.” In American Revolutionary, Grace Lee Boggs inspired me when she said that “revolution” entails the evolution of the self, for only in changing the self can people aspire to truly change the world. Indeed, I cannot contribute to important social changes if I am not willing to change beliefs and assumptions that reinforce socially unjust beliefs and practices.

2. The Grace Lee Boggs documentary "American Revolutionary" focused on the intersections of race, racism, social justice, and the importance of community. There was a conversation on ELMS yesterday about the intersection of race and feminism which leads me to ask, is race a feminist issue? Why or why not. Please explain your answer.

I agree that race is a feminist issue because race affected and continues to affect feminism’s assumptions, beliefs, practices, and goals. Feminism cannot be race-blind because race is part of our identity, especially in America, where race is a central issue for women in the past and the present. I cannot imagine talking about feminism, which demands ending sexism of all forms, without addressing other forms of intertwining causes of social injustice in society, which includes racism. All these biases against another group, whatever their basis might be gender, race, and social class, among others- are all manifestations of a socially unjust society. If feminism wants to end sexism and sexist exploitation, it can only do so by changing the entire system that produces widespread social injustice. To be a feminist is to recognize and respond to racial issues that affect women’s lives and destinies.

3. On the course glossary, there are definitions of the terms capitalism, racism, and patriarchy. Please locate and cite one example of capitalism, racism, and patriarchy from the course readings. One example of capitalism, racism, and patriarchy will be sufficient. The purpose of this question is for you to demonstrate that you can apply the term to the texts (essays, videos, films, documentaries) that we have read this semester. For example, the Boggs'' documentary has a very specific analysis of capitalism.

When Tony Parker talks about “The Man Box,” he describes how society promotes patriarchy. His concept of “The Man Box,” or the “collective socialization of men,” demonstrates how society teaches the concept of manhood from childhood to adulthood. “The Man Box” upholds patriarchy because it perpetuates beliefs and practices on what it means to be a man, particularly about women, wherein a patriarchal society teaches men that women have less value and are useful as property, so women are reduced to objects that make them vulnerable to violence and exploitation.

The next concept is racism that American Revolutionary depicts. Grace Lee Boggs asserts that blacks do not want whiteness because they demand equality that is based on their image. This is what equality means, not equality according to whiteness, which is racist, but equality based on one’s human abilities and rights. The final concept is capitalism. In “A Day Without Feminism,” Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards emphasize that, without feminism, most women would not even find work outside their homes and would earn far less than men (29). If women found work, they would be limited to gender-typed jobs. Furthermore, they could not formally lodge complaints against sexual harassment and gender discrimination (Baumgardner and Richards 29-30). They are saying that patriarchal capitalism would have lasted up to now, or even worsened, without feminism. Read More