FINAL ESSAY FOR SOC 310

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Paper 3/Final Essay Taycha Dejesus CUNY John Jay College/SPS Soc 310, Foundations of Sociological Theory Dr. Spiros Papadantonakis 12/17/2023 Patricia Hill Collins is a prominent sociologist and theorist who is known for her work in the fields of intersectionality, black feminism and social theory. Shes made significant contributions to the understanding of power dynamics, oppression and the experience of marginalized groups, in particular, African American women. Black feminism is a dynamic movement within the feminist realm that was created as a response to the intersecting forms of oppression faced by African American women. (Dillon, 2015) It addresses the unique struggles and experiences that African American women face, while also advocating for their rights, equality and liberation. Black feminism has deep rooted history, dating back all the way to slavery times and the first days of feminism in the 19 th and early 20 th century during suffrage with women like Sojourner Truth. Collins has stated that slavery was crucial in the development of a different understanding among black woman in relations to family and work. (Dillon, 2015) In 1990, Hill Collins published her highly acclaimed book, “ Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment.” In her book, she sets out to bring forward key themes and concept pertaining to the black feminist theory. According to Sherie Randolph, an associate professor in Georgia Tech’s School of History and Sociology, the black feminist theory sets out to challenge the assumptions and norms at the intersection of sexism and feminism, in particular, intersectionality, which refers to the connection of social categories such as race, class and gender. (Randolph, 2023) Meaning, that the experiences that African American women face cannot be understood by only looking at gender and race but by looking at all the

factors as one and how it shapes their realities. (Randolph, 2023) (Coaston, 2019) The theory also gives idea to the Black Feminist though, stating “when black women have the opportunity to speak and act, many blacks and whites, men and women, want to hear and are moved by what they say and do.” Collins argues that “black feminist thought, like all specialize though, reflects the interest and standpoints of its creators.” (Dillon, 2015) Meaning while all women share the connection of oppression, black feminist thought comes from a different standpoint than white feminist thought. (Dillon, 2015) Historically, African American women have always played second to the movement, having to fight for their own rights to be able to exist in the world. Collins argues that black women are both outsiders and insiders in society and possess an important standpoint that allow them to look at the world differently. When looking at all that Patricia Hill Collins has accomplished with her work in the modern society, it is easy to compare her work and ideologies to previous sociologist. While the classical sociologist like Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber laid the foundation for the sociological theory, Collins brings a more unique perspective to the conversation, one that builds upon and in a way, critiques some of the idea put forward by these men. For example, Collins is black feminist who has critiqued the more traditional feminist theories because of their limited focus on the experiences of white, middle-class women. Collins has argued for more inclusivity that would focus on the experiences of all women across different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, when comparing her to the works of Emile Durkheim, whose theory on functionalism emphasizes the links and functions of different societies, believed that social institutions serve specific functions in maintaining social order. (Dillon, 2015)

One of the key points Collin’s book was how historically, research has been influenced by white male interest so to contrast that, she presented something called the Black feminist epistemology, which is the theory of knowledge. (Collins, 1990) She believed that lived experiences are important aspects of society, in comparison to Durkheim who believed that observation must be objective and impartial, even if it is never met. (Dillon, 2015) So because of her belief in lived experience, Collins supported the use of dialog which makes it very important as it means there would be more than one viewpoint. And unlike Durkheim, Collins’ perspective on emotions and values in the social world was also a driving force in her work. She put an emphasis on incorporating emotions and values into the research process. (Collins, 2006) She argued against the idea that complete objectivity and detachment, suggesting that researchers acknowledge and embrace their emotions and values. They were not obstacles to her but rather important components that contributed to a better understanding of the world. (Collins, 1990) (Collins, 2006) Black feminism theory is something that is deeply rooted in historical experiences and when comparing it to other theories, for example, social stratification theory, it serves as an important lens into understanding race, gender and class within social societies. Social stratification theory is a theory that shapes the experiences and opportunities of individuals in society. It’s based-on factors such as wealth, power, social class, race and gender, which shares a lot of the same things that black feminism theory focuses on. One of Collin’s key concepts is the idea of matrix of domination which refers to the connections to an oppressed system. She argues that individuals occupy multiple positions at the same time and their experiences are shaped by these positions. (Collins, 1990) when considering them together, it could highlight how individuals social positions within the stratification system are influences by multiple factors.

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For example, a persons experience with privilege or lack of privilege is not completely determined by their class or gender but is shaped by the interaction we have in social settings. In conclusion, Patricia Hill Collins work has a profound impact on feminist theory sociology and other types of disciplines as it has provided the necessary outline that recognizes the complexities of oppression and the importance of listening to diverse voices and letting them shape knowledge and social change. At the same time, black feminist thought has been influential in shaping the discussions around feminism, intersectionality and social justice. Black feminist thought and black feminist theory has provided the tool for understanding the experiences that black women have contributed to the movement, regarding power, privilege and resistance.

REFERENCE Coaston, J. (2019) The intersectionality wars , Vox . Available at: https://www.vox.com/the- highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender- discrimination (Accessed: 18 December 2023). Collins, P.H. (1990) Black feminist thought knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment . 2nd edn. New York: Routledge. Collins, P.H. (2006) Patricia Hill Collins: Intersecting oppressions - sage publications ltd , uk.sagepub.com . Available at: https://uk.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/13299_Chapter_16_Web_Byte_Pat ricia_Hill_Collins.pdf (Accessed: 19 December 2023). Dillon, M. (2015) Introduction to sociological theory: Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century . 2ND edn. Chichester, na: Wiley-Blackwell. Hedglin, S. (1970) Patricia Hill-Collins- 2013 , Millersville University . Available at: https://www.millersville.edu/africanamericanstudies/jackson-lecture1/patricia-hill- collins.php#:~:text=According%20to%20Nicki%20Lisa%20Cole,uniquely%20positioned %2C%20because%20of%20their (Accessed: 18 December 2023). Pew Research Center (2023) 2. Black Americans and their views on feminism , Pew Research Center Race & Ethnicity . Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2023/02/16/black-americans-and-their-views- on-feminism/ (Accessed: 18 December 2023). Randolph, S. (2023a) What is Black Feminist Theory? , YouTube . Available at: https://youtu.be/qQ0EPeAT2T0?si=AQ-6v2PIRva-deNn (Accessed: 18 December 2023). Randolph, S. (2023b) What is Black Feminist Theory?, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Available at: https://iac.gatech.edu/feature-news/2023/02/black-feminist-theory (Accessed: 18 December 2023). What is Black Feminist Theory? (no date) Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts . Available at: https://iac.gatech.edu/feature-news/2023/02/black-feminist-theory (Accessed: 18 December 2023).

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