Read the following excerpt from activist and theorist Claudia Jones's 1949 essay, "An End to the Neglect of the Problems of the Negro Woman!":
"The Negro woman as worker, as Negro, and as woman is the most oppressed stratum of the whole population. [...] The bourgeoisie is fearful of the militancy of the Negro woman, and for good reason. The capitalists know, far better than many progressives, that once Negro women begin to take action, the militancy of the whole Negro people, and thus of the entire working class, is greatly enhanced."
Which of the following concepts in Black feminist theory is best illustrated by Jones’s characterization of Black women's position?
- AUniversal sisterhood, which asserts that gender oppression is the primary and unifying factor experienced equally by all women
- BLiberal feminism, which prioritizes individual legal equality and representation for women within the capitalist state
- Triple oppression, which emphasizes the intersection of race, gender, and class in shaping the distinct struggles of Black working-class womenAnswer
- DSeparatist feminism, which advocates for the complete segregation of women from men to dismantle patriarchal power
Answer
Triple oppression, which emphasizes the intersection of race, gender, and class in shaping the distinct struggles of Black working-class women
The correct answer is the concept of triple oppression. In the excerpt, Claudia Jones outlines how Black women's oppression cannot be reduced to a single factor; rather, it is shaped by the simultaneous forces of race (as Negro), gender (as woman), and class (as worker). This analysis forms the basis of the theory of triple oppression, which explains that these systems of domination are mutually reinforcing.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Triple Oppression