Read the following passage from Patricia Hill Collins’s *Black Feminist Thought* (1990):
> "The matrix of domination refers to how intersecting oppressions are actually organized. Regardless of the particular intersection in question, single-axis frameworks of analysis are limited in their ability to explain how Black women experience oppression."
Based on the passage, which of the following best explains how the concept of the "matrix of domination" differs from mainstream, single-axis feminist frameworks of the late twentieth century?
- AIt argues that gender discrimination is the primary source of inequality and must be solved before racial justice can be achieved.
- BIt focuses exclusively on economic class division as the sole cause of social stratification for all women.
- It analyzes how race, gender, and class function as interlocking systems of oppression rather than treating gender as an isolated variable.Answer
- DIt promotes the total separation of Black women from existing civil rights organizations and Black male activists.
Answer
It analyzes how race, gender, and class function as interlocking systems of oppression rather than treating gender as an isolated variable.
The correct answer is correct because the matrix of domination emphasizes that systems of oppression (such as racism, sexism, and classism) are interlocking and mutually reinforcing rather than operating independently. This contrasts with single-axis frameworks that isolate gender as the primary or sole category of analysis, which often neglected the unique experiences of Black women.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Matrix of Domination and Intersectionality