Race, Class, Gender
The question regarding Barbara Neely's first novel, Blanche on the Lam, isn't whether or not the novel has anything interesting to say on the subjects of race, class and gender, but rather, how can a novel so packed full of commentary on race, class and gender remain a compelling story, and an entertaining one as well?
Neely makes it clear from the very first page that this book will be about those three issues, although the race and class issues seem to get slightly more attention than gender, at least in a direct, in-your-face way. On the very first page, Neely sets Blanche up as a worthy and experienced commentator on the issues of race and class. Blanche is in a courtroom, and the judge admonishes her to learn to earn her money before she spends it, "like the rest of us." (p. 1) But Blanche has worked, like the rest of them. The problem isn't whether she works; it's whether she gets paid, a tough issue when the pay is only enough for current expenses and no more. "IF four of her employers hadn't gone out of town without paying her, she'd have had enough money in the bank to cover the checks," (p. 5) makes it clear that Blanche is not welfare cheat, but rather an honest working woman who was cheated, arguably by her 'betters." But may not have been much better; Blanche realized that she had moved from New York, where people expected to pay well for good work (something she repeats several times in the novel) to an area that was a lot less prosperous, and where class differences counted for more than bank accounts. "The folks who lived her and had money, even...
Race, Class, Gender Journal Word Count (excluding title and works cited page): 1048 Race, Class, and Gender is an anthology of articles that express various interpretation and insights of the relationship between race, class, and gender and how these things shape the lives of people and society. The topics and points-of-view offered in the anthology are vast and interesting. They offer a strong historical and sociological perspective on such issues as prison
The different "isms" such as sexism, heterosexism, and racism are creating very real schisms -- in our minds, and between people. The chasms of communication that are created by hatred and misunderstanding are socially constructed. They can be socially deconstructed too. Such rifts occur between groups of people and between whole cultures. In some pockets of the United States, social conservatism threatens to erase the social progress made since the
Bright Lights, Bobby Benedicto describes the urban gay subculture in Manila within the context of the "global scene." The points Benedicto makes in Under Bright Lights can be applied to variety of issues related to race, class, gender, and social power. Benedicto provides a sociological analysis of gay Manila primarily through a Marxist lens. The author endeavors to show how the "gay scene" has built itself unconsciously upon a
Pecola Breedlove's experiences in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye symbolize the internalization of sexism and racism. On the contrary, Anita Hill's willingness to stand up and speak out against a powerful male official represents the externalization of sexism and racism. Anita Hill lacks the self-hatred embodied by the character of Pecola, but in spite of her confidence and poise, lacks the power or wherewithal to undermine institutionalized sexism. Although Hill
Cultural identity formation theories reveal the intersections between race, class, gender, sexuality, status, self-concept, and power. Applying critical race theory and racial identity development models to social work can prove tremendously helpful and promotes the overall goals of the profession. It is not just about becoming more culturally competent and aware of structural racism and other factors that might be affecting clients; the work of increasing cultural competence means becoming
Harlem Renaissance was a true flourishing of African-American arts, music, and literature, thereby contributing tremendously to the cultural landscape of the nation. Much Harlem Renaissance literature reflects the experience of the "great migration" of blacks from the rural south to the urban north. Those experiences included reflections on the intersections between race, class, gender, and power. Many of the Harlem Renaissance writers penned memoirs that offer insight into the
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