Essay on Women, Culture & Politics - Davis, Angela Y.

Women, Culture & Politics by Angela Y. Davis, is a book that states the evolution of the
women’s movement through social and political changes over time. It initially concerns the rise of the
black women movement, at the end of the nineteenth century, through the third wave of it (1980’s),
which tried to renew the movement from the two first waves. These past waves were marked by white
women organizations, reputed to show the close-minded perception of the movement and
racism,“racist inspired flaws of the first and second waves, will have become the inherited flaws of
the third wave”1. Moreover, the apparition in 1895 of the National Association of Colored Women’s
clubs, expressed their principles, which were much more focused on the racist cause. Their purpose
was to benefit all humans, as shown in their famous motto, “Lifting As We Climb” 2, which is related
to promoting the progressive evolution of all human beings regardless of their economic status in
society. Afro-American women understood the need for a new multiracial movement that will
“adresses the main issues affecting poor and working-class women [...] jobs, pay equity, paid
maternity leave, federally subsidized abortions”3. However, it is important to remark that other
internationals issues encouraged this movement, like immigration, discrimination, anti-lesbian and
anti-gay attacks, or also sexism.

Furthermore, a drastic issue faced by Afro-American women is unemployment. By the time

of Reagan’s government, based on capitalistic monetary profit accented by the neglect of social issues
like racism and anti-working class members, the “AFL-CIO estimated that 18 million people [...] were
without jobs' '4, primarily Black people. Reagan’s government was non-voted during the 1984
elections, by 90% of black people. This election also showed the neglect of Jesse Jackson's candidacy,
a black man, whose campaign was based on social struggle, but past racism feminist movement
preferred Geraldine Ferrero, a white woman. Other black feminist candidates were excluded, but one
of them, Shirley Chisholm, decided to create the National Political Congress of Black Women.
Unfortunately, Reagan's candidacy was successful, but with a gender gap in votes, in terms of his
economy, related to the new idea of “feminization of poverty”5. This idea is easily related to the
omnipresent black women’s poverty, thanks to domestic policies from Reagan's administration. Also,
the most oppressed individuals, black women, could benefit from the welfare system because of their
condition which was generally to “have babies at a young age precisely because they’re poor [...] not
have opportunity to acquire education”6. Finally, this book also supports socialist society as it was
firstly the first party to advocate woman suffrage, but also, would create a new social environment.

This reading clearly shows, in my opinion, the original contrast between black and white
women’s visions of the feminist movement by, for example, living different experiences in terms of
sexism. Their life conditions drastically affected their ideology and what the real women movement
tried to fight. I also support black women’s empowerment which I think renewed the movement and
its worldwide connotation. Moreover, it is also still shocking how past governments were proud of
their racist principles, as pro-life arguments. Finally, the vicious cycle of black women’s and other
communities' poverty remains unjust, even with the help of the welfare system. The progress of
women’s position in society encourages fighting every day.

1
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics (New York : Random House, 1989), p.7.
2
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics, p.4.
3
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics, p.7.
4
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics, p.8.
5
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics, p.22.
6
Davis, Angela Y, Women, Culture & Politics, p.26.