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Women of Color and Feminism: Seal Studies
In this Seal Studies title, author and professor Maythee Rojas offers a look at the intricate crossroads of being a woman of color. Women of Color and Feminism tackles the question of how women of color experience feminism, and how race and socioeconomics can alter this experience. Rojas explores the feminist woman of color’s identity and how it relates to mainstream culture and feminism. Featuring profiles of historical women of color (including Hottentot Venus, Josefa Loaiza, and Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash), a discussion of the arts, and a vision for developing a feminist movement built on love and community healing, Rojas examines the intersectional nature of being a woman of color and a feminist. Covering a range of topics, including sexuality, gender politics, violence, stereotypes, and reproductive rights, Women of Color and Feminism offers a far-reaching view of this multilayered identity.
This powerful study strives to rewrite race and feminism, encouraging women to “take back the body” in a world of new activism. Women of Color and Feminism encourages a broad conversation about race, class, and gender and creates a discourse that brings together feminism and racial justice movements.
This powerful study strives to rewrite race and feminism, encouraging women to “take back the body” in a world of new activism. Women of Color and Feminism encourages a broad conversation about race, class, and gender and creates a discourse that brings together feminism and racial justice movements.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2010
This is an excellent overview of the history and issues faced by cisgender women of color in the United States.
My major problem with the book is that there is only a passing mention of transgender women in the introduction (and then they are ignored), ironically in a section stating how they are commonly ignored in queer and feminist activism. There are several sections where the experiences of trans women of color communities would have been completely appropriate and on topic, they should not have been left out.
My major problem with the book is that there is only a passing mention of transgender women in the introduction (and then they are ignored), ironically in a section stating how they are commonly ignored in queer and feminist activism. There are several sections where the experiences of trans women of color communities would have been completely appropriate and on topic, they should not have been left out.
March 25, 2016
This book should have been titled "Women of Color and Feminism in the United States". As I was looking specifically for a book about non-US experiences/feminism, this book is pretty much the opposite of what I wanted.
I found it a bit disjointed, too shallow for someone who already has had contact with the subject, yet not very appealing for the beginner. Some parts are a bit annoying such as the insipid anecdotes about being a professor and the random Donna Summer hate.
Also I really hate the use of the expression "third world countries".
I found it a bit disjointed, too shallow for someone who already has had contact with the subject, yet not very appealing for the beginner. Some parts are a bit annoying such as the insipid anecdotes about being a professor and the random Donna Summer hate.
Also I really hate the use of the expression "third world countries".
February 12, 2020
Great modern take on feminism and incorporations by other womxn in different mediums
on-and-off-again
December 12, 2009p. 49: "According to an Amnesty International 2005-2006 study, homicide is the third-leading cause of death among Native American women, and they are victimized 2.5 times more often than other ethnic groups. In addition, one in three Native American women will be raped at some point in their lives, a rate that is more than double that for non-Native women. In most cases, their attackers are non-Native."
p. 54: "Yet perhaps the most frustrating and symbolic of the "inherently violable" ideology of Native American women that Smith identifies is the fact that "tribes do not have the right to prosecute non-Indians for crimes that occur on reservations." At the same time, reservations are usually located far from state and county law enforcement agencies and officers themselves are often reluctant to respond to rape cases since they are not compensated for their time from either the federal government or tribal communities. Even when state or county law enforcement does arrive at a crime scene, it does not have jurisdiction on reservation lands. As Smith concludes, "So, unless state law enforcement is cross-deputized with tribal law enforcement, no one can arrest non-Native perpetrators of crimes on Native land."
WHAT. THE. FUCK. WHAT THE FUCK! WHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCK!
p. 54: "Yet perhaps the most frustrating and symbolic of the "inherently violable" ideology of Native American women that Smith identifies is the fact that "tribes do not have the right to prosecute non-Indians for crimes that occur on reservations." At the same time, reservations are usually located far from state and county law enforcement agencies and officers themselves are often reluctant to respond to rape cases since they are not compensated for their time from either the federal government or tribal communities. Even when state or county law enforcement does arrive at a crime scene, it does not have jurisdiction on reservation lands. As Smith concludes, "So, unless state law enforcement is cross-deputized with tribal law enforcement, no one can arrest non-Native perpetrators of crimes on Native land."
WHAT. THE. FUCK. WHAT THE FUCK! WHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCKWHATTHEFUCK!
October 10, 2011
For being an introductory I didn't find it to be an "easy read". It was clear and concise, but dealt with complex identities and systems of oppresion. Therefore, I recommend having a base of understanding (or experience with!) anti oppression work already in order to get the most out of this read.
March 5, 2022
I read this book for my Women of Color in the US class. and I am happy that I have read this book.
As someone who grew up in Europe, my history classes were more focused on the history of my country, WWI and WWI, on the Soviet Union. When it came to issues of racism, my teachers and textbooks kept quiet.
reading this book helped me open up my eyes towards all the injustice in history people had to suffer, how the government would experiment on vaccines on Native Alaskan people, how the US government would run syphilis trials on African Americans who were infected. They did not treat them, they studied them for 40 years.
Some of the stories in the book terrified me so much that I got ashamed about not knowing about them before. I took pictures and send them to my friends, I translated them into Russian and send them to my family.
this is a book i will definitely remember for a long time
As someone who grew up in Europe, my history classes were more focused on the history of my country, WWI and WWI, on the Soviet Union. When it came to issues of racism, my teachers and textbooks kept quiet.
reading this book helped me open up my eyes towards all the injustice in history people had to suffer, how the government would experiment on vaccines on Native Alaskan people, how the US government would run syphilis trials on African Americans who were infected. They did not treat them, they studied them for 40 years.
Some of the stories in the book terrified me so much that I got ashamed about not knowing about them before. I took pictures and send them to my friends, I translated them into Russian and send them to my family.
this is a book i will definitely remember for a long time
September 14, 2020
This is a primer on women of color and the American feminist movement. If you are new to the topic there is a lot of new and interesting information here. Those who are well versed in this area will find this book disappointing. However, if you accept the book for what it is, a primer introducing the basics to a new audience, you'll find it is a very good book.
June 10, 2021
Informative but maybe dry? Very good reference for a bunch of other literature.
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February 22, 2010Women of Color and Feminism
By Maythee Rojas
Seal Press
Using examples from history, pop culture and the Internet, Rojas—a professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies—
offers insight into the experience of being both a feminist and racially “othered.”
By Maythee Rojas
Seal Press
Using examples from history, pop culture and the Internet, Rojas—a professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies—
offers insight into the experience of being both a feminist and racially “othered.”
December 7, 2010
A very basic intro. Shallow analysis.
April 1, 2011
painful to finish...
January 2, 2012
a basic, but well written introduction
February 5, 2014
Essential reading for everyone, basically.
Want to read
February 2, 2010I also started this in December and didn't finish, gonna get back to it this weekend.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews