Soc215

SOC 215

Reaction Paper #3

April 20, 2009

While reading “Gender, Diversity, and Violence: Extending the Feminist Framework” I was not surprised by the rigid feminist view on domestic violence. I don’t disagree that gender and power need to be taken into consideration. However, the media, whom seems to focus their attention on gender alone, perpetuates the feminist views. These views are then taken into account within law enforcement, courtrooms, government, etc without consideration for other factors (female on male, sexual preference, race, age).

I believe that when female on male abuse, sexual preference, race, age, etc. are excluded from the equation it weakens the feminist view. The issue of domestic violence is then based solely on the experiences of middle class White women. As the article states, “ Feminist analysis has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of wife abuse, yet it has produced relatively less insight into child abuse or elder abuse”. “ White feminists have been more concerned with expectations of docility, gender, socialization, housework, body image, and intimate violence”. While feminists focus on the latter issues, women of color have to deal with institutionalized racism and abuse. Leaving women of color less time to focus solely on gender and power. There need to be a cross-pollination of experiences. Then a focus can be placed on group specific issues. For example, maybe then African American women can focus on their significant others, colorism, class, acceptance of their natural physical features, etc.

There must be a fundamental acceptance among women of their own diversity. When that understanding is accepted then women can challenge all other political views, etc. The acceptance of the diversity of all views is an effective approach to responding to what ultimately affects women as a group.