Harmonizing Class Differences by Intersecting Gender, Sexuality and Race
← Soul | Immigration in New Zealand → |
THESIS: HARMONIZING CLASS DIFFERENCES BY INTERSECTING GENDER, SEXUALITY AND RACE
Executive summary
The contemporary society has been divided along different lines to form different classes. The major tools of division include, gender, race, sexuality and class itself. Each group on one side of the divide is usually prejudiced against the other. It is however possible to harmonize these differences through intersecting these aspects. The foregoing analysis focuses on how race, gender, sexuality and class cause division in the society and how they can be harmonized. Dorothy Allison’s narrative, White Trash will form the basis of the analysis. Her other works like Bustard of California will also be referred to, to give a bigger picture.
Introduction
Intersectionality is a term that is used more often in feminist theory. It roots from analytical approach aimed at addressing the correlation between several social aspects viz. gender, race, sexuality and class, among others. The intersection between class, race, gender and sexuality can best be understood by analyzing Dorothy Allison’s work especially her work; White Trash. Dorothy is a renowned novelist, poet and a short story writer. Besides White Trash, she has written other novels like; Bastard out of California and Cavedweller which have all been recognized for awards. She is also a winner of Robert Pen’s Fiction Award for the year 2007. Among her various works, White Trash will form the basis of the foregoing analysis. This novel deals with issues that affect the modern society.
In White Trash, Dorothy seems to be shameful about the society from which she was brought up. This is mainly because that society is characterized by poverty. In fact, at one point in time, she admits that she feels like denying her own society. The myth behind White Trash gives us an opportunity to examine the manner in which we live in the modern society. According to Dorothy, we often dismiss each other on the basis of race, gender, sexuality and class. These are factors that continue to support inequality in the society. Intersectionality actually resists divisions on basis of race, gender, class or even sexuality and seeks to harmonize differences among the members of the society.
GENDER AND CLASS
In traditional society, women mainly play the role of house wives and were actually not allowed to do a public employment (Masson 83). In Allison’s Bustard of California, the masculine gender exhibited chauvinism over the feminine gender. This is illustrated by Parson, Anney’s first husband who remained objected to her working. Parson would spend his time participating in car races. He used the income that he obtained to provide for his family. He could also prove his manhood by getting Anney pregnant. Allison says that Anney had been forced to go to work by economic hardships. She finds it rather absurd since she is used to being taken care of by her husband. This implies that in the ordinary course of events, women could not be a working class gender. The role of men in a traditional setting was to provide for the family. The current engagement of women in public employment has been met with opposition from different communities in almost equal measure. The impression here is that gender was a dividing factor for the working and the non-working class. This myth has been demystified by Dorothy Allison’s work that is categorical to mention that in her family, women support their men, a role that was expected to be assumed by men themselves. This is contrary to the current world’s situation where women are oppressed and disempowered. This shows how class and gender are intersecting to harmonize class differences.
CLASS AND SEXUALITY
Allison also reflects on an intersection between class and sexuality. She notes that white working-class women living in the midst of wicked sexuality are privileged with maternal strength. They are able to endure sexual immorality. She also describes how working class women face difficulties of being accepted, respectable and heterosexual in the society. She says that working-class women living with their white trash heterosexuality are marginalized. She tries to draw a distinction between women who are in control and also enjoy their sexuality and those who don’t. She purports that working-class women are usually unable to enjoy their sexuality which makes them experience sexual shame.
Dorothy Allison further illustrates the intersection between class and sexuality by describing her history. She shows how sexuality transformed the lives of some members of their family from being poor to being economically well-up. Allison says that when she was living in South Carolina with her family, they were absolutely poor and there existed no opportunity of moving out of poverty. This meant that they had been locked in a white trash identity; poverty. The women in her family could hardly move out of poverty. However, they later realized that their sexuality had an economic value and had to use it as a platform to overcome poverty. This implies that they would no longer live in the poverty class. Though these women refused to work in the capacity of maids, they could work as waitresses as well as on the counter. In a nutshell, they used their sexuality to gain self esteem and respect among the members of the society. This shows how a person can actually use his/her sexuality to move to another class higher in the societal hierarchy.
Personal Opinion
Comparison between the role played by race, gender, class and sexuality in Allison’s work
In her narrative, Allison has used gender to play the main role. For instance, men and women are found to assume distinct duties. Men had been viewed as more physically strong than women. A man was therefore expected to raise income and take care of his family. Women on the other hand were supposed to stay at home and assume the role of house wives; cooking and washing. However, Allison demystified this trend by making Boatright women unique; they had jobs and supported their husbands and families. Aunts Raylene and Alma for instance lived by themselves and were self sufficient. Another way that gender plays an imperative role in Dorothy Allison’s work is the relationship between Anne and Glen in California Bustard. Anne completely submits herself to Glen since she loves him. However, Glen takes advantage of her and abuses her.
It is also important to note that the differences caused by the four aspects viz. race, gender and class requires different degree of efforts to harmonize (Bettie, 23). It is easier to harmonize differences caused by race, gender and sexuality than it is to harmonize differences caused by class. Harmonizing differences between the rich and the poor in terms of economic class is almost impossible.
In the narrative, race plays a minor role. The intersection between race and class is demonstrated where Bone meets black people. Instead of scorning and judging them, he actually makes friends out of them. The four aspects are however important and represents what is actually happening in the contemporary society. It is ethically wrong and morally incorrect to despise others; regard them as white trash due to gender, class, sexuality or even racial differences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender, race, sexuality and class are factors that can be used to cause division among the members of the society. Differences emerging from the first three factors; gender, race and sexuality are what can actually result to different classes in the society (Jones, 26). One class can refer to the other as Trash due to such differences. For instance, Allison’s family could be termed as white trash by the affluent families solely because of poverty. In fact, her mother hated being referred to as trash. This means that the poor were not acceptable in the world of the rich. In her narration, Allison also shows how sexual orientation can be used as a dividing factor among members of the society. Her support for lesbianism resulted to her being treated with contempt. This made some people to call her a trash. Dorothy Allison however notes that such differences can be reconciled. She for instance notes how gender and class intersect to make males and females more or less the same.
In Bastards of California, Allison notes that there were defined roles for men and women in the society. This resulted in two classes where men were the working class and women the non-working class. The difference is however reconciled by economic hardships where Anney is forced to go working, contrary to her husband’s expectation. Sexuality can also be used to harmonize differences between classes. Allison proves this by saying that women in her family used their sexuality to overcome poverty and become a working class. It is therefore imperative that we try to reconcile major differences in the society as much as possible to promote unity and amend differences.
Joyce T.
New Orleans, LA
|
|
|
I was trying to choose between EssaysEmpire.com and another online writing service and I didn’t know which one to pick. Then, I began to read reviews. I didn’t read even one thing negative about EssaysEmpire.com, and the other site was fraught with complaints. I went with EssaysEmpire.com, and it turned out that all the good things I had read about the service were true. My paper was fully guaranteed, but it was A-1 quality. The customer service people were great. The prices were right. Now, I am a devoted fan. When I need help with my writing, I go straight to EssaysEmpire.com! |
Mark R.
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
I am so happy with my term paper. The writer did a spectacular job!! Thanks to the writing team and also to the customer service team. |
Josef H.
Houston, TX
|
|
|
The topic for my assigned essay was very intense. It involved a lot of research and knowledge of the subject. The writer who took care of it for me seemed to be a real expert. I found that so impressive! I just had to drop a line to let you know how much I appreciated the work he did. |
Kathy M.
Las Cruces, NM
|
|
|
To EssaysEmpire.com: Thank you for my outstanding paper. When I read it, I knew that I would get an A+ on it. Also, thanks for adding all of the pertinent details that I asked you to customize. You did a brilliant job. Just brilliant. |
Kris K.
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
I would like to say thanks to writer #48376 for doing such an astonishing job on my paper. I really gave him very little to go on. Still, he was able to do the research and come up with a champion paper for me. I am speechless. I didn’t expect anything nearly this good. |
Billie N.
Atlanta, GA
|
|
|
EssaysEmpire.com is the only writing company that I can trust with my important writing projects. I have learned that I can count on your quality and ability without fail. Thank you, EssaysEmpire.com, for only hiring the best writers. I wouldn’t dream of using any other writing service. |
Melissa C.
Rochester, NY
|
|
|
I am completely satisfied with the paper I purchased from your company. I only wish I had known about you last year when I took an F grade for not being able to complete a paper on time. The work you did was marvelous. Whenever I find myself falling behind in my school work, I will be sure to pass along some of my more difficult written assignments to you |
Mary R.
New York
|
|
|
Writer #48376 was very easy to work with. My professor made some changes to his requirements after he had assigned the paper. All I had to do was call your customer service and request to speak with the writer directly. Was able to relay the changes that my professor wanted, and he (writer #48376) accommodated them with no problem. I thought that was great. No headaches and perfect work. I couldn’t ask for a better experience! |
Steve P.
Portland, OR
|
|
|
I am beginning to understand why your writing service was recommended to me so highly. Everything you do is a cut above your competition. You’re really great! |
Bruce R.
Tulsa, OK
|
|
|
Thanks for everything. You guys know how to write so well! I will call on you again in the future. |
Cleo C.
Wichita, KS
|
|
|
To the writers at EssaysEmpire.com: Next week, I will be graduating with a degree in clinical psychology. Over the course of my college years, I have had to turn to you for help many times. Each and every time, you produced some of the highest quality writing my professors had ever seen. Because of you, I was able to keep a high grade point average and get into an excellent grad school. There are simply no words adequate enough to fully express my appreciation, so I’ll simply say, “thank you” and let it go at that. Please know that you are appreciated. |
Louise O.
Oakland, CA.
|
|
|
The A+ that I got on the paper that I ordered from you, helped boost my grade up an entire letter grade! Thanks, EssaysEmpire.com! |
Nancy T.
Little Rock, AR
|
|
|
The quality of the work produced by your professional writers is second to none. No wonder you have the reputation for being the best writing service online! You certainly met up to all of my expectations! You’re the best, for sure. |
Sarah H.
Brooklyn, NY
|
|
|
As always, I can count on EssaysEmpire.com to never let me down. I had to place an emergency order and was worried that I had not given the writer enough time to do a good job. I was wrong. They did a tremendous job! Thanks ever so much! |
Gaia W.
Lexington, OK
|
|
|
EssaysEmpire.com gets an A+ for being the best writing service a student could ever ask for! Thank you for your continued high quality work, guys. I have purchased 6 papers from you over the last two years and they have been exquisite in their workmanship and content. I really appreciate how hard you guys work to please your customers. I’m not surprised that you are reported to be the best writing company online or off. To me, you are exactly that. |
Royce B.
Dallas, TX
|
|
|
It is so refreshing to work with a writing service as professional as EssaysEmpire.com. Everything from your website, to your customer service workers to the writing itself, is top rate. I recommend you highly to anyone who will listen. |
Susan L.
Ashland, OR
|
|
|
The writer who worked on my paper far exceeded what I asked of him. The paper is better than I thought it would be. I got an A+ on it! Thanks! |
Hillary M.
Santa Cruz, CA
|
|
|
I received 100 points out of a possible 100 for the paper that you wrote for me. |
Shirley R.
Casper, WY
|
|
|
I would be honored to recommend your writing service to all of my friends. I don’t usually recommend anything unless I truly believe it to be a good thing. EssaysEmpire.com is a good thing! |
Mark M.
Cambridge, MA
|
|
|
The paper I ordered from EssaysEmpire.com is incomparable! Thanks for doing such stellar work. I have recommended your services to a few other folks who plan to try you out soon. EssaysEmpire.com gets my vote for best writing service every time. |