Historically grounded, making excellent use of oral history, interviews, music, poetry, fiction, and scholarly literature, hill proposes to illuminate black womens standpoint. A significant aspect of black feminism is intersectionality. Patricia hill collins introduction matrix of domination is the sociological theory of paradigm that deals with the issues of oppression that are related to gender, race, class, and sexual orientation, which was introduced by patricia hills collins. Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment boston. Black feminist thought the flame by unite youth dublin. Patricia hill collins looks at the phenomenon of intersectionality through the doors of two basic components of humanity, race and gender. Collins references crenshaws concept of intersectionality and relates it to the matrix of domination, the term matrix of domination describes this overall social organization within which intersecting oppressions originate, develop, and are contained. She is a distinguished university professor of sociology at the university of maryland, college park. Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination from patricia hill collins, black feminist thought. Pdf the matrix of oppression and privilege researchgate.
The main contribution of the idea of the matrix of domination is the introduction of a bothand. Patricia hill collins is principally concerned with the relationships among empowerment, selfdefinition. Patricia hill collins american sociologist britannica. Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination the advent of the contemporary womens movement became strong and widespread after the 1960s. The matrix of domination refers to an interlocking system of oppression based on race, class, gender, and sexuality. First introduced by the sociologist patricia hill collins, the matrix of domination is a concept that draws attention to the inherent complexity of privilege as it operates in. While intersectionality helps shed light on contemporary social issues, collins notes that it has yet to reach its full potential as a critical social theory. Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment, published in 1990. She not only provides an interpretive framework for the work of such prominent black feminist thinkers as angela davis, alice walker, and audre lorde, but she shows the importance of selfdefined knowledge for group. Patricia hill collins outlined america black feminism through the expression in music, fiction, poetry, and oral history. In intersectionality as critical social theory patricia hill collins offers a set of analytical tools for those wishing to develop intersectionalitys capability to theorize social inequality in ways that would facilitate social change.
Smith 47 references article sources and contributors 49 image sources, licenses and contributors 50 article licenses license 51. When discussing gender from a feminist perspective, it is necessary in todays complex society to frame the discussion further, recognizing that gender is not an isolated concept, but works in conjunction with other social categories in a matrix of domination. She was educated in philadelphia, a northern city public that allowed for social mobility, an unwavering challenge for black women at this time. The term matrix of domination is associated with the feminist thought of patricia hill collins, who came to prominence in the academic movement that arose from. In black feminist thought, patricia hill collins explores the words and ideas of black feminist intellectuals as well as those africanamerican women outside academe. She is also the former head of the department of africanamerican studies at the university of cincinnati, and a past president of the. Matrix of domination is a theoretical approach that explores the interlocking systems of oppression in terms of race, gender, class, and other social categories faced by marginalized or othered. Race, class, and gender as categories of analysis and connection, and it completely changed my worldview, and i always think of it when i think of standpoint epistemology, intersectionality, and matrix of domination.
According to patricia hill collins the matrix of domination is the form assumed by intersecting oppressions in one social location and can be seen as a historically specific organization of power in which social groups are embedded and which they aim to influence7. These black feminists saw intersectionality as integral to the. Hill collins goes on to say that by better understanding how these systems of inequality are interlocked and connected it will better help us understand and deconstruct systems of. She details how it is naive to suggest that one can truly. Jun 18, 2019 patricia hill collins born may 1, 1948 is an active american sociologist known for her research and theory that sits at the intersection of race, gender, class, sexuality, and nationality. Jan 30, 2007 black feminist thought in the matrix of domination the advent of the contemporary womens movement became strong and widespread after the 1960s. In october 2008, a profile of collins was published in footnotes.
Once again, patricia hill collins shines as a masterful scholar of critical inquiry, politics, and social change. Collinss concept of a matrix of domination, advanced in her classic black feminist thought 1990, is. Quantifying the matrix of domination by marian azab a thesis. Patricia hill collins, sociologist and author, discusses her involvement with black feminism and various social justice projects. Patricia hill collins we do a lot more than gender matrix of dominationdifferent identitiesdifferent realities of what being a woman means black women experience oppressions that white women dont. During her time at brandeis, she was heavily involved in bostons black community. The matrix of domination in her book black feminist thought in the matrix of domination patricia hill collins suggests that a social paradigm exists which keeps minority populations at a disadvantage. The matrix of domination or matrix of oppression is a sociological paradigm that explains issues of oppression that deal with race, class, and gender, which, though recognized as different social classifications, are all interconnected. The matrix of domination was developed as a concept to represent the fact that to truly understand oppression we must understand its counter position of privilege women and. Thought, we must examine the matrix of domination, which. She served in 2009 as the 100th president of the american sociological association asa the first african american woman elected to this position. Collins argued that the matrix of oppressionan interlocking system of race. Intersectionality refers to the way gender, race, and other social categories interact to influence an individual life outcomes.
Other forms of classification, such as sexual orientation, religion, or age, apply to this theory as well. Jun 12, 2015 black feminist thought in the matrix of domination patricia hill collins stay safe and healthy. Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment routledge classics 1st edition. The idea that oppressive institutionssystems are interconnected and cannot be examined separately. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary.
Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination just society. Black feminist thought demonstrates black womens emerging poweras agents of knowledge. Black feminist thought by patricia hill collins unite youth dublin. Although few period of mobilization for the feminist cause existed prior to the 1960s, those causes were primarily around issues of suffrage and employment. For instance, in the 1970s, a group of black women formed the combahee river collective. Quantifying the matrix of domination by marian azab a.
Her project locates lived experiences of oppression within the. Another way of approaching power views it as not something that groups possess but as an intangible entity that circulates within a particular matrix of domination and to which. Black womens experiences in the center of analysis without privileging those experiences collins, 2000, p. You can watch the full program on ualr university television. Patricia hill collins is credited with introducing the theory in her work entitled black feminist thought. Patricia hill collins is the 100th president of the asa and.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. A few years ago, i read patricia hill collins toward a new vision. Patricia hill collins, black feminist thought in the. Collins 1998 argues that there are many addictive models of oppression that are prevalent in the dichotomous thinking of racial, eurocentric, and masculinist thoughts of many people. Black feminist thought demonstrates black womens emerging power as agents of knowledge. Apr 21, 2016 matrix of domination is a theoretical approach that explores the interlocking systems of oppression in terms of race, gender, class, and other social categories faced by marginalized or othered people.
Patricia hill collins born may 1, 1948 is an active american sociologist known for her research and theory that sits at the intersection of race, gender, class, sexuality, and nationality. Pdf is the state part of the matrix of domination and. The matrix of domination refers to how political domination on the macrolevel. Matrix of domination is the sociological theory of paradigm that deals with the issues of oppression that are related to gender, race, class, and sexual orientation, which was introduced by patricia hills collins. Sociologist patricia hill collins developed and explained the concept of intersectionality in her groundbreaking book, black feminist thought. The term matrix of domination is associated with the feminist thought of patricia hill collins, who came to prominence in the academic movement that arose from womens activism in the 1960s and 1970s.
Patricia hill collins was born may 1st, 1948 to eunice randolph hill and albert hill. This marginalization is due to powers that dominate them in socioeconomic situations. Patricia hill collins multilevel matrix of domination captures a complex system of interlocking barriers in a manner that at once illustrates oppressions omnipresent, allconsuming nature and at the same time makes effecting change appear to be an accessible goal for almost every individual. Even though i realize that many in the current administration would not share this assumption, let us assume that the institutions of american society discriminate, whether by design or by accident. Collins goes into a lot of depth about womanism in her book, a great impact on the matrix of domination. First introduced by the sociologist patricia hill collins, the matrix of domination is a concept that draws attention to the inherent complexity of privilege as it operates in social systems and shapes peoples lives. The matrix of domination is actually described by patricia hill collins as a model that provides the framework to understand how categories are formed and then transferred into systems of inequality and oppression. Knowledge,consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Feb 03, 2015 patricia hill collins multilevel matrix of domination captures a complex system of interlocking barriers in a manner that at once illustrates oppressions omnipresent, allconsuming nature and at the same time makes effecting change appear to be an accessible goal for almost every individual. Matrix of domination is a theoretical approach that explores the interlocking systems of oppression in terms of race, gender, class, and other social categories faced by marginalized or othered people. She not only provides an interpretive framework for the work of such prominent black feminist thinkers as angela davis, alice walker, and audre lorde, but she shows the importance.
Collinss concept of a matrix of domination, advanced in her. Patricia hill collins, black feminist thought in the matrix. The matrix of domination is actually described by patricia. From patricia hill collins, black feminist thought.
Matrix of domination limpangog major reference works. Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination campus. Matrix of domination devault major reference works. Aug 16, 2017 the definition of the matrix of domination as it is explained by patricia hill collins is the interlocking system of oppression based on race, class, and sexuality. She went on to go to brandeis university and received her ba in sociology in 1969. Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination. Her project locates lived experiences of oppression within the social contexts that produce those experiences. Patricia hill collins 1948 is distinguished professor of sociology at the university of maryland, college park.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Another way of approaching power views it as not something that groups possess but as an intangible entity that circulates. As patricia hill collins 1990 put it in her awardwinning book, black feminist. Intersectionality 1 matrix of domination 7 postfeminism 8 standpoint theory 10 feminist theory 19 patricia hill collins 28 kimberle williams crenshaw 31 secondwave feminism 32 dorothy e. The definition of the matrix of domination as it is explained by patricia hill collins is the interlocking system of oppression based on race, class, and sexuality. She observes the black woman, or the black feminine, as the ultimate image of inequality that results from the. Matrix of domination sociology of gender iresearchnet. The matrix of domination by patricia hill collins 1060. What patricia hill collins gives us is a way of transcending group specific politics that is based upon black feminist epistemology. Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment 1990 proposed a form of standpoint theory that emphasized the perspective of african american women.
According to patricia hill collins, the matrix of domination is the interlocking systems of oppression that includes race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, disability and age. Patricia hill collins we do a lot more than gender matrix of domination different identitiesdifferent realities of what being a woman means black women experience oppressions that white women dont. However, it is vital to note that her intent is to place u. Patricia hill collins born may 1, 1948 is an american academic specialising in race, class and gender.
Patricia hill collins american sociological association. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. She provides an interpretive framework for the work of such prominent black feminist thinkers as angela davis, bell hooks, alice walker, and audre lorde. Collins suggests that the way to solve the conflict is. Using patricia hill collinss matrix of domination we can realize that the mens actions are a result of the difference between their gender, which leads to a desire to over power and oppress women in so called entanglement situations. Black feminist thought is the best known of the many published works that have made her one of the leading american thinkers of our day. What is patricia hill collins standpoint within the matrix of domination. While conceptualizing systemic subordination can often make it seem too large to bear. Patricia hill collins new work is a marvelous and engaging account of the social construction of black feminist thought. Patricia hill collins defines it in a specific social.
Patricia hill collins and sirma bilges book, intersectionality, is from the key concepts series from polity, joining the publishers other concept books on topics like work, childhood, democracy, poverty, and justice. Patricia hill collins black feminism thought in the matrix of domination. Feb 25, 2018 matrix of domination meaning matrix of dominati. Patricia hill collins and valerie chepp the oxford handbook of gender and politics. Today intersectionality is a mainstay concept of critical race studies, feminist studies, queer studies, the sociology of globalization, and a critical sociological approach. Patricia hill collins is credited with introducing. She is also the former head of the department of africanamerican studies at the university of cincinnati, and a past president of the american sociological association. I live each day as an african american woman a racegender specific experience. Other articles where patricia hill collins is discussed. Each group, and even each individual, has a slightly different experience of oppression determined by where they are in the matrix their. According to patricia hill collins, intersectional analysis does not account for every oppression but assesses which oppressions impact on any. Oct, 2019 collins and a matrix of domination while crenshaws discussion of intersectionality centered on what she has referred to as the double bind of race and gender, patricia hill collins broadened the concept in her book black feminist thought.