Audre Lorde\'s \"Age, Race, Class,

¶ … Audre Lorde's "Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference," the author argues that women have traditionally been taught to recognize only one difference, that between women and men (122). Lorde writes that this institution is a "tool of social control," as failing to recognize the differences among women forces a perpetuation of the standard of oppression. Lorde's essay is organized in a logical manner that emphasizes her point -- that the issue of "sisterhood" is not necessarily what it is often characterized as. Instead, women face oppression just as much from within their own sex as they do from men. Lorde begins by discussing this issue, emphasizing the fact that differences among women should not be ignored nor turned into "insurmountable barriers" (115). Next, she moves onto the specifics, targeting class and race, as well as sexual preference. In conclusion, Lorde calls women to engage in a "self-definition," in order to expose the differences that, left unexposed, turn into obstacles.

Questions

In Audre Lorde's "Age, Race, Class, Sex: Women Redefining Difference," the author argues that women need to be aware of the differences that exist among them as a gender group, instead of simply focusing on the differences between themselves and men. What would the author recognize as the importance of distinguishing the differences between men and women? Would she argue that this is important?

Audre Lorde's "Age, Race, Class, Sex: Women Redefining Difference," discusses the fact that women may have negative feelings towards homosexuality and lesbianism because they have been taught to hate women by patriarchal societies. In what ways, if any, does this or similar attitudes affect the issue of women's attitude toward homosexuality in the form of gay men?

In Eli Clare's "Stone's in My Pockets, Stones in My Heart," is primarily a memoir, a story of a woman's journey from confused child and teenager to lesbian. The contents of this memoir, however, are much more far reaching than a single person's story. Through her experience and analysis, Clare brings out two themes -- the inappropriateness of gender identities and the connection between bodies and powers. Clare's first theme is encompassed in her constant feelings of isolation, and her inability to define herself. As a child, all Clare knew were the differences between men and women. As someone who had never been feminine, she wondered what kind of women she was. The fact that she was raped by her father made things even more difficult. Using this experience, Clare transitions to her second point. She argues that her father's violent act with her body, and other parents' violent acts with their children's bodies, was a lesson teaching the children that they are not powerful. Furthermore, Clare discusses physical disability, including her own, suggesting that disability is equated with subordinates, or a lack of power. Thus, through this essay, Clare takes issue with the status quo, arguing that it is not broad enough to affect all.