11.1 Gender and Sexuality in African American Communities

Gender and sexuality in African American communities are complex and multifaceted. Black feminism and intersectionality address unique challenges faced by Black women, while toxic masculinity and patriarchy impact gender roles and relationships.

LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination are key issues. Sexual orientation and gender identity intersect with race, creating diverse experiences within African American communities. These topics highlight the importance of understanding intersecting identities.

Gender and Feminism

Intersectionality and Black Feminism

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  Race, Ethnicity, and Discrimination | Introduction to Sociology View original

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• Intersectionality recognizes the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage
• Black feminism emerged as a distinct movement to address the unique experiences and challenges faced by Black women, who often face discrimination based on both their race and gender (misogynoir)
• Black feminists argue that mainstream feminism has historically centered the experiences of white, middle-class women and failed to adequately address issues specific to Black women
• Womanism, a term coined by Alice Walker, is a form of feminism that emphasizes the experiences and perspectives of Black women and other women of color, focusing on their unique struggles and triumphs

Patriarchy and Misogynoir

• Patriarchy refers to a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property
• In patriarchal societies, women are often relegated to subordinate roles and face various forms of oppression and discrimination
• Misogynoir, a term coined by Moya Bailey, specifically describes the unique combination of misogyny and racism directed towards Black women
• Examples of misogynoir include stereotypes of Black women as angry, hypersexual, or undesirable, as well as the disproportionate violence and discrimination they face in various aspects of life

Masculinity and Gender Roles

Toxic Masculinity and Its Impact

• Toxic masculinity refers to a narrow and repressive description of manhood, designating manhood as defined by violence, sex, status, and aggression
• This concept of masculinity can lead to harmful behaviors such as emotional suppression, aggression, and a disregard for self-care
• Toxic masculinity can have negative impacts on both men and women, contributing to issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental health problems among men
• Examples of toxic masculinity include the expectation that men should not show emotion or vulnerability, the glorification of violence and aggression, and the objectification of women

Gender Roles and Identity

• Gender roles are the social and behavioral norms considered appropriate for individuals based on their perceived sex, often divided into masculine and feminine roles
• These roles can vary across cultures and time periods but often involve expectations related to appearance, behavior, and occupations
• Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of being male, female, or another gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth
• Examples of gender roles include the expectation that women should be nurturing and emotional while men should be strong and stoic, or the idea that certain occupations are more suitable for one gender than another

LGBTQ+ Issues

LGBTQ+ Rights and Discrimination

• LGBTQ+ individuals have historically faced significant discrimination and marginalization in various aspects of life, including employment, housing, healthcare, and legal recognition of relationships
• The LGBTQ+ rights movement has fought for equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, and access to healthcare
• Despite progress, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face challenges such as higher rates of poverty, homelessness, and violence, particularly among transgender individuals and LGBTQ+ people of color
• Examples of LGBTQ+ discrimination include the denial of services based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the use of conversion therapy to attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation, and the disproportionate targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals for hate crimes

Sexual Orientation and Identity

• Sexual orientation refers to an individual's enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or other genders
• Sexual orientation exists along a continuum and can include identities such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual
• Sexual orientation is distinct from gender identity, which refers to a person's internal sense of being male, female, or another gender
• Examples of sexual orientations include homosexuality (attraction to the same gender), heterosexuality (attraction to the opposite gender), and bisexuality (attraction to both same and other genders)