The question of discrimination has been an important issue ever since. In history there have always been human beings that were considered to be inferior to others. There are many reasons that caused people to consider other people to be less valuable and consequently made them think that these people can and have to be treated in a different, mostly unfair way due to their not belonging to the dominant majority. The most prominent forms of discrimination are due to racial, sexual, and social differences. If a person does not fit into the predominating norms he or she is often regarded as being no equal member of the society to which he or she belongs. Such people often try to assimilate into the society that oppresses them and adjust to the dominant majority as much as possible. But since there has been discrimination there have always been people who would not let anybody force them to be an outcast. They do not want to deny who and what they are and they struggle to be accepted and respected like everybody else. That is why whole movements like the Civil Rights Movement or the Women’s Movement evolved in the United States of America to improve the situation of discriminated people and put an end to their subordinate roles within their society.
Black feminists or womanists are the ones that deal with the discrimination of black women in particular. The struggles of African American women for equality can not only be seen in everyday life but in literary texts as well. Although the term womanism was not coined until the 1980’s, the “concept” of black feminism had of course appeared in many literary works before that time.
An example for that is Lorraine Hansberry’s award-winning play A Raisin in the Sun. The drama about an African American working class family, which comes to money, is a portrait of a typical black family, their dreams, and their struggles to realise these dreams. One of these family-members is Beneatha – a young, black woman who has to assert herself over the values of her family and the prejudices of her society. Although the play addresses several topics like the “[…] value systems of the black family; concepts of African American beauty and identity; class and generational conflicts; the relationships of husbands and wives, black men and women [and] feminism […]” (Hansberry 1994, p.6), it will be the aim of this term paper to focus on black feminism and Beneatha’s struggles within the play in particular. [...]
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Womanism – A Definition
- 3. Beneatha's role within the play
- 4. Is Beneatha a Womanist?
- 4.1. Beneatha and Race
- 4.2. Beneatha and Class
- 4.3. Beneatha and Gender
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to analyze the presence of womanism in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, focusing specifically on the character of Beneatha. It will examine how Beneatha's experiences intersect with race, class, and gender to shape her identity and her response to societal oppression.
- Womanism as a theoretical framework for understanding Black female experience.
- Beneatha's struggle against racial prejudice and discrimination.
- The interplay of class and gender in shaping Beneatha's life and choices.
- Beneatha's aspirations and challenges in navigating a patriarchal society.
- The representation of Black feminism in A Raisin in the Sun.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the historical context of discrimination based on race, sex, and class. It highlights the struggles of marginalized groups to achieve equality and acceptance within society, emphasizing the particular challenges faced by African American women. The chapter introduces Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun as a case study for exploring the themes of Black feminism and womanism, focusing on the character of Beneatha and her experiences within the play. The chapter sets the stage for a deeper examination of womanism and its application to Beneatha's life, outlining the main arguments and themes to be discussed in the following chapters.
2. Womanism - A Definition: This chapter provides a detailed exploration of the concept of womanism, primarily drawing upon Alice Walker's definition from In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens. It analyzes Walker's four key aspects of womanism: its relationship to feminism, the emphasis on unity and loyalty among women, the celebration of Black female culture and identity, and its distinction from mainstream feminism based on the added dimension of race. The chapter also examines alternative perspectives on womanism and black feminism, incorporating insights from The Oxford Companion to African American Literature and bell hooks' work to highlight the triple oppression experienced by Black women due to race, class, and gender. This multifaceted analysis establishes a robust foundation for the subsequent analysis of Beneatha's character and actions within the play.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Raisin in the Sun - Womanism and Beneatha
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the presence of womanism in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, specifically focusing on the character of Beneatha. It examines how Beneatha's experiences intersect with race, class, and gender to shape her identity and response to societal oppression.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores womanism as a theoretical framework for understanding Black female experience; Beneatha's struggle against racial prejudice and discrimination; the interplay of class and gender in shaping Beneatha's life and choices; Beneatha's aspirations and challenges in a patriarchal society; and the representation of Black feminism in A Raisin in the Sun.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: an introduction establishing the context and outlining the arguments; a chapter defining womanism, drawing on Alice Walker's work and other relevant perspectives; a section analyzing Beneatha's role within the play; a section specifically examining whether Beneatha can be considered a womanist, exploring her interactions with race, class, and gender; and a concluding chapter.
How does the paper define womanism?
The paper delves into Alice Walker's definition of womanism from In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, highlighting its relationship to feminism, its emphasis on unity among women, its celebration of Black female culture, and its distinction from mainstream feminism due to the added dimension of race. It also incorporates other perspectives on womanism and Black feminism, acknowledging the triple oppression faced by Black women.
What aspects of Beneatha's character are analyzed?
The analysis of Beneatha focuses on her experiences with race, class, and gender, exploring how these factors shape her identity, choices, and responses to societal pressures. The paper investigates her aspirations, her challenges in navigating a patriarchal society, and ultimately, whether her experiences align with the definition of womanism established in the paper.
What sources are used in the paper?
The paper draws on various sources, including Alice Walker's In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, The Oxford Companion to African American Literature, and the works of bell hooks to provide a comprehensive understanding of womanism and Black feminism. Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun serves as the primary textual basis for the analysis.
- Quote paper
- Antje Bernstein (Author), 2006, Womanism in Lorraine Vivian Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" - Beneatha and the Triple Oppression of African American Women, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/71334
