I found the guest speaker from the YWCA domestic violence intervention and prevention program some what eye-opening due to the fact that there are thousands of women, in the greater- area alone, experiencing so many different types of abuse everyday and I feel like I am oblivious to it. Before having the speaker point out that there is a range of races that come in to the program and the Crenshaw article’s mention of how immigrant women experience such programs, I never really ever considered how women from different cultures deal with abuse, all while living in America.
Between the language barrier, different cultural norms, and other varying factors that exist amongst different cultures, there are so many variables to be considered in order to have these programs to not only exist but also better serve women as a whole, despite cultural or racial differences. Audre Lorde’s -Sister Outsider, stressed the importance of discussing and recognizing the differences that exist amongst women and at first, I have to admit, I was not sure that pointing out the differences of women was an important step nor as necessary as simply helping the abused women. Now I understand that in order to help these women the differences need to be recognized and methods of helping and serving these women need to be adjusted accordingly in order to better serve.
Other points of Audre Lorde’s – Sister Outsider that I found interesting were her comments about the economic influence on our understanding of differences in America. How this country is set up and how success is determined in America undoubtedly affects how differences are categorized and economics, wealth, and the concept of a capitalistic society are just as important in the study of gender and/or race as any other more obvious concept, however I had not realized this nor truly understood this before reading this article.
Based on this weeks readings I better understand how differences need to be noted and considered when trying to right the wrongs society.
