Analysis Of Patricia Hill Collins Learning From The Insider Within By Patia Hill Collins

Contemporary sociology grows from work of the past, this is no different in the manner that Patricia Hill Collins builds off W.E.B Du Bois understanding of double consciousness. In her essay, “Learning from the Insider Within: The Sociological Significance of Black Feminist Thought”, Patricia Hill Collins analyses Black feminist thought through a discourse following three distinct themes that allow for Black Women within the field of sociology an unique perspective outside the boundaries. Collins diverges into the topic by breaking down the historical example of “outsider within” which provides black women a distinct point of critical lens that is beneficial. Following, Collins “[examines] the sociological significance of the Black feminist

Placing it in a historical and racial framework, both terms serve of major importance in the larger subject. For instance, self-definition, involves challenging the political knowledge-validation process that resulted in the construct and portrayal of stereotypical images of Afro-American womanhood. Whereas self-valuation stresses the content of Black women’s self-definitions, successfully replacing externally-derived images with authentic Black female images (Collins 2000). By presenting both definitions Collins provides an inclusive presentation of both affecting terms. To further explore some of the marginalized subjugation that Black women struggle with, Collins includes a passage from an interview conducted by Ms. White which aims to bring to light an image of a white woman as the white man’s dog and the black woman as the white man’s mule. Serving as a powerful image, the example portrays the stereotypes that women in general face in particular the class division within white and black women face under the white male dominant structures. In tying back the terms of self-valuation and self-definition, Collins explores the dynamics that are involved the themes in Black feminist thought, adding the interlocking nature of oppression, and the importance of redefining culture. Compiled together these themes are what Collins utilizes to question and critique the engagement of Black academics within the realm of sociology. In particular Collins explores “…how the combination of sociology’s paradigms and Black women’s outsider within status as sociologists” led to the questioning and research in various subjects (2000). This is a similarity that Du Bois and Collins shared in that the structure they were a part of—the study of sociology—allocated them and their research as less than, because it did