Talking Point #6 (Race as a Feminist Issue)

 Audre Lorde
The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House 


    Audre Lorde is an African American feminist lesbian that was asked to speak at a conference of women about the different roles of age,sexuality, race, and class. Lorde the only lesbian of color on the panel noticed the absence of personal and political. Not were women of color excluded from the discussion but so were lesbian, poor black women, and third world women. The conference to Lorde was a sad reflection of racism,sexism,homophobia,while ignoring the opinions of black women and completely excluding lesbians ( who are still women).  *This goes back to compulsory heterosexuality in society, promotion/ acceptance in society to be heterosexual as a women* Audre is using the title of her article as a metaphor for the cycle of abuse that women ( lesbian ,women of color, and women ) use as reinforcement. Oppressed women ( masters) are going to oppress other (tools) since that's what they were taught. To Audre The master's tools will never dismantle the master house until women who are excluded are taught to stand alone, be unpopular because of the beliefs, learning to take your differences and turn them into strengths. By learning how to use these tools you will temporarily dismantle the master's house but you will still be trapped in a house built by the master's tools.

Oppression = Tool

• " .....the role of difference within the lives of american women :difference of race, sexuality, class and age.  (pg 1 paragraph 1)

      * The absence of these considerations weakens any feminist discussion of the personal and political.You have to separate your own beliefs from the beliefs of society.