Opinion Assignment #2

The Crenshaw article on intersectionality explains, “Minority women suffer from the effects of multiple subordination, coupled with institutional expectations based on inappropriate nonintersectional contexts, shapes and ultimately limits the opportunities for meaningful intervention on their behalf their own terms“ (Crenshaw, 5). The article further explains how women of color experience racism in ways not always the same as those experienced by men of color and sexism in ways not always parallel to experiences of white women (Crenshaw, 5). A short speech by Sojurner Truth questions the movement of fighting for women’s rights. She is furious because she is being overlooked because of her race. The article by Neil J. Young explained how the women of the Mormon Church helped defeat the equal rights amendment because these women seized the opportunity of a political engagement to serve their church, to secure their eternal fate, and to expand their own power within Mormonism by working to defeat the movement for equality for all women in the United States (Young, 4). These women and their supporters had similar characteristics such as being Mormon, middle-aged females, and had families of their own. The poem from Castillo, gave a message of how women were portrayed and maybe some (other parts of the world) may still believe it.

Considering this weeks readings, it will be difficult to choose an ideal figurehead for the women’s rights movement from 2008 and beyond. I find that it would be quite difficult to find a “ideal” figure for a women’s movement because members want to relate to their leaders that share similar experiences. For example, shared experiences and shared similar beliefs such as activists against the ERA. If I had to choose, I would say my ideal figure for a women’s movement from 2008 and beyond would be a person of color, middle-aged, educated, Christian religion but not be a strong follower, and be part of the green party.

The ideal figure would have to be a woman of color because they deal with more oppressions such as sexism, racism, and some cases classism. She would have to be educated in order to intellectually convey her message and be in her mid 30s to late 40s. I find this important because Claudette Colvin was considered as a highly emotional 15-year-old 11th grader (Hendrickson, 1). However, Rosa Parks was more of small, modest, ascetic-looking, 42-year-old. According to the article, “It’s both that she is known to be a committed civic activist and that she’s known to be a ‘lady’ ... She has a gravitas that encompasses a clear sense of quiet, spiritual strength” (Hendrickson, 10). The ideal iconic figure will be educated to gain respect from fellow supporters and her faith would not be an issue because her beliefs should not be based on what her religion tells her what to believe in. Also, she would be affiliated with the green party because they are similar to my beliefs (and I would have to relate to her).


The benefits of having a iconic figure for the social movement is so that the potential role model can lead the cause. Benefits may include the other people that may agree or disagree with the movement, may remember that iconic figure as what they represent and what movement they belong to. Other benefits may include that this iconic figure will be in charge of talking to the media, while other members of the movement can focus on marketing their cause. However, some potential pitfalls may occur because that one person that represents the movement may be under scrutiny. The media may scrutinize the iconic figure by enclosing discreet information about their personal lives or family background or whatever they can find negative about the person. The issues of the social movement may not be discussed because of these potential distractions that may occur.

The civil rights movement might have developed differently if Claudette Colvin had been chosen spearhead the Montgomery Bus Boycott instead of Rosa Parks because of their different backgrounds as well as there age differences. Rosa Parks was considered respectable by her peers in Montgomery. She had more experience in life than that of Claudette Colvin. Colvin came from a poor family and she became pregnant after the arrest, but she was still seen as not the right role model. Despite these differences, I believe there would have been a similar outcome. Unfortunately, aspects of Colvin’s life were deemed more important than her brave act.