Womanism

Four Dimension of Womanist Theory

Womanism encompasses philosophic and cultural elements central to both Afrocentric and feminist theories. Collins argues that womanist thought does not seek to raise consciousness but rather seeks to affirm and rearticulate a consciousness that already exists. She characterizes four dimensions of womanist theory, known as the Afrocentric feminist epistemology, which includes (1) concrete experience as a criterion of meaning, (2) use of dialogue in assessing knowledge claims, (3) an ethic of caring, and (4) an ethic of personal responsibility. Embedded within these four dimensions are the intertwining realities of race, class, and gender that human beings experience in society on a daily basis. In fact, it is possible to illustrate these intersections with a triangle such that race, class, and gender form the intersecting lines of the reality and the womanist perspective views these realities from within the triangle. Barkley-Brown has further likened the womanist perspective to polyrhythmic reality, as reflected in the symmetry of African American women's quilts.

The concept of polyrhythmic reality suggests that human beings have multiple realities and different understandings of them that either enhance or retard their ability to engage in critical reflective learning at a particular time. Consequently, polyrhythms or intersecting realities are experienced simultaneously by everyone at all times.

This concept represents a departure from Western, linear notions of the world and reality, since polyrhythms are characteristic of the aesthetic sense as reflected in African American art, music, dance, and language. According to Barkley-Brown, the symmetry in African American quilts does not come from uniformity as it does in Euro-American quilts. Instead, the symmetry is reflected in diversity. This concept of polyrhythms is analogous to the womanist perspective proposed by Walker in 1983. Although womanism helps us to understand and grapple with our polyrhythmic realities in theory, it is in no way meant to be the only method for doing so in practice.

...