- Trakya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
- Cilt: 27 Sayı: 1
- Matrix of Domination and Ontological Struggle of the Black Woman in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand
Matrix of Domination and Ontological Struggle of the Black Woman in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand
Authors : Hüseyin Altındiş
Pages : 84-94
Doi:10.26468/trakyasobed.1650920
View : 32 | Download : 15
Publication Date : 2025-06-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Through an intersectional theoretical framework, this paper examines how multiple, interlocking systems of oppression—what Patricia Hill Collins terms the ‘matrix of domination’—fundamentally shape Black women’s lived experiences in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand. While African American women writers have long depicted the multilayered oppressions facing Black women, applying intersectionality as both analytical lens and praxis offers profound insights into protagonist Helga Crane`s navigation of overlapping societal constraints. This study shows how Crane’s experiences embody the complex interplay of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity that simultaneously regulate her autonomy, social mobility, and sense of self. By analyzing how Crane’s intersecting identities influence her access to resources, interpersonal relationships, and resistance strategies, this paper demonstrates how Larsen’s narrative presciently articulates key concepts in contemporary intersectional theory. This intersectional reading reveals dimensions of the text that remain obscured by single-axis analyses, highlighting Larsen’s sophisticated portrayal of how power operates through interlocking systems rather than discrete categories of oppressionKeywords : siyah feminizm, kesişimsellik, çifte bilinç, ırk
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