Sumblog 4

In class we discussed the matrix of domination. To sum it up, the matrix of domination is a sociological theory that explains types of oppression that deal with race, class, and gender. Even though they are all recognized as different social groupings, they are all interconnected. Other forms of grouping, such as sexual orientation, religion, or age, can apply to this theory as well.

 

As the term implies, there are many different ways one might experience domination. Some of these could include facing many different challenges in which one obstacle, such as race, may overlap with other features. Things such as race, age, and sex, may affect an individual in extremely different ways. It can even include cases such as varying geography, socioeconomic status, or other factors that can simply vary throughout time. Many feminist authors have contributed a great deal of research toward the understanding and application of domination models in many realms of society. This could be due to the fact that the matrix of domination could relate a lot to feminist’s ideas.

An example of this could be that a male, classed as the dominant gender in a patriarch society, has the privilege of higher wages than a female. This is a very good example for the matrix of domination and privileges of males in patriarchy. Women are confined to a lower social status which is expressed by the prejudices against the female gender concerning the value of their work.

One quote I found on the matrix of denomination that I found to be particularly intriguing is, “the fact that gender and race intensify each other’s impact in wage discrimination but interfere with each other in community organizing does not make them weaker categories, but makes each more effective as a system of domination, becoming an important characteristic of each system.” I really liked how this was worded and how it described this separation.