Racism, Sexism, Power and Ideology (Critical Studies in Racism and Migration)

Racism, Sexism, Power and Ideology argues that there is nothing obvious' or natural' about our ideas of sex and race. The book looks at the evolution of these ideas. Guillaumin contends that the slow crystallization of ideas on human races' over the last few centuries can be grasped through the study of signs and their systems. However, race and sex are in no way purely abstract or symbolic phenomena. They are the hard facts of society. To be a man or woman, black or white are matters of social reality. To be a member of a particular race or sex does not bring with it the same opportunities, the same rights or the same constraints. The author examines how these constraints operate and shape our life experience. From a more theoretical standpoint the text tackles the particular links between the daily materiality of social relationships and mental conventions. Materiality and ideology (in the sense of the perception of things') are two sides of the same coin. Relationships of sex and race follow an ancient history of physical right of the one over the other. Slavery and patriarchy are defined by direct physical rights which is not without its consequences: those who are factually objects in social relationships (the mental elements of reality) are so equally in thought and reality. Guillaumin Tackles The Links Between The Daily Materiality Of Social Relationships And Mental Conventions. Materiality And Ideology (in The Sense Of 'perception Of Things') Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin: Those Who Are Objects In Social Relations Are So In Both Thought And Reality. Racism, Sexism, Power And Ideology Argues That There Is Nothing 'obvious' Or 'natural' About Our Ideas Of Sex And Race; And Their Historical Evolution Is One Of The Key Concerns Of This Collection Of Essays. Colette Guillaumin Contends That The Slow Crystallization Of Ideas On Human 'races' Over The Last Few Centuries Can Be Traced And Understood Through The Study Of Signs And Their Systems. But Clearly, Race And Sex Are More Than Just Symbolic Phenomena. They Are The Hard Facts Of Society: To Be A Man Or Woman, Black Or White Are Matters Of Social Reality. To Be A Member Of A Particular Race Or Sex Brings With It Different Opportunities, Rights And Constraints. The Study Of Semiotic Systems Must Therefore Be Complemented By An Examination Of Such Material Constraints, Of How They Operate And Shape Our Life Experience. Introduction:(re)constructing The Categories Of 'race' And 'sex': The Work Of A Precursor / Danielle Juteau-lee -- 1. The Specific Characteristics Of Racist Ideology (1972) -- 2. The Idea Of Race And Its Elevation To Autonomous Scientific And Legal Status (1980) -- 3. 'i Know It's Not Nice, But ... ': The Changing Face Of 'race' (1981) -- 4. 'wildcat' Immigration (1984) -- 5. The Rapacious Hands Of Destiny (1984) -- 6. Race And Nature: The System Of Marks (1977) -- 7. Women And Theories About Society: The Effects On Theory Of The Anger Of The Oppressed (1981) -- 8. Sexism, A Right-wing Constant Of Any Discourse: A Theoretical Note (1988) -- 9. The Practice Of Power And Belief In Nature: Part I The Appropriation Of Women (1978) -- 10. The Practice Of Power And Belief In Nature: Part Ii The Naturalist Discourse (1978) -- 11. The Question Of Difference (1979) -- 12. Herrings And Tigers: Animal Behaviour And Human Society (1978) -- 13. Nature, History And 'materialism' (1981). Colette Guillaumin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 8 Introduction (Re)constructing the categories of 'race' and 'sex': the work of a precursor......Page 12 The specific characteristics of racist ideology (1972)......Page 40 The idea of race and its elevation to autonomous scientific and legal status (1980)......Page 72 'I know it's not nice, but': the changing face of 'race' (1981)......Page 110 'Wildcat' immigration (1984)......Page 119 The rapacious hands of destiny (1984)......Page 127 Race and Nature: the system of marks (1977)......Page 144 Women and theories about society: the effects on theory of the anger of the oppressed (1981)......Page 164 Sexism, a right-wing constant of any discourse: a theoretical note (1988)......Page 182 The practice of power and belief in Nature Part I The appropriation of women (1978)......Page 187 The practice of power and belief in Nature Part II The naturalist discourse (1978)......Page 222 The question of difference (1979)......Page 250 Herrings and tigers: animal behaviour and human society (1978)......Page 270 Nature, history and 'materialism' (1981)......Page 285 Index......Page 295 First Published in 2004. This text argues that there is nothing obvious or natural about our ideas of sex and race and looks at the evolution of these ideas. The author contends that the slow crystallization of ideas on human races over the last few centuries can be grasped through the study of signs and their systems. However, race and sex are in no way purely abstract or symbolic phenomena. They are the hard facts of society. To be a man or woman, black or white are matters of social reality. To be a member of a particular race or sex does not bring with it the same opportunities, the same rights or the same constraints. The author examines how these constraints operate and shape our life experience. From a more theoretical standpoint, the text tackles the particular links between the daily materiality of social relationships and mental conventions. Materiality and ideology (in the sense of the perception of things) are two sides of the same coin. Relationships of sex and race follow an ancient history of physical right of the one over the other. Slavery and patriarchy are defined by direct physical rights which is not without its consequences. Racism, sexism, power and ideology argues that there is nothing 'obvious' or 'natural' about our ideas of sex and race; and their historical evolution is one of the key concerns of this collection of essays. Colette Guillaumin contends that the slow crystallization of ideas on human 'races' over the last few centuries can be traced and understood through the study of signs and their systems. But clearly, race and sex are more than just symbolic phenomena. They are the hard facts of society: to be a man or woman, black or white are matters of social reality. To be a member of a particular race or sex brings with it different opportunities, rights and constraints. The study of semiotic systems must therefore be complemented by an examination of such material constraints, of how they operate and shape our life experience. Guillaumin tackles the links between the daily materiality of social relationships and mental conventions. Materiality and ideology (in the sense of 'perception of things') are two sides of the same coin: those who are objects in social relations are so in both thought and reality. Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Preface 8 Introduction (Re)constructing the categories of 'race' and 'sex': the work of a precursor 12 The specific characteristics of racist ideology (1972) 40 The idea of race and its elevation to autonomous scientific and legal status (1980) 72 'I know it's not nice, but': the changing face of 'race' (1981) 110 'Wildcat' immigration (1984) 119 The rapacious hands of destiny (1984) 127 Race and Nature: the system of marks (1977) 144 Women and theories about society: the effects on theory of the anger of the oppressed (1981) 164 Sexism, a right-wing constant of any discourse: a theoretical note (1988) 182 The practice of power and belief in Nature Part I The appropriation of women (1978) 187 The practice of power and belief in Nature Part II The naturalist discourse (1978) 222 The question of difference (1979) 250 Herrings and tigers: animal behaviour and human society (1978) 270 Nature, history and 'materialism' (1981) 285 Index 295 Women's Studies This text argues that there is nothing "obvious" or "natural" about our ideas of sex and race, and looks at the evolution of these ideas. Different opportunities, rights and constraints come into play according to race and sex, and the bearing of these on the shaping of life experience is covered.