Women, Race and Class in A Woman Speaks by Audre Lorde

This dissertation, titled “Women, Race and Class In A Woman Speaks by Audre Lorde”, has been undertaken as part of my study of literature and social issues, where I developed an interest in understanding how race and gender shape human identity. During the course of my academic journey, I became increasingly aware that systems of oppression such as race and gender are not separate but deeply interconnected. This realization inspired me to explore this topic in detail. While studying literature, I found that the works of Audre Lorde offer a powerful and realistic portrayal of marginalized lives, especially those of Black Women. The poem “A Woman Speaks” presents a how black coloured women are treated in the society. It highlights the racism and gender discrimination faced by the women of our society. This dissertation is an attempt to examine how social structures such as race and gender bias influence the lives of individuals and their identity. It explains how marginalization effects our society and literature becomes a medium of self- expression.