Chapter 5 continued Summary and Analysis

She writes of how creating and endeavoring to share her growing theoretical work was often criticized. She felt that the 'white men' were in control of what constitutes 'good theory' and 'good work' and 'what most demands attention.' She felt that there was a basic problem wherein theoretical work proposed by 'colored women' might not be properly assessed.

Readers can see that part of this is about setting standards and part of it is about holding to them. When standards have been set that automatically insist that feminist theory or the work of colored women will be excluded, then obviously there is a problem with the systems that control the very criteria for inclusion. At the same time, while the author expresses legitimate misgivings and anxieties it is also true that there are times when to achieve higher...