Power and Politics – Summary and Exercise Solutions
Power and Politics: An Open Letter to Mary Daly | Class 11 English
This unit focuses on a powerful piece of correspondence from Audre Lorde, a Black lesbian feminist poet, to Mary Daly, a white feminist scholar. Lorde critiques Daly’s book Gyn/Ecology for its "exclusionary feminism."
While acknowledging the book's importance, Lorde points out a major flaw: Daly focuses almost exclusively on the history and myths of Western European (white) women while relegating the experiences and struggles of non-white women to mere "examples of victimization."
The lesson explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and power, emphasizing that true feminism cannot exist if it ignores the unique oppression faced by Black women. It challenges the "patriarchal Western European frame of reference" that often dominates academic and political discourse.
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Working with Words
A. Find the words from the text for these meanings:
a. Reluctance: Unwillingness or disinclination to do something.
b. Repressive: Preventing the expression or awareness of thoughts or desires.
c. Mutilation: The infliction of serious damage on something.
d. Ghettoized: Restricted to an isolated or segregated place, group, or situation.
e. Herstory: Feminist history viewed from a female or specifically feminist perspective.
f. Genital: Relating to the human or animal reproductive organs.
g. Hysterectomies: Surgical operations to remove all or part of the uterus.
h. Paranoid: Obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful.
i. Evisceration: (Corrected) The removal of internal organs (Lorde uses this metaphorically for the removal of Black women's power).
B. Complete the chart:
| Verb | Noun | Adjective |
| commit | commitment | committed |
| nurture | nurturance | nurturable |
| legitimize | legitimization | legitimate |
| oppress | oppression | oppressive |
| defend | defense / defensiveness | defensive |
| victimize | victimization | victimized |
C. Definitions of Key Terms:
Racism: The belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.
Lesbian: Relating to gay women or to homosexuality in women.
Radical: Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
Feminist: A person who supports the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.
Patriarchy: A system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.
D. Consonant Clusters (Underlined):
a. Fluffy went flip-flop all over the floor.
b. The whites sing a song about the striking stars.
c. Here are some flowers and a flask of tea of your favourite flavour.
d. Smita fell ill with flu.
e. My friend is frightened of frogs.
f. Thumbelina stumbled out of the green bush.
g. She heard a rumble and a cry.
h. ‘Climb up’, said Tom.
i. Freedom needs to be strived for.
j. Children were munching crunchy French fries.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions:
a. Why does Audre Lorde think that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston?
Lorde believes Mary achieved a victory because of the high attendance of women at the "speak out." This collective gathering of women showed a unified power that could create more space for women to grow and exist outside of patriarchal restrictions.
b. Why is Lorde thankful to Mary?
Lorde is thankful because Mary provided her with the book Gyn/Ecology. Lorde found the book to be "generative and provoking," noting that it contained useful information that helped strengthen her own thinking, despite her criticisms of its scope.
c. What impression has the writer had about the way white women looked upon black women?
The writer’s impression is quite negative. She feels that white women often lack the ability to truly "hear" the words of Black women or maintain a meaningful, equal dialogue. This historical pattern of being ignored is discouraging for Black feminists.
d. Why did Mary not cast black women as goddesses in her book according to Lorde?
According to Lorde, Mary made a "conscious decision" to limit the scope of her book to Western European traditions. By doing so, she excluded Black goddesses, effectively implying that the myths of white women are the only legitimate sources of female power.
e. Why did Lorde think that she misused her words?
Lorde felt her words were misused because, in the context of Daly's work, Black women's experiences were only used to testify to their own victimization rather than their strength, power, or independent history.
f. For Lorde, how were women, especially from the black community, undervalued?
Black women were undervalued by being "ghettoized." Their histories were treated as secondary or as "decorations" to the white female experience, rather than being recognized as a central, legitimate part of the struggle against patriarchy.
g. How does Mary take white women as? Does Lorde agree with Mary’s view?
Mary Daly views white women’s history and myths as the "sole legitimate" background for all women. She treats non-white women's stories as mere examples of pain or decoration. Lorde strongly disagrees with this view, as it reinforces a "white supremacy" within feminism that ignores the specific oppression and heritage of Black women.
h. What is Afrekete? How does it connect to this lesson?
Afrekete is a name representing a collective voice and a goddess-figure in the tradition of Black lesbian writing. It connects to the lesson because Lorde seeks to bring these marginalized voices and "herstories" into the light, demanding that Black women be seen as sources of power, not just victims.
Critical Thinking
a. "The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries." Do you agree or not? Justify with your reasons.
Yes, I strongly agree with this statement. While the intensity and methods of oppression may vary based on race or class (as Audre Lorde points out regarding Black women), the fundamental reality of gender discrimination is a global pandemic.
Women across all continents have fought for centuries to be treated as equals. In almost every culture, men historically receive better treatment, higher-status jobs, and better pay for equal work. This institutionalized sexism defines women's status as "lesser," leading to systemic violence and barriers to participation. For example, in many developing nations, girls are denied education due to cultural beliefs, while in developed nations, women still face the "glass ceiling" in corporate leadership.
Whether it is the wage gap in the West or the denial of basic rights in the East, the core issue remains the same: a patriarchal structure that limits a woman's potential regardless of her skin color or ethnicity.
b. Why is it important to question our beliefs and values? How are they set up in a person’s mind?
It is vital to question our beliefs because it builds character, honesty, and compassion. Most people avoid self-questioning because they fear it will diminish their faith or identity. However, avoiding the truth is a form of self-dishonesty. By observing our beliefs as an objective third party, we can gauge if our ideas have positive or negative consequences in the real world.
Our beliefs are typically set up through socialization—the influence of parents, teachers, religion, and the media during our formative years. If we never question these "programmed" values, we remain stuck in biases.
Questioning fosters acceptance when we realize others have valid perspectives, and it fosters strength when we are brave enough to modify our beliefs upon discovering an error.
Writing: National Daily Article
B. Write an article for a national daily on "The Status of Women in Nepali Society."
2026-03-13, Kathmandu
By GP Chudal
Nepal is a nation of immense geographic and cultural diversity. However, across these various communities, the prevailing social structure remains patriarchal. A woman’s life in Nepal is traditionally influenced and often controlled by her father, husband, and eventually her son. These practices are deeply embedded in social values and, at times, reinforced by historical legal systems.
While the status of women varies among different ethnic groups (for example, women in some Tibeto-Burman communities often have more social autonomy than those in Indo-Aryan communities), the overall economic contribution of Nepali women remains largely unnoticed.
Their work in the household and on farms is often taken for granted and excluded from national GDP calculations.
Current Challenges in Statistics:
Literacy: National statistics indicate a significant gap, with female literacy around 30% compared to 66% for males.
Education: Enrollment in higher education for women sits at approximately 24.95%. In rural areas, the "Paraya Dhan" (others' property) mindset still prevents many girls from reaching secondary school.
Health: Nepal has some of the lowest health indicators in South Asia for women. About 20% of women marry between the ages of 15–19, leading to premature pregnancies and high maternal mortality rates.
Economy: Only 45.2% of women are classified as economically active compared to 68.2% of men, despite women often working longer hours in unpaid labor.
To improve this status, Nepal must move beyond legal quotas and address the root social norms that prevent women from entering professional fields like law, engineering, and politics.
Grammar: Order of Adjectives
When using multiple adjectives, English follows a specific order: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose + Noun.
B. Choose the correct alternative:
a. An old foreign car (Age > Origin)
b. A beautiful white dress (Opinion > Color)
c. A nice tall young man (Opinion > Size > Age)
d. A big black wooden desk (Size > Color > Material)
e. A delicious Italian pizza (Opinion > Origin)
f. A huge brown bear (Size > Color)
g. A purple cotton sleeping bag (Color > Material > Purpose)
h. A beautiful old Indian village (Opinion > Age > Origin)
i. A cute little kitten (Opinion > Size)
j. An expensive antique table (Opinion > Age)
C. Put the adjectives in the correct order:
a. I bought a comfortable new red scooter.
b. She reached home and sat on her relaxing old wooden chair.
c. We ate some delicious Chinese food.
d. I need some delicious round golden apples.
e. We like to live in a calm remote place for some time.
f. She is wearing a beautiful old silver ring.
g. I am looking for a stylish Japanese golden watch.
h. She dropped an attractive old China cup and smashed it.
i. He wants to marry a pretty young educated rustic girl.
j. We stayed in a luxurious new five-star hotel in Dubai.
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