THE MULE OF THE WORLD: AN EXPLORATION OF SEXIST OPPRESSION WITH ZORA NEALE HURSTON AND ALICE WALKER

This project examines sexist oppression, the development of feminist consciousness in the black woman and patterns of continuity in the expression of that consciousness. This is done by employing selected constructs from Jungian psychology and relevant portions of Greek mythology.; The first chapter defines the nature of the problem that the Afro-American woman confronts as she emerges from the stereotypes to a place of self definition. It also explores the issues surrounding the debate on sexuality and black male/female relationships, "double" and "triple" jeopardy, conflicts with white feminists, and briefly reviews previous efforts of resistance against sexist oppression.; The second chapter establishes a methodology for analyzing the literature and lived experiences of black women. The Jungian constructs and seven Greek goddesses are used to establish the model for reflecting upon the diversity of black feminine consciousness and behavior.; The third chapter is an analysis of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. This analysis employs the goddesses as archetypal models and establishes the feasibility of the premise that patterns of feminist behavior exist in black females and that those patterns have a continuity. Pertinent Background on Hurston's life is included in this discussion since it helps to illuminate the lived experience of black women and validates the analysis of the literature as a reflection of black women's reality.; The fourth chapter reflects upon Alice Walker and The Color Purple. This writer follows Hurston by forty-five years but expresses the same type of feminist consciousness that is reflected in Hurston's model.; Alice Walker's development as a writer and feminist is explored along with a brief review of her discovery of Zora Neale Hurston and the impact of Hurston upon her life. This relationship offers further support to the idea of a collective black feminist consciousness. The fifth chapter explores the implications for continuing the struggle of black feminist resistance against sexist oppression by summarizing the nature of transformation, individuation and liberation. The mule image which has been explored throughout is highlighted as a symbol of an underlying archetypal energy and its potential for liberation is explored. Additionally this final chapter highlights the pattern that future black feminist resistance needs to follow, if it is to be one source of healing among black males and females.