The Wages of Misogynoir is Death, But the Gift of Independence is Economic Life
"Misogynoir," a portmanteau denoting the unique hatred directed toward Black women, permeates American society (Bailey and Trudy 2018). Recently, the cast of The Color Purple musical gave renewed voice to this injustice.
Advocates for Pay Equity
While we get paid for our work, we also receive a “payment” for the way we treat one another. In this reprinted blog, we reference interviews with iconic actors like Taraji P. Henson. She candidly addressed Hollywood’s egregious wage gaps disadvantaging Black women (Ross 2022). Despite possessing accolades and experience comparable to the industry’s top White actresses, Viola Davis still struggles for pay equity and opportunity (Russo 2023).
Their advocacy resonates far beyond the silver screen. Across sectors, Black women combating misogynoir find “the injured body and crushed spirit riot dangerously close to the surface” (Griffin 2021, p.42).
Will Religious Academia Seek Equity?
Nowhere does this rings more true than the halls of academia. In theology, Black women “have been the backbone of the institutions that [exclude] them'' (Townes 2006, p. 272). Despite constituting a sizable cohort of doctoral students, how many divinity schools nationwide employ even one African American woman as a full-time lecturer or professor?
Those present often provide invisible labor - serving on diversity committees, mentoring minority students without recognition or reduced teaching loads (Greer 2013). Frequently they must publish chapters rather than books to be included in curricula where their scholarship gets silenced (Hopkins 2002). Well-intentioned but thoughtless colleagues exacerbate these burdens by requesting “free expert advice” or unpaid speaking engagements, oblivious to the financial hardships facing independent scholars (Hine 1989).
Solutions for Going Forward
We can no longer expect the Academy to remedy issues it actively perpetuates. Instead, movements toward alternative structures provide hope. The M2M Research Network offers concrete solutions for scholars to reclaim authority over our knowledge production. Our inaugural report, forthcoming by March 31st, details action plans enabling intellectual engagement liberated from oppressive bureaucracies.
The Holy Spirit of liberation beckons us. Will we muster the courage to follow Her call?
Dr. Nash for the Misogynoir to Mishpat (M2M) Research Network © 2024
References:
Bailey, M., & Trudy. (2018). On misogynoir: citation needed. Feminist Media Studies, 18(4), 762–768. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1447395
Greer, C. (2013). Black ethnics: Race, immigration, and the pursuit of the American dream. Oxford University Press.
Griffin, R. A. (2021). I'm Still Surviving: Black Women Faculty and the Complexity of Racial Battle Fatigue at Historically White Institutions. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 1-18.
Hine, D. C. (1989). Rape and the inner lives of Black women in the Middle West: Preliminary thoughts on the culture of dissemblance. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 14(4), 912-920.
Hopkins, D. N. (2002). Parting company at the crossroads: Theology and black experience. Word & World, 22(3), 293-299.
Ross, L. M. (2022, December 25). Taraji P. Henson Says There's a Huge Pay Gap for Black Women in Hollywood. Retrieved from https://www.etonline.com/taraji-p-henson-says-theres-a-huge-pay-gap-for-black-women-in-hollywood-exclusive-190779
Russo, J. (2023, January 5). Viola Davis Recalls Being Paid 'a Tenth' of Her Male Co-Stars' Salaries. Retrieved from https://people.com/movies/viola-davis-recalls-being-paid-a-tenth-of-her-male-co-stars-salaries/
Townes, E. M. (2006). Womanist ethics and the cultural production of evil. Palgrave Macmillan.