Anita Hill Accused Clarence Thomas Of Sexual Harassment

Anita Hill caught the world's attention when she accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Although Hill had effectively broken the silence about such a widespread problem, increasing the level of awareness about sexual harassment, many African-Americans came to regard her as a traitor of the group's interests. This particular type of burden is something that women of dominant racial groups do not usually face. Women who challenge discriminatory practices advocated by others as cultural practices often find themselves in a very precarious position. On one hand, sometimes one ethnic or racial group can easily trigger harsh criticism of the practices of another different group, even in the face of equally questionable abuses within their
culture. On the other hand, when women allow the contestation of patriarchal and cultural traditions within their communities to be silenced, they lose the opportunity to transform practices that are harmful to women in general. In effect, it is arguable that the cultural traits selected by a group or part of a society are not arbitrary, but unpredictable. Identities are contradictory as they intersect and move each other. If a white feminist can position herself in favor of Judge Clarence Thomas (justified by his progressive view on the racial question), a white conservative also did (because of their opposition to feminism). If a black man can position himself in favor of the judge (prevailing sexism), another black man was able to stand against the judge (being progressive in the sexual issue). Thus, it is interesting to note that the contradictions act both in society and in the “head” of every individual. Dissensions and contradictions within the identity groups is so significant that it is often not possible to predict their positions; it all depends on the interests that are at stake.