In the face of systemic oppression and discrimination, anger can be a powerful tool for marginalized groups to reclaim their power and demand justice. Two influential feminist writers, Audre Lorde and Marilyn Frye, have written about the role of anger in responding to oppression and injustice. Lorde’s essay “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism” and Frye’s “A Note on Anger” explore anger’s complexities and its potential as a force for change. While Lorde and Frye both acknowledge the transformative potential of anger in the face of oppression, they differ in their understanding of the nature and expression of anger and their recommendations for how anger can be harnessed as a force for change. Through an examination of their essays, this essay explores the similarities and differences in their perspectives on the definition and nature of anger, the role of anger in responding to oppression, the strategic and expressive use of anger, and the implications of their insights for feminist activism and social change efforts.
Lorde and Frye acknowledge the complex and multifaceted nature of anger, but they define and understand it differently. Lorde defines anger as “a legitimate response to oppression, and its expression often catalyzes further resistance” (7). She sees anger as a natural and necessary emotion that arises when individuals or groups are faced with injustice or oppression. According to Lorde, anger is a powerful tool that can motivate people to take action and resist their oppressors. She argues that anger can be transformed into a force for change when it is recognized, acknowledged, and channelled strategically. Frye sees anger as a natural response to oppression that should not be judged or dismissed. She notes that marginalized groups often face criticism for expressing anger and argues that this is an unjust and oppressive response to honest emotion. Frye describes anger as a “signal” that something is wrong and suggests that it should be taken seriously and responded to in productive ways (85). Frye suggests that acknowledging and accepting anger can be important to healing and empowerment.
Lorde and Frye see anger as an important response to oppression but differ in their views on how anger should be used to respond to injustice. Lorde argues that anger can be a powerful tool for resistance and liberation. She suggests that anger can be transformed into a force for change when it is recognized, acknowledged, and channelled strategically. For Lorde, anger is a legitimate and necessary response to oppression, and it can motivate people to act against their oppressors. In “The Uses of Anger,” Lorde writes, “My response to racism is anger. That anger had eaten clefts into my living only when it remained unspoken, useless to anyone” (9). Lorde believes that anger can be a productive and transformative emotion when acknowledged and used to drive social and political change.
Frye also sees anger as a legitimate response to oppression, but she focuses more on anger’s emotional and personal dimensions. For Frye, anger is a natural and necessary response to injustice, and it should be accepted and acknowledged rather than dismissed or judged. She argues that anger can be a sign of a person’s strength and resilience and help individuals assert their boundaries and resist oppressive forces. Frye writes, “To understand anger is to see it as a vital and indispensable part of the human experience, as a complex and multiform response to the various oppressions that beset us” (91). Frye sees anger as a way to affirm one’s humanity and dignity in the face of oppression.
Lorde and Frye have different views on anger’s strategic and expressive use in creating change. Lorde emphasizes the strategic use of anger for resistance and liberation. She argues that anger can be transformed into a force for change when it is recognized, acknowledged, and channelled strategically. Lorde believes anger can be a productive and transformative emotion to drive social and political change. In “The Uses of Anger,” Lorde writes, “Anger expressed and translated into action in the service of our vision and our future is a liberating and strengthening act of clarification” (8). Lorde recommends using anger to fuel collective action and resistance against oppressive structures and systems.
On the other hand, Frye focuses more on the expressive use of anger. She argues that anger should be acknowledged and accepted as a necessary response to oppression and can help individuals assert their boundaries and resist oppressive forces. Frye suggests that expressing anger can be a way to affirm one’s humanity and dignity in the face of oppression. In “A Note on Anger,” Frye writes, “You become angry when you see the obstruction or hindrance as unjust or unfair, or when you see it as due to someone’s malice or inexcusable incompetence” (85). Frye recommends expressing anger to resist and assert oneself in the face of oppression.
The potential implications of their recommendations are different. Lorde’s focus on strategically using anger for collective action and resistance can lead to substantial political and social change. However, it can also lead to risks of violence, as anger can be a powerful and unpredictable emotion. On the other hand, Frye’s emphasis on the expressive use of anger can lead to individual empowerment and emotional healing. However, it may only sometimes lead to substantial political and social change. While Lorde emphasizes the strategic use of anger for collective action and resistance, Frye focuses more on the expressive use of anger as a means of personal empowerment and affirmation. Their recommendations have different potential implications, but both recognize the value of anger as a necessary and legitimate response to oppression.
Lorde and Frye both recognize the importance of intersectionality in understanding how different forms of oppression intersect and affect the experiences of marginalized individuals. Lorde’s view on intersectionality is reflected in her concept of “the erotic as power” (8). She argues that the erotic, which she defines as a source of power and creativity that encompasses all aspects of human experience, including the physical, emotional, and intellectual, can be a tool for challenging multiple forms of oppression. Lorde suggests that acknowledging and embracing the erotic can help individuals to confront and challenge intersecting systems of oppression. She writes, “The erotic functions for me in several ways, and the first is in providing the power which comes from sharing deeply any pursuit with another person” (8).
Frye also acknowledges the intersectional nature of oppression, particularly in her discussion of anger as a response to oppression. She argues that anger can arise from various forms of oppression, including sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism. Frye suggests that these forms of oppression are interrelated and can reinforce each other. In “A Note on Anger,” Frye writes, “Though it is correct to deplore and denounce this odd combination of ignorance and incompetence as sexist or racist, that is neither intellectually nor politically sufficient. We can, if we will, learn something from this phenomenon” (85). Frye recognizes that anger can be a legitimate response to how these intersecting forms of oppression impact individuals’ lives.
Lorde and Frye’s perspectives on anger have significant implications for feminist activism and social change efforts. Their insights can inform an individual’s understanding of effective resistance and liberation strategies. Lorde’s emphasis on the strategic use of anger as a tool for resistance and liberation highlights the importance of collective action and solidarity in challenging systems of oppression. Her view that anger can be transformed into a force for change underscores the power of harnessing emotions as a means of resistance. This approach can inform feminist activism by emphasizing the importance of channelling anger and other emotions towards collective action and resistance. Frye’s focus on the expressive use of anger highlights the importance of individual empowerment and self-affirmation in the face of oppression. Her view that anger can be a necessary response to injustice can inform feminist activism by emphasizing the importance of validating and honouring individuals’ emotional responses to oppression.
The works of Audre Lorde and Marilyn Frye on anger and its uses have provided valuable insights into how individuals can respond to and resist oppressive structures and systems. Their perspectives on the strategic and expressive use of anger, the role of anger in responding to oppression, intersectionality, and the broader implications for feminist activism and social change efforts have highlighted the power of harnessing emotions as a means of resistance and the importance of individual empowerment and collective action. By acknowledging how different forms of oppression intersect and affect individuals’ experiences, Lorde and Frye’s perspectives offer important insights into effective resistance and liberation strategies for feminist activism and social change efforts. Therefore, their contributions to feminist scholarship remain highly relevant and insightful for anyone interested in understanding how anger can be used to create social change.
Works Cited
Frye, Marilyn. The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory. Trumansburg, N.Y., Crossing Press, 1983.
Lorde, A. “Audre Lorde, “the uses of anger: Women responding to racism”.” 1981.
write