Patricia Hill Collins’ Intersectional Theory and Henríquez’s The Book of an Unknown Americans

Patricia Hill Collins is a social philosopher whose research and scholarship focused on gender, race, sexuality, social status, and nations.
Any individual in the world requires awareness of contemporary sociology in order to communicate. When discussing human science challenges and subjects, it is clear that there is a diverse outline of the material that needs to be acknowledged for a healthier world. As a result, academics and policymakers do not underestimate the sociological principles of culture. Henríquez’s The Book of an Unknown Americans involves characters, surroundings, and plot, which can best be explained using Patricia Hill Collins’ intersectional theory. According to the theory, some factors such as class, race gender just to mention a few work in the society to create inequality (Erickson, 02). The novel centers around the romance of two Latino teenagers called Maribel Rivera emigrant of Mexico and Mayor Toro from Panama. Besides, how the Rivera’s family attempt to adapt to life in America despite the sociological challenges encountered by immigrants in the US. Maribel faces numerous obstacles such as discrimination and lack of support from the law enforcement officers because they are immigrants this causes what Collins terms as an “interlocking systems of oppression.” The formation of social identity based on races is the source of all the numerous sociological challenges faced by individuals from other races in the US. According to intersectional theory, most of the applied sociological concepts work by examining one variable factor while undermining the others that come into play. Maribel’s mom receives no help from the law enforcement officers when she reports about fearing for her life. She also embraces the “Matrix of Domination” which according to the model inequality and subjugation are the outcome of various factors operating together to impact on the social entities. Therefore, no single force in the American society causes injustice and oppression. Some of the significant sources of prejudices and inequalities that Maribel and her family encounters in the US include class, gender, race, and gender. They encounter discrimination from all fronts; law enforcement agencies, traffic police and other agencies that ought to provide services to citizens.

Michael Foucault’s Madness and Civilization and Henríquez’s The Book of an Unknown Americans

According to Michael’s theory of madness and civilization, society cannot achieve sustainability and smooth interaction. Even in the modern society is struggling to get civilized; there is still a great danger that lies within the supporters of that concept. One of the communities facing such a significant obstacle is America marred by racism and discrimination based on the color of the skin. One of the most significant challenges that the scholar considered damaging to the modern society is the ill feelings within us and lack of appreciation and tolerance of other cultures and beliefs. Even though in the society some elements of hatred and animosity among various characters such as the Rivera (Maribel’s dad) and Garret’s father, the madness is evident in the novel. The events in the story develop after Maribel’s father is shot dead by Garret’s dad heightening the level of animosity between the two families and more importantly between Latinos and the whites. Although the call for civilization is growing strong, the madness also heightens the level leading to deaths. Henríquez develops the plot by establishing appropriate characters such as Arturo Rivera and Garret’s dad to bring out the concept of madness in the contemporary society in the struggle to achieve entire civilization and enlightenment. Additionally, the author exposes the level of civilization with respect to the madness that has erupted in the 21st-century society. However, the conclusion of the story was unpredictable as Maribel, and her mother decided to move back to Mexico because they feared for their lives. Readers would have expected the family to stay in the US because the madness is in every state that is fighting to achieve full civilization. Consequently, affecting the whole aspect of the American dream held by most immigrants in the US.

Peter Michael Blau’s social exchange theory and Henríquez’s The Book of an Unknown Americans

According to Blau, the understanding of sociology is essential in the contemporary society. When an individual considers matters touching on the human science, it is apparent that it is a clear framework of information that needs understanding for the betterment of the whole society. Michael Blau had an interest in developing a study that bridges the interaction between people living within the same community (Jacobs, 47). The theorist established various postulations that can support the application of his theory in contemporary sociology in a particular setting. He attempts to bridge the social structure between the major characters in the film. Consequently, sociological concepts ought not to be valued and appreciated in accepting the existence of humans as well as their relationship with other objects. Henríquez’s The Book of an Unknown Americans novel involves characters, conditions, and plot, which can best be explained using Peter Michael Blau’s social exchange theory (Westphal & Edward, 162). Blau gives a close examination of the face-to-face interaction between people living in the same society. The theorist agrees that reciprocal exchange of rewards is essential in establishing such relationship in the community. Even though Maribel is disabled, Mayor does not see her in that manner. Maribel falls in love with him in exchange for the passionate concern that Mayor has towards despite having a disability that made most people pity her because of the condition. However, the lack of social exchange between immigrants, the minority community and the whites is causing various challenges to the overall existence of each person whether Latino or blacks. The whites do not see the other races as equal to them in all the aspects of American society and therefore showing no respect to Maribel’s mom when she reports an issue to the law enforcement agency. Even though the subject of language barrier brings another challenge to the Latinos and other immigrants, the lack of exchange and power in social life in the American society. The socializing pattern of the main characters in the film through face-to-face interactions brings to light the microstructure assumption of this theory.

Works Cited

Erickson, Jennifer. "Intersectionality Theory and Bosnian Roma: Understanding Violence and Displacement." Romani Studies, vol. 27, no. 1, June 2017, pp. 1-28.

Jacobs, David. "Dependency and Vulnerability: An Exchange Approach to the Control of Organizations." Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 19, no. 1, Mar. 1974, pp. 45-59.

Westphal, James D. and Edward J. Zajac. "Defections from the Inner Circle: Social Exchange, Reciprocity, and the Diffusion of Board Independence in U.S. Corporations." Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 42, no. 1, Mar. 1997, pp. 161-183.