A Study of Biopower in Kathryn Stockett’s the Help

Michel Foucault theorizes the concept of biopower which is the dominating force that shapes and leads people’s lives in the society. This power operates according to certain rules that people are made to believes. This study discusses the connection between biopower and systemic racism in Kathryn Stockett's The Help. Biopower controls and shapes the lives of black women domestic workers. The novel shows the oppression and resistance of servants while dealing with the impact of Jim Crow laws and organizations such as the Junior League. These institutions function as tools of biopower that create an illusion of order while keeping systemic racism. This paper argues that The Help shows how biopower works to create oppression and segregation in the society.