The definition of sociology is the study of society. Social criticism is the practice of analyzing a literary work by examining the cultural, political, and economic context in which it was written or received. Alice Walker's work demonstrates this type of criticism very well; from The Color Purple to Everyday Use, or any of his previous stories. Most of his work reveals the struggle of African Americans in society, especially women. Furthermore, his stories mirror many of the social characteristics that were occurring in America, from the 1940s onwards; thus making Alice Walker the epitome of sociological criticism. According to the bibliographical portion of "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, Alice was born in Georgia and attended Spellman College before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. His first work was a book of poetry published while he was still in college. She moved to Mississippi and became a teacher and civil rights activist. Walker's work is known for highlighting the struggle of African American women during her time and in the past. One of Walker's most popular works was, The Color Purple. In this story by Alice Walker, the reader meets a girl named Celie. In this novel, Walker takes the reader on a journey through much of Celie's life. As he takes the reader through this tale, Walker draws attention to a number of social aspects during this time period. Through Cilie's life, Walker brings to light the abuse and mistreatment suffered by African American women from 1910 to the 1940s. “Women were also considered less important than men: both black and white women were doubly disadvantaged. Black women of the time were often treated as slaves or property” (Tavormina page 2...... middle of paper ...... December 2013 Cowart, David. "Heritage and Deracination in Walker's Everyday Use." Studies in Short Fiction 33.2 (Spring 1996): 171-184. Ed. Joseph Palmisano. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literary Resource Center Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter Literary Criticism Online December 2, 2013. Walker, Alice and Barbara Christian: Rutgers University press, 1994. Print. Walker, Alice Meridian New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976. Print.