Before reading “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand”, if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t necessarily believe that feminism was solely anti-male, but I did believe that it mostly was. The reason why I feel this way is because, as Bell Hooks stated, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression, but throughout history, men have been the ones to do just that. Yet after reading her chapter, Hooks brought up several valid points that I did not think of before. As she explains what sexism is, I now understand that sexism against women does not only come from men. Hooks explains that the definition of sexism itself implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, no matter who perpetuates it (female, male, children, etc). Due to what many of us, including myself,  see on tv and various media platforms, feminists are represented as women who are anti-male rallying together in hopes to prove that men are our enemies, whether at home or in the workplace. 

Since the feminist movement is to end sexism, no matter where it comes from, Hooks pointed out that the movement moved from having an anti-male sentiment to now focusing on how to better gender injustice. Of course, not all women are feminists, and we have seen women also identify as anti-feminists. Just this past year, we have seen women across the country march for and against abortion laws. As Hooks stated, “Concurrently there can be no such thing as power feminism if the vision of power evoked is power gained through the exploitation and oppression of others”. It is no secret that there are women who tend to seek competition with one another, but as long as it continues, the feminist movement will not reach its highest potential of being the great power it deserves to be. Similar to the words written at the end of this chapter, it is vital to remember the central message and definition behind the powerful word: feminism, and fight for what it stands for.

“Sex & Gender 101”, by Kyl Myers, was a great read which delved into gaining a better insight into sex vs. gender. I had already had a good understanding of the differences between the two, but I enjoyed discovering more about gender assignment and how children are often socialized in stereotypical ways, which further leads to their treatment and how they learn.

Bell Hooks Response:

I have always understood the feminist movement to be about ending sexist oppression towards women. I completely agree with Bell Hooks when she says, “Feminist politics is losing momentum because the feminist movement has lost clear definition.”. There is an intense polarization between the sexes concerning feminism in today’s politics. The different waves which Bell Hooks briefly touched upon are the reason for so much misunderstanding and redirecting of the feminist movement. I know from personal experience it is tough to talk to men about feminism, and defending women has just become a challenging task to do. In general, being a feminist proves to be difficult due to the negative portrayal by social media. It has turned the movement into a form of anti-male. Now, if you’re a feminist, it becomes less about being treated like a human being and more about just hating men in general. It’s a disgusting dark form of feminism that I disagree with. Bell Hooks talks about how the media controls the narrative, and we, the people, have to be the ones to change it. The movement got lost in translation. So many radical ideas do not align with the actual feminist movement. I don’t think in recent years anything has changed. If it has, it’s only going backward. Also, I loved this piece by Bell Hooks she is such a great educator and is able to articulate and explain difficult issues so beautifully.

Sex and Gender 101 Response:

I have always found it hard to explain the differences between sex and gender, and this article was incredibly insightful in better understanding the differences of said notion. The author highlights that “biological sex is universal and static. Gender is a cultural construct that shifts between societies and across time.”. When it came to gender expression, I was very confused because I understand it but still have a few questions because I don’t think I fully comprehended what she meant about being nonbinary. I identify as a cisgender woman, but I don’t necessarily always dress girly or feminine. There are days where I want to dress like a tomboy, but I feel like I still do it in a feminine way? I don’t know if that makes any sense. I consider the way I dress to be fluid, but I don’t identify as gender-fluid, so can someone please help me understand this deeper. I look at it more through a fashion lens when it comes to dressing. Still, fashion is a form of expression, and I liked how she tied physical representation to how you express yourself not just creatively but also through a gender lens. I gathered that your wardrobe isn’t the only telling of how you identify your gender. However, I wish I could understand more about what it means to identify as non-binary. So yeah…
I need help on that part. I also adored when Kyl Myers said, “sexual behavior does not align with sexual identity” because this is true for many people. I have a few closeted friends who are also bisexual but feel guilty when they want to experience a same-sex love. They never pursue the person they want because of the fear of being judged. It also made me think about this character named “Cal” from Euphoria, who seems bisexual. He pursued relations with a female for his father’s approval, but he was ultimately really in love with his best friend “Derek.” The show demonstrates the turmoil he experiences due to living a double life. In a recent episode, he came out to his family and started by saying, “I am so alone, really, really alone.”. It shows how there is such positivity and acceptance in society for “everyone,” though it is not the reality of many.