“Feminism Is For Everybody – Passionate Politics” by Bell Hooks really puts in the perspective answering questions we probably have all been wondering. Just generally: What REALLY does Feminism mean?. I love that Bell Hooks introduces why she wrote this book in the means of inviting just about anyone into her reading by making it relatable. From her experiences and understanding that Feminism is viewed as anti-men. I decided to ask a few co workers surrounding me what their first thought of feminism was. Many used similar words. “Equality” “Men equal women” “Anti-Men” . And Bell Hooks wants us, yes, us, to understand that it is more than woman vs men. It’s breaking the division between humans! Starting with the main issue: sexism.
Bell Hooks states “Practically, it is a definition which implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, whether those who perpetuate it are female or male, child or adult” (Hooks, 1). Referring to her own definition of feminism in a previous book she wrote, she is teaching us that sexism is a root issue that does not come from just men like many would imply, but anyone! INCLUDING women.
More than our gender roles, there is so much more that come with these divisions. All the things that “separate” us in society. Included in those are culture and race. As I read about the black women within feminist groups, I sadly am not surprised to learn that their place in the movements had to be fought twice as hard! “Even before race became a talked about issue in feminist circles it was clear to black women (and to their revolutionary allies in struggle) that they were never going to have equality within the existing white supremacist capitalist patriarchy” (Hooks, 4).
Following all these beliefs that Feminism equals angry women wanting equal rights to men leads me to my question well where does that leave the individuals that do not refer to themselves as either or?
Sex & Gender 101 was such an interesting read. It really puts into detail the challenging questions most people have regarding genders and sex and the differences and what each means and this article helped make it easy to understand.I loved the categories it was broken down to, I find it an easy way to be able to explain it to someone in the future that is easily self explanatory: Gender assignment: The gender you were assigned by basically your family based off body features.. Gender identity: The gender you choose to identify yourself as. and Gender expression: The gender you choose to express yourself as, perhaps by style, hairdo, personality, etc.
