In the essay, “Feminist Politics Where We Stand” bell hooks defines feminism as: “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” To me, this definition means that feminism aims to destroy patriarchal political systems that discriminate against women. The belief in and desire for equality between men and women. Back in the old days women weren’t able to vote or work or couldn’t do what a man could do. All a woman can do is stay home as a housewife. This power that men had back then that women didn’t have. After reading the chapter, bell hooks took the concept of feminism and explained how it has been shaped and formed over time. Going back to her meaning of feminism as she describes a  movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. She believes that, well the way she defines it respectably that it does not state that men are the problem or the enemy but says that sexism is the problem, whether men, women, adults, or children cause it. As she states in the introduction, “I love it because it so clearly states that the movement is not about being anti-male. It makes it clear that the problem is sexism. And that clarity helps us remember that all of us, female and male, have been socialized from birth on to accept sexist thought and action.”(pg4) As well in the chapter it states that. “As contemporary feminism progressed, as women realized that males were not the only group in our society who supported sexist thinking and behavior – that females could be sexist as well – anti-male sentiment no longer shaped the movement’s consciousness.” (Pg6).  The only reason why she believes that is because every time feminism is being brought up people think of anti-male attitude. Bell hooks try to go deeper into explaining herself adding on feminism.

After reading Sex and Gender 101, it mentioned that “ In American, boys are taught and expected to be tough….., interested in sports, cars, guns and climbing and the corporate ladder, and have an insatiable interest in superheroes and the color”. Then it states, “On the contrary, girls are taught and expected to be soft, submissive,…disinterested in sports and cars with zero career aspirations and have an insatiable interest in princesses and the color pink.” I mean when I was eight I liked the color blue and now I like the color black. I dressed as a boy with boy clothes on. I mean even if two genders are different I think a male and a female can do what they like. Like a female can like male stuff and for males can like female stuff. As for children I feel bad that some parents don’t allow them to for example, won’t let their son play with dolls or not let their daughter play with boy toys. Let alone let the children decide and play with what they like or their interests.