Bell Hooks defines feminism as: “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.”. I believe this means that feminism is a movement that aims to end stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice against women, exploiting women in things such as mass media including sexualization and objectification, and ending oppression, primarily by patriarchy. Before reading this definition, my understanding of feminism was slightly different. I was under the impression that feminism was aiming for equality between all genders. I don’t think there is anything wrong with prioritizing the rights of women. Fighting for rights for one specific group is good for everyone, as it still creates equity. Solving and working on one problem can lead to solving another. This article reminded me of a film I recently watched called “The Red Pill – A Cassie Jaye Documentary”. The film explores the concept of a “feminist filmmaker sets out to document the mysterious and polarizing world of the Men’s Rights Movement, she begins to question her own beliefs.”, and by the end, declares that she is no longer a feminist. I want to respect her decision, but I was bothered as I believe that just because there are feminists who do not work with men or are allies for men, that doesn’t mean that feminism does not do good work. There is a lot more to feminism than individual philosophies. Bell Hooks explains that the lack of a clear definition is the reason that feminism is more difficult to get behind nowadays, which further proves that the philosophies of individuals do not represent feminism as a whole. Reading Sex and Gender 101 didn’t change how I feel about gender very much as my thoughts align with the article, but it definitely expanded my knowledge on the subject, which I greatly appreciate!

I think Bell Hooks meant that feminism isn’t just a movement for gender equality. It’s a movement that wishes to rid the world of all discrimination and to respect others as well. When Hooks says “oppression,” I believe she means “ending oppression for everyone.” This movement is supposed to be inclusive and beneficial to all. 

This definition is different from what I have known of feminism so far. If I am being honest, I’ve heard plenty of negative things about feminism from many people in my life and across the media. To those around me, feminists stereotypically hate men and are very sensitive. I think the portrayal of feminists on television furthers this stereotype. The thing about stereotypes is that when they are depicted on television, they encourage ignorance towards certain groups. I think this also affects children, because kids are easily influenced. Then those kids grow up thinking feminism is bad. In high school, it wasn’t cool to be one. When speaking up about certain things, I found myself constantly saying to friends, “not to be a total feminist but…” There’s also the fact that many white feminists in the past were opposed to black people getting the right to vote before them. Many of which pursued ways to block us from advancing. Due to that, feminism gets a bad reputation in most black communities because that movement was never really “for us”. After reading this essay, I realized that many modern feminists actually believe in the rights of black women. The movement may have had a few racist people in the past, but some things have changed, and the movement seems a lot more inclusive. 

I think “Sex and Gender 101” gave me a lot more insight. I knew there was a difference. And lately, for a while now, I’ve noticed when filling out forms they ask you for your sex and your gender. There are plenty of people who aren’t aware of the difference, which makes them prone to misgendering others. Something I found interesting is when the article said “gender plays into how most children are treated and how they learn what is expected of their gender and what is not…” I agree with this quote and feel it plays a huge part in toxic masculinity and the “pick me” culture. So much could be said about how these stereotypes affect kids growing up, but one thing is for sure: many feel insecure about their sex as they go into their adult years. Most parents mean no harm when projecting these stereotypes onto their children, but it’s something that should change.

In the essay, “Feminist Politics Where We Stand” bell hooks defines feminism as: “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. The author wants to convey the misconception about feminism. Typically other men want to describe feminism as women that are angry, lesbian and hate men. In reality, feminism is the sole message of equal rights. Sexism continues to happen to this day. The discussion is not about equal rights anymore it’s more about, okay you want to do what men do then don’t expect to go on date and have the door be opened to you, don’t expect the man to pay for your meal, more of the chivalry aspect of it. I believe if you want to set expectations you ask for it from the beginning and if one chooses to “pay”, they also have the right to do so. Men choose to miss the point of allowing women to obtain jobs that you don’t usually find women working. To get paid the same amount that men would get paid. Giving the overall choice for a woman to succeed as men do. Bell Hooks states, “Imagine living in a world where there is no domination, where females and males are not alike or even always equal, but where a vision of mutuality is the ethos shaping interaction” (pg.5). The quote resonates with me because imagine living in a world where no one group dominates another or discriminates against one another. Everyone needs to see this change for the better and the future leaders of the world.  

As for the article “Sex & Gender 101,” I want to be honest about being more naive about how people identified themselves. This article was enlightening and broke down more about what sets sex and gender apart. Allowing children from a young age to grow up to be themselves without judgment is a good start. Your identity should be a process throughout your lifetime. It is difficult to say or feel what you’re most comfortable in. That alone does take time and experience. This happens with your sexual preferences and gender identity. The thought of raising a gender-neutral child could be a way to help society accept not everything or everyone needs to be labeled. We all should be more open to what we choose to be and be okay with it. I believe this will help not to set others apart but more so unite people. Being able to be more educated in the matter can overall help the acceptance be easier.

Regarding the essay from Bell Hooks “Feminism Politics Where We Stand.” “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression.”   Well, feminism to me means more than I have ever thought, thanks to this reading I can understand it a little more. It is to understand sexism and erase sexism from the world. before I read reading, I thought that feminism meant a movement for women who were superior to men and that women were against men for everything. I was wrong. The definition was nothing compared to what I thought. I let others dictate to me what feminism was and I did not take the time or energy to understand it for myself. But I realized that in this life there are going to be people who will always try to get one to believe what they want you to believe. I was always told the feminism women are all against men, because they want to be liberated against the men that hurt them or beat their wives, like in some countries where the men are superior.  

Sex and Gender 101. I never really put too much mind into the sex and gender topic. See I am a parent of three yes, they are older now. I have 2 males and 1 female, and I brought them up all the same. Tough but soft, caring, and gentlemen and my daughter the same way but with a little toughness so she would not be so sensitive. I even let them choose what toys they wanted to play with, that for me was just educating them never crossed my mind of oh my no girl toys for my boys or no car toys for my daughter. I agree with the parents who want to raise their kids as they please. When children are born, they are who they are. Why is society so into everyone else’s business? Before this article I did not understand all the breakdowns of the meanings regarding Gender assignment. Gender identity, how a person thinks about themselves regarding gender I knew this one already. Gender expressions, how a person shows their gender identity, which is clothing, make-up hairstyles walking or dancing etc. 

The author describes feminism as “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression”. Among society, there is a belief that feminists do not like men and feminism is a movement to start a kind of female supremacy and prove that women are better than men. Some people when they think of a feminist, think about a butch lesbian who doesn’t take care of her appearance and hates men. In Bell’s Hook definition of feminism, she proves wrong the people who have this misconception about it. She portrays feminism as a social movement dedicated to fighting for women’s rights and equality between both sexes. Feminists try to create a society where women are not constantly sexualized or objectified, where women receive the same pay as men working in the same position, and where women have autonomy and can make their own decisions without depending on men. In the book The Moment of Lift by Melissa Gates, she talks about issues like mothers and neonatal health, no remunerated work (being a housewife), child marriage, etc. Melinda tells the experiences of women living in underdeveloped countries and explains how all of these issues are a barrier to their personal growth and development. Clearly, the patriarchal system we are part of intends to keep women oppressed, feminism fights against these issues, so women can climb the ladder of society and succeed. I share the same position with Bell Hooks about feminism for approximately two or three years. I did primary, middle, and high school in an all-girls, catholic school in Guatemala. The school always taught us feminist values, they encouraged us to express our thoughts and to stand against inequality, so I had an idea about feminism. What I found out later is that there are multiple types of feminism. In the book, Bell Hooks talks about revolutionary feminists whose goal was to cut patriarchy from the roots and reformist feminists, who adapted feminism to the patriarchal system. It was very interesting to read how the initial purpose of feminism faded and adapted to the patriarchy. This makes me think about sex workers, and how some actual liberal feminists think it is empowering to earn money with your body. Also, the reading made me aware of how only a highly literate sector of society has access to some revolutionary theories and ideas. The second reading Sex and Gender 101 explained the differences between these two terms. I already knew the differences between sex and gender, but this article clarified some things. For example, I knew that sex refers to our physiological characteristics, but I wasn’t that aware of the “intersex” and the different variations of this sex. Gender refers to a social construct based on the feminine and masculine sex. It determines how are we supposed to behave, think, and what norms are we supposed to follow according to our genitals. Gender is something fluid, since I don’t think there are people who are completely subscribed to their gender, there are different combinations.

Reflection 1

In the essay “Feminist politics Where We Stand” Bell Hooks defines feminism as a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. After reading the chapter I think Hooks is defining feminism as a movement that is or was intended to rid/readjust the way the world views and values gender roles, patriarchy and expectations as a whole. Not only in the workplace, but in all aspects of life. Hooks says “I liked this definition because it did not imply that men were the enemy. By naming sexism as the problem it went directly to the root of the problem” (1). The movement is not only geared toward shifting the view of men but more-so anyone who harbors the same beliefs of a sexist or oppressor be that male or female. I knew some things about male oppression prior to reading and aligned feminism with rebellion against that and equal job pay/opportunities for women. I never thought it was just a group of angry females, but I did believe it was about equal pay and job opportunities. However, after reading this chapter I see the bigger picture behind the movement has no specific targeted gender and it is meant to encourage a progressive mindset that views everyone with equity no matter your gender, orientation, race etc.

            Reading “Sex and Gender 101” was insightful. Prior to reading the article my thoughts on gender were everyone should be free to identify as they truly believe themselves to be. The article helped to affirm that belief. Intersex was what I found most insightful I knew some people were born with both genitals on occasion. However, the fact that there is no such thing as normal genitalia made me think because it is not so common to out- right know a person is intersex some people would argue that is in-fact not normal when in actuality it is.  Also I pondered the idea of the gamble it must be for a parent to assign a sex to an intersex child with the possibility they grow up identifying opposite of the sex chosen for them Would they resent their parents for choosing wrong?   The article also helped with understanding different terms and ways that some people may identify for instance “cisgender” while I have heard the term I was never clear on what it represented or meant only that It had something to do with gender representation and the article helped me to understand the definition. My thinking was cisgender coincided only with the LGBTQ. I now know a heterosexual identifies as cisgender as well.

I take it to mean that the ultimate goal is to upend the systemic issues that have led to the explotaition and oppression of women. To examine the root causes of prejudiced thinking and behavior. I would say that prior to this reading, I believed feminism to encompass this, but I would have thought its main goal was the pursuit of equality. For me this alleviates the discrepancy that can sometimes occur when women achieve a measure of success equal to a man’s. Sometimes these achievements can seem absent of feminism, either in their motivations or in addressing the systemic issues that had been an obstacle for them. Perhaps an example of this would be Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female British prime minister. Her pursuit of that position was not to pave the way for other women (and given that it took nearly twenty years for there to be second one could argue whether or not she inadvertently did), but to achieve and measure success within the patriarchal system, thereby validating and reinforcing it. To say that men are the measure of success can sometimes feel that we are still allowing men to be the gatekeepers. This isn’t to say that these achievements aren’t important or worth pursuing, but does illustrate how without the accompanying goal to end sexism, we are still allowing for the continued subordination of women. 

I also appreciate this definition because it presents a common ideological enemy, allowing the possibility that anyone can be complicit in its perpetration. As she illustrates, we are all products of the patriarchal system, and perhaps unaware of our unconscious biases, and that “females could be sexist as well”, at times at war with themselves.  She goes on to discuss in “Feminist Masculinity” and “Feminist Parenting” the detrimental effects that sexism can have on males as well and the importance of raising children in a feminist household in hopes of stopping this cycle. She writes, “Patriarchal masculinity teaches men that their sense of self and identity, their reason for being, resides in their capacity to dominate others”. This also highlights many of the struggles men are facing in their identity, and why this fight can be so trying, because if you take away the power and domination that men have built their identities on, what do they have left.

I see a lot of parallels in debates on gender. I can say at 38 that I am a gay cisgender male, but while I am still working to develop the knowledge and vocabulary with which to discuss gender (both my own and other’s), my younger self would never have contemplated questioning gender constructs and their relation to me. “Cisgender” has only been in my vocabulary for a little over a decade. Though I started in ballet at 11 (I guess going against gender norms), I still had a deep desire to conform, which also meant not to question or challenge. It is really only in my recent adulthood that I’ve begun to examine what gender means to me; the ways in which I conform or not; how much of that is performative and why. In doing so I’ve also recognized how pervasive and aggressively defended these constructs are. Many people have so stringently shaped their identities around them, that to try and shape your own identity outside of the system is seen as a threat to their whole sense of self. Those who don’t conform are always forced to defend themselves, as opposed to those who do conform questioning why they are so devoted to these constructs. 

And I feel the same can be said for sexism and the patriarchy. These are systems that people have built their lives and identities upon, that demand adherence to survive, and thus to go against them is seen as radically destabilizing. As it should be.

“a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” The authors definition is a fitting one that coincides with what i have read about the movement of feminism. Bell Hooks eloquently sums up some of the mistreatments and hurdles females have faced along the years, fighting basically for there dignity. While this definition is one I agree with, understood and may rally behind. The part that does not sit well with me is the oppression part, I feel as thou to really experience female oppression one would have to travel outside of the west. However this is not the Olympics of oppression. I was familiar with the movement of feminism just not in detail. Feminism then was deemed more towards giving females a foundation of equality to stand on, ending institutionalized sexism . The feminism of now seems to pick and choose there targets , also removing the spotlight from black woman who were there at the inception in place of the white woman victims. The equality around the board that was preached within Feminism is for everybody has been destroyed. Instead its been rebuilt into this a finger pointing man ruining machine that has everyone walking on eggshells. Maybe its karma ? who knows but it is slowly getting more and more out of control. The sex and gender 101 was interesting but nothing groundbreaking as I have seen this same reoccurring theme played tirelessly over the last couple of years. The reading attempts to broaden the spectrum of what biological sex by coming up with new labels for peoples personal likes and who or what they identify with. Labels I feel I should not have to memorize or care to remember. Lets say you are a “Cis” gender person , does that automatically make you a good person because that’s all i really care about . I also do not understand why it is so hard to understand that men and woman are different biologically, mentally, sexually . The author states that that they refuse to subscribe to the idea that a persons sex is unchangeable. As much as you don’t subscribe to it does not make it less true that biologically men cannot give birth, men cannot get there period , woman cannot produce sperm it cant happen and no amount of unsubscribing or science and detour that from being any less of a truth. If we start subscribing to the idea that identity falls along multiple spectrums rather then dichotomous boxes, where does it end?. I appreciate the reading for what it is and I am sure this is not the last author to push this convoluted ideology.

In the essay “Feminist Politics Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks. Hook explains the definition of feminism as “A movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” What it means to me is to understand sexism and to erase sexism from the world, not that men are an enemy. Throughout history, women have to fight for equality, women weren’t allowed to work or vote but instead get married to a man; be a housewife; make kids. It was like a cycle that would never end, so it was time for women to make a change. What people believe the definition of feminism is “anti-male.” In reality, the true definition of feminism is having equal rights for men and women in the household, society, and workplace. According to the essay on pg 3, hook explains that males are not the only group in our society who support sexist thinking and behavior but women as well. “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.” This is true because in social media and everywhere you look, they’re women that is not only being sexist males but sexist to women, for example, a woman can go up to another woman telling them to get out of the beach or pool because their bikini is shown too much skin. Another part of the essay I would like to discuss is bell hook explaining the quote when it comes to white women and black people colliding to end sexism and patriarchy. On pg 4 she states that “It made sense that white men were more willing to consider women’s rights when the granting of those rights could serve the interests of maintaining white supremacy. We can never forget that white women began to assert their need for freedom for civil rights, just at the point when racial discrimination was ending and black people, especially black males might have attained equality in the workforce with white men.” This quote means that not only white women are fighting for feminism, but black people as well, they want equal rights when it comes to their workplace & Society. This describes in what bell hooks were talking about feminism is for everybody no matter if you’re a male or a female, the meaning behind feminism is to stop sexism and have equal rights for everyone. Before reading the article “Gender & Sex 101” I thought that Gender is a characteristic of a male or female. There are people who identify as nonbinary using pronouns like they/them. Sometimes there are people who don’t believe they are the gender they were assigned at birth. When reading this article explains the definition of Gender and gender assignment, meaning that “a person is categorized as either masculine gender (boy/man) or feminine gender (woman/girl) based on their external genitalia.” When reading the gender assignment category I thought about the world today and how people believe masculinity and femininity in gender can be opposite, for example, a woman can be masculine and a male can be feminine it doesn’t always have to be a woman can be feminine and a male can be masculine. What confuses me about reading this article is the meaning of intersex. Lastly, what the article discusses is that in America boys are supposed to be tough, like cars and guns, girls, and dress “manly” whereas girls they’re supposed to be clean, weak, and emotional. My thoughts about it are that this has been going on for decades and people believe that it doesn’t matter if you have a feminine side and you’re a male you’re still human that deserves to be treated with respect. In the end, it can be frustrating how society will treat you when you’re expressing yourselves with the stereotypes of gender. 

In the essay, “Feminist Politics Where We Stand” bell hooks defines feminism as: “a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” (Hook, pg.). This means, about how what feminism aims to do is end the injustice that has been created over the years with women. Since, she talks about how feminism is more about being able to have the rights that each person needs, focusing on women because long before when rights were created they said ‘rights for men’ and they did not generalize this phrase to include women. But these, they should be left without rights and not have the gender equality that has been fighting for all this time. They said Feminism it was just an excuse for women not to do housework, not have children, and be lesbians. Which with the passage of time, and with a lot of struggle this has been normalizing but even so, there some changes that happen with the feminism. In the story, Hook also explains how feminism began only as a movement of white women and that after a while, black women joined it in order to liberate any woman regardless of her race. Hook explains, “it made sense that white men were more willing to consider women’s rights when the granting of those rights could serve the interests of maintaining white supremacy” (Hook, ppg 4. 2000), emphasizing the desire for how feminism it was focused only on gender equality, being able to give the rights that by nature are needed by each person regardless of their gender. However, you can see how the mentality of the people who created the laws at that time was, since in itself, men did not want to give women rights just because, but they were trying to find a way that by giving these rights to women they have something in return. explain what you understand this definition to mean. Being honest, I saw feminism as a very radical way of seeking gender equality. As the reading explains at the end, I feel that many times some women today fight ‘feminism’ in the wrong way, since as stipulated, feminism is being able to be equal, and have the same rights as men. But, I have seen that some women do it in the wrong way since they show a not very healthy hatred towards men for no reason, there are times that they say they are feminists just for fashion and not because they seriously feel they want to be part of it, and the fact that they are no longer focused on gender equality, but are more focused on creating a matriarchy. They can have a balance between gender equality and there is no patriarchy or matriarchy. After reading “Sex and Gender” it was something that I was aware of, since it talks about the gender with which each baby is born, and that is why there is the male and the female, what if I did not know is that the intersex existed, which is the crossing of the chromosomes that cannot be stated if it is a girl or a boy. Which I find very curious and at the same time good, since when the baby grows up it can be assigned to a gender or just classified as he wants. What is happening today is that there is more understanding with the different genres and with what people feel they really are. Also, I am aware of how gender orientation may develop further and how different types of orientations have been expanded in a very healthy way.