Defining Feminism

Defining Feminism What comes to mind when you hear the word “feminism” or “feminist”? Let’s start with the basics. Sex, politics, women, oppression, equality, media and etc. only make up a portion of what feminism stands for in our society today. With so many varied opinions, feminism can be very difficult to define yet alone understand. However, by conducting research online and studying the works of both Hooks and Valenti, I was able to articulate my own perspective on what feminism personally means to me. To convey her viewpoints on feminism, Valenti takes an interesting spin in her article called: “You’re A Hardcore Feminist. I Swear”. Valenti engages her audience by first asking questions to really get people thinking about the issue and the type of impact that it has had on our society. She asks: “what’s the worst possible thing you can call a woman?” (Valenti 5). This one question automatically triggers negative thoughts into people’s minds and that is exactly how the “feminist problem” initiates to begin with. Valenti defines feminism as a “self-help progressive” movement that is all about “making your life better” (Valenti 6). She claims: “why go through your life believing you’re not good enough and that you have to change? There is nothing wrong with you” (Valenti 7). She addresses the negative first in order to then focus on the positive. Acknowledging the flaws of society helps achieve progress and change.
However, in contrast, Hooks utilizes a more political standpoint. She states how “feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression. To understand feminism it implies one has to necessarily understand sexism” (Hooks 1). In modern society people have developed a biased opinion towards feminism because of “patriarchal mass media” (Hooks 1). She also expresses how religious cultures (such as Christianity) have brainwashed people to believe that women are inferior to men in a “domestic household” (Hooks 2). This type of