Hooks Chapter 7 Summary

In chapter seven Hooks talks about feminism in the realms of class. Hooks explains that the focus of feminism came to be about the wealthy white upper class women who wanted the same opportunities as men of their own class rather than the focus of women receiving the same benefits to sustain themselves. Working class and middle class women were able to work, but they did not make enough money to support themselves. I liked this chapter because Hooks gave a resolution for the problem. Hooks explains that in order to get to the basics of what being feminist is, feminist women of upper class should help those that are less fortunate by creating homes and programs to allow women of all classes to sustain themselves without the need of men. If
this is done, it will benefit millions of women all over the world. Not only will they be able to sustain themselves, but their children’s and those who they take care of. Rather than just benefiting few women doing something like this could help the rid the world of poverty as women are often the victims of poverty because they are paid less than men. Single mother would be able to care for their children without the economic struggle that many single mothers face.

In pages 55-69 of the reading Global Woman; Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy, interviews of the blowups and quiet exits of nannies and maids are described for Latina workers.
Many of which include mistrust from the employer and misunderstandings. An interview that greatly shocked me was of Soraya Sanchez, who was fired because the son of the employer told its mother that Sanchez had yelled at him. She was working for the family on a national holiday and on that same day she was fired for doing her job. Stories like this go to show that class differences do not allow women to live feminist lives. Tying this reading to chapter 7 of Hooks Feminism is for Everybody it goes to show that class differences prevent feminism to function. These women who work as maids and nannies are still treated horribly by the more privileged women who have reached a power similar to that of men in their own class. Not only are they treated poorly but they are discriminated against because of the power position they hold. Just like in the interview with Elvira Areola, she fists told by the family that she could not quit because she was like family and quickly after she was told that she was only a maid. Not only that, but the employers were trying to prevent her from quitting by making her do something they knew she could not do to keep her with
them.