Hook's Contribution To The Socialization Of White Women
Hook explains a common view of white women in the following sentence, “In fundamentalist Christian teaching woman was portrayed as an evil sexual temptress, the bringer of sin into the world. Sexual lust originated with her and men were merely the victims of her wanton power. Socialization of white men to regard women as their moral downfall led to the development of anti-woman sentiment.” (Hooks, 29) White women felt the way white male view females, in this writing is “violence perpetrated by white men against enslaved black women. The deep hatred of woman that had been embedded in the white colonizer's psyche by patriarchal ideology and anti-woman religious teachings both motivated and sanctioned white male brutality against black women.”
(Hooks, 33)
Leading to white women struggling with the way the black females were treated, but not because of the cruelty and de-humanizing acts. This is an excellent quote summarizing this issue, “I was soon convinced that her emotions arose from anger and wounded pride. She felt that her marriage vows were desecrated, her dignity insulted; but she had no compassion for the poor victim of her husband's perfidy. She pitied herself as a martyr; but she was incapable of feeling for the condition of shame and misery in which her unfortunate, helpless slaves were placed.” (Hooks, 28)
This reading shows how both white and black women suffered in their roles, causing women in general to be oppressed. The role of a white woman to be financially supported by her husband was a sign of wealth or success. The white females were in argument with this concept instead of viewing it as a submissive role.
Comparing the viewpoint of the black women who “bitterly resented that they were not considered "women" by the dominant culture and therefore were not the recipients of the considerations and privileges given white women. Modesty, sexual purity, innocence, and a submissive manner were the qualities associated with womanhood and femininity that enslaved black women endeavored to attain even though the conditions under which they lived continually undermined their efforts.” (Hooks, 49) Both white and black women were not concern with “women” being equal to men, impacting the problem.
(Hooks, 33)
Leading to white women struggling with the way the black females were treated, but not because of the cruelty and de-humanizing acts. This is an excellent quote summarizing this issue, “I was soon convinced that her emotions arose from anger and wounded pride. She felt that her marriage vows were desecrated, her dignity insulted; but she had no compassion for the poor victim of her husband's perfidy. She pitied herself as a martyr; but she was incapable of feeling for the condition of shame and misery in which her unfortunate, helpless slaves were placed.” (Hooks, 28)
This reading shows how both white and black women suffered in their roles, causing women in general to be oppressed. The role of a white woman to be financially supported by her husband was a sign of wealth or success. The white females were in argument with this concept instead of viewing it as a submissive role.
Comparing the viewpoint of the black women who “bitterly resented that they were not considered "women" by the dominant culture and therefore were not the recipients of the considerations and privileges given white women. Modesty, sexual purity, innocence, and a submissive manner were the qualities associated with womanhood and femininity that enslaved black women endeavored to attain even though the conditions under which they lived continually undermined their efforts.” (Hooks, 49) Both white and black women were not concern with “women” being equal to men, impacting the problem.