Summary Of Bell Hooks's Book, Feminism Is Everybody

Bell hooks makes a clear argument throughout her book, Feminism is Everybody, stating what feminism is. She starts off the book by stating, “feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression”(hooks 1). She hopes to diffuse the mainstream ideas of feminism, that they want what men have, and educate people with what feminists really stand for. The media and society like to label feminists and portray them in a certain light. Feminism began to be known as a movement for females that hate men. In her definition of feminism bell didn’t mention men. Bell even states, “I liked this definition because it didn’t imply that men were the enemy”(hooks 1). The mainstream notion leads many to believe that feminism is anti-male, when in reality it is anti-sexism and fights for equality for all sexes.
Bell stated, “one becomes a believer in feminist politics through choice and action”(hooks 7). Believing in feminism isn’t a given for all women like many may assume. Not all women are aware in male domination and some believe nothing needs to be changed. Supporting the feminist movement is a choice, like you choose to advocate for anything else such as politicians. One of bell’s arguments is feminists are made, not born. Bell continues by stating,“The enemy within must be transformed before we can confront the enemy outside”(hooks 12). The enemy within is the internalized sexist thoughts and behavior by men and women. Once they are transformed and acknowledge, men and women can embrace feminist politics. Contrary to popular belief there are males as allies in the feminist