27 October 2010
Philosophy 110 bell hooks’ notion and definition of feminism
In this paper, I will examine and expand on the meaning of feminism as put forth by bell hooks in her book “Feminism is for everybody: Passionate Politics” and her argument that the definition of feminism and the primary goal of the feminist movement is one and the same: that feminism is a movement to “end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression” of all women. This is not a critical analysis of the entire book as whole or in sections; instead, it is an argument in support of the meaning of her definition of feminism. Although, she argues that women can be just as sexist as men, however, she asserts that the goal of the feminist movement is to eradicate an institutionalized sexism perpetrated by men against women in our patriarchy society which I fully support.
I believe hooks’ definition of feminism enhances her overall argument that the feminist movement cannot be just about women seeking equal rights in race, gender, or class but that feminist principles should include the goal to end sexism in general. She asserts that the goal of the movement is to challenge sexism and patriarchy while still allowing women to recruit and convert men to their feminist beliefs and thinking and to the feminist movement at large.
Hooks’ definition of feminism is one that could easily be incorporated into the mainstream teachings of feminist politics because it is focused on issues of domination which goes beyond sex and gender. hooks presents a unique view of all forms of domination stemming from a feminist understanding of gender and sexual inequality that can be incorporated into the teachings of social relations between individuals, social structures, and the state. Here are three examples she offers in support of her claim that feminism is a movement to “end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression” of all women.
One example hooks puts forth in support