Bell hooks said feminism should be thought of as the “struggle to end sexist oppression,” instead of the movement to make women equals of men, as the rhetoric of the latter definition implies that it is always men who are oppressing women (26). For example, John Stuart Mill wrote that historically, the “subject-class” of women (166) were dominated by men, and power was “common to the whole male sex” (165). He only focused on the domination of women by men, and ignored how non-white and poor men have faced discrimination that rich white men did not have to endure, and therefore the former feels “powerless and ineffectual in relation to ruling male groups” (hooks 18). Mill also neglected to mention that black women are often victims of domination …show more content…
Mill, for example, wrote no one can really know “the nature of the two sexes, as long as they have only been seen in their present relation to one another” (170). While it is true women were denied the same privileges as men, emphasizing the idea such that women could be intelligent if they got the same education implies women must be intelligent in order to be respected and treated the same as men. However, Truth fought back against this notion by arguing, “What’s [intellect] got to do with women’s rights or negro rights? If [her] cup won’t hold but a pint … wouldn’t you be mean not to let [her] have [her] little half-measure full?” …show more content…
In wage gap arguments, for example, people commonly bring up the fact that women make about 70 cents to a man’s dollar (it was 78 cents in 2014), while neglecting that African-American and Hispanic women tend to make even less than 70 cents (“The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap”). This paints the image that all women have the same issues and suffer the same degree of discrimination, which is simply untrue. By sharing individual experiences and stories, non-white and poor women have an opportunity to bring attention to this neglect by liberal feminists. Stories of individual struggle can touch and encourage a group, a room– perhaps even a movement, to stand up against injustice. Surely, by describing her own hardships being enslaved, Sojourner Truth touched audiences and inspired them to take action. She also became a famous speaker and leader of abolitionist and women’s rights movements, which proves the individual can become the political (especially a political collective
In the Women’s Rights Convention of 1851, Truth repeatedly equates her worth to that of a man by her physical and intellectual abilities. Some of Truth’s statements at this convention include: “I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I can carry as much as any mean, and I can eat as much too”. These statements highlight the fact that women were thought to have less physical and intellectual ability than men, and as such were afforded fewer rights. By recurrently equating herself to men in all of these arenas, Truth displayed the commonalities between men and women. Furthermore, Truth’s views came from the stance of a former African American slave, who were not. In this speech, Truth paralleled herself, a black woman, to have the same abilities as a white man, thereby attempting to change her audience’s view of the current existing American capitalist patriarchal structure that put white men at the top and women of color at the bottom of the
“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind” (Mill, 2002, pg.14) John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher of the 19th century, and said to be one of the most influential thinkers in the areas regarding social theory, political theory, and political economy had strong views regarding free speech. In his following quote, he states that if all mankind had an opinion or an action, and another individual had a different opinion, mankind would not be justified in silencing that one individual just like that one individual, if given the power to do so, would not be justified in silencing all of mankind. Mill’s argument is that every individual has value, meaning, and power within their opinions and that we should not be the ones to stop them from having the right to state their opinion. Their actions and who they are as a person should not be silenced. In the spirit of the greater good of mankind and freedom of expression, one must have the right to liberty and free expression without being silenced and the right to one’s own freedom.
bell hooks closes her essay by saying, “If black men are betraying us through acts of male violence, we save ourselves and the race by resisting.” (123) I believe in what she is saying, but she is one sided. Maybe she is just saying that we, as women, would rather be called just ‘girls’, ‘women’ or even ‘chicka’, but that is every woman, not just the black women. But, did she even think about the girls (black and white) that like to be paraded around like giraffes at a circus? Did she realize that she is just one person, as am I, and she can’t change the world she lived in? The world is cruel and evil and some of the men in it are just as nasty and immoral, but it’s our choice whether to live in the world…or in the circus.
Sojourner Truth’s speech entitled “Ain’t I A Woman?” became popular for its honest and raw confrontation on the injustices she experienced both as a woman and an African-American. The speech was given during a women’s rights convention held in Akron, Ohio in May 1851 and addressed many women’s rights activists present (Marable and Mullings, 66). Sojourner began her speech by pointing out the irrational expectations men have of women and contrasting them to her own experiences. She exclaims that a man in the corner claims women “needs to be helped into carriages and lifted ober ditches or to hab de best place everywhar,” yet no one extends that help to her (67). This is followed by her rhetorically asking “and ain’t I a woman?” (67) Here, Sojourner is calling out the social construction of gender difference that men use in order to subordinate women.
John Stuart Mill was one of the most influential Western philosopher. At the time, most Western philosophers had the tendency to look down on women. They believed that women are too emotional and are incapable of being rational. However, Mill was an exception to this as he was an advocate for gender equality (Utilitarian Ethics). He is also known for his work in Utilitarianism, which focuses on the consequence of an action and whether that action benefit a greater number of people (Utilitarian Ethics).
In the book Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center written by bell hooks, an African-American author, social activist and feminist first published in 1984 the author explains what she believes are the core principles of feminism. Throughout the book the author examines the early feminist theory and goes on to criticize it saying that it did not aim for a systematic change also that the movement has the potential to improve the lives of both men and women immensely. In the book the author investigates the performance of African-American women in the movement and what is needed to drive the movement towards ending oppression of all kinds.
“Defining Patriarchy” by Bell Hooks is an article written to persuade the reader that patriarchy is “the single most life-threatening social disease” in American society. Hooks’ in depth understanding of the American experience and how patriarchy affects not just Hooks’ life but others around her sets her essay apart from others as Hooks effectively defines what patriarchy is, and how patriarchy should be changed. Hooks’ vivid, raw and unforgiving descriptions of her own experience with patriarchy exposes flaws in the world, and leaves the reader feeling stunned. Hooks uses diction, tone, and pathos in order to drive home the message that patriarchy is and has been part of society, and that patriarchy is a social construct that needs to be
In the essay Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression Bell Hook establishes a crystal clear definition of what feminism is when he states that “Feminism as a movement to end sexist oppression directs our attention to systems of domination and the inter-relatedness of sex, race, and class oppression(p.75).” The quote not only sheds light on the meaning of the word but clarifies that feminism is not just ethnocentric because the main message is to end all type of oppression and not just the oppression against gender. In today’s era, there is no consensus on the precise definition of feminism and how to fight the oppression. However, Hook’s explanation unifies the definition of feminism by eliminating the stigma that feminism is merely for lesbians, male-haters, and angry women.
John Stuart Mill, who openly supported women’s suffrage, was elected to British Parliament in 1864. Throughout his campaign, he called for an amendment to the Reform Act to include female suffrage. Although the Reform Act was ultimately defeated by the entirely male conservative government, for the first time it did succeed in raising awareness of the issue of women’s enfranchisement across the commonwealth.
In her 1981 work Ain’t I a Woman?: Black women and feminism, bell hooks denounced the then still dominantly White feminist movement: “While it is in no way racist for any author to write a book exclusively about white women, it is fundamentally racist for books to be published that focus solely on the American white woman's experience in which that experience is assumed to be the American woman's experience.” Her work not only challenged the intention of the feminist movement, but supplied another perspective on the Civil Rights Movement and the subservient positions constrained upon black women at the time, leading to the face of Black resistance to oppression to be seen as a man’s struggle; this, she argued, was comparable to the feminist movement, in which these exploited women were asked to step
. .” (Wollstonecraft, 215). Wollstonecraft does not want the reader to feel pity for her, nor does she want to appear one-sided to her sex. Wollstonecraft does not proclaim that men and women are completely equal beings to further her notion of women’s education. Rather, Wollstonecraft proposes a valid point, stating that “In the government of the physical world it is observable that the female in point of strength is, in general, inferior to the male. This is the law of nature . . .” and “a degree of physical superiority cannot, therefore be denied . . .” (Wollstonecraft, 214). Therefore, Wollstonecraft is valid in asserting her arguments for a more rigorous education for women by confirming that fact that men are superior physically. However, Wollstonecraft points that women are treated as subordinate beings because of this fact by nature. Nevertheless, women can be made useful to society by promoting their thoughts, intellect, skills, and abilities. For example, a mother who is highly educated will raise virtuous children. Wollstonecraft validates this statement by proclaiming that “if children are to be educated to understand the true
At one of Paul’s demonstrations in DC, they are speaking to women factory workers who are not aware that they should be able to vote for something like having a fire exit in the factory. Gaining the support from working class women was very important to the movement because these women are at the brunt of society’s negative views and are most affected by the societal hardships. Paul’s feminist movement received additional support from Ida B. Wells, an African American women rights activist, as long as they were allowed to march with the white women, not behind them. Although this minute aspect of the movie did not thoroughly discuss the racist issues also present at the time, it made me think about Sojourner Truth’s speech ‘Ain’t I a Woman?’ Representation from all races and social classes is imperative in the fight for women’s equality because African American women are women too, color does not matter.
Hooks points out that there was a polarization that came to be in feminist movements. “This polarization was between those who sought to bring about gender equality within the current system – reformers – and those who sought to transform the current system – revolutionaries.” She explains that the media, and white men were far more comfortable considering women’s rights when the granting of those rights could serve the interest of maintaining white supremacy. (38) Hooks also mentioned that privileged white women tended to push aside the revolutionary feminism when the began to receive economic power within the existing structure. Basically, this means they didn’t think that the inequality applied to them anymore. So there was nothing left to fight for. This argument transitioned to her talking about why she thinks the movement still hasn’t caught on with all females. She says it is because “ feminist politics is losing momentum without a clear definition”. This is true, there are many different ways that people preach feminism to their peers, friends, and family. This shapes the way that people view the movement, and why sometimes people find it an insult. Her closing statement really hit home. I agree that we need to bring back the simple definition of the word feminism. Women AND men looking to end sexist oppression. It is
Mills thinks that society should not reject the expression of an opinion no matter who the individual is. He supports his point for freedom of though and expression by stating that none can be bold enough to say that their opinions are true and that other opinion are false. He added that even if it is believed that a person’s opinion is wrong it should never be suppressed but should be allowed it to be fully expressed. Mills believes that when a person’s thoughts or opinions are suppressed, then it will be believed that that individual’s opinion is not true but false.
Marilyn: The word "oppression" is being stretched to meaninglessness. Feminism claims that women are oppressed and that statement is frequently met with the claim that men are oppressed too. But if ever we deny that any person or group is oppressed, we seem to imply that we think they never suffer and have no feelings.