ipl-logo

Bell Hook's Summary: The Impact Of Sexism On Black Women

792 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Case study on intersectionality

Bell Hooks makes arguments on the following topics in the introduction of her book, “the impact of sexism on the black woman during slavery, the devaluation of black womanhood, black male sexism, racism within the recent feminist movement, and the black woman’s involvement with feminism” (p.29). Hooks makes a point to address how race and sex are inseparable. Many women of color were too scared to acknowledge that sexism is just as much of an issue as racism. Hooks states, “Consequently, when the women’s movement raised the issue of sexist oppression, we argued that sexism was insignificant in light of the harsher, more brutal reality of racism. We were afraid to acknowledge that sexism could be just as oppressive as racism” (p.14). The negative …show more content…

Even though Black women and men were the same race, their oppression and suffrage was always viewed as less than Black men’s. Black men also wanted Black women to take on a subservient role to them. Hooks states, “Black women were placed in a double bind; to support women’s suffrage would imply that they were allying themselves with white women activists who had publicly revealed their racism, but to support only black male suffrage was to endorse a patriarchal social order that would grant them no political voice” …show more content…

I think it is unfair that the white women activists did not support Black women in the feminist movement. They did not treat Black women with the same respect as white women and continued to support racist and sexist attitudes and actions. Their rights as women should not have been disregarded because of their race. Also, I think it is unfair that Black men wanted Black women to be submissive and essentially voiceless to support their efforts. Instead, I feel as though Black women’s oppression and suffrage should have been viewed as equal to Black men’s. Black women should have been treated as less than Black men and forced to be silent or subservient. Sexism should have been fought just as much as racism within the black community because any form of oppression is still

Show More
Related

Summary Of Ar 'N' T I A Women By Deborah Grey White

880 Words | 4 Pages

In the book Ar’n’t I a women the author, Deborah Gray White, explains how the life was for the slave women in the Southern plantations. She reveals to us how the slave women had to deal with difficulties of racism as well as dealing with sexism. Slave women in these plantations assumed roles within the family as well as the community; these roles were completely different to the roles given to a traditional white female. Deborah Gray White shows us how black women had a different experience from the black men and the struggle they had to maintain their sense of womanhood against all odds, resist sexual oppression, and keep their families together. In the book the author describes two different types of women, “Jezebel” and “Mammy” they

Read More

Summary Of 4: 44 By Anthony Boynton

984 Words | 4 Pages

The disregard for black women is an issue that is slowly becoming a topic of discussion. In addition to Malcolm X’s acknowledgement that “The most disrespected woman in America, is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America, is the black woman”, Crunktastic writes in the Crunk Feminist Collections about her experience being a black woman and being disrespected. Both Boynton and Crunktastic write pieces that encourage men to put aside their feelings of entitlement and begin to respect black women.

Read More

Summary Of The Black Woman In Contemporary America By Shirley Chisholm

760 Words | 4 Pages

Being that Chisholm is a strong black woman herself, she expresses that women have a voice that needs to be heard. She says that if women can take care of households " hold up and be strong behind their man," why women can't lead themselves. Chisholm refers to the 1970's as a time when society filled with the thoughts of sexism and racism, two factors that automatically denoted a woman. Instead of looking down on women, Chisholm was holding up the characteristics that woman poses, which can play to the strengths and advantages for the black community. However, being that black women being looked upon as the "lowest form" of the existence to the rest of society, they are forced to be in the back

Read More

Black Radical Feminist: Shirley Chisholm And Angela Davis

967 Words | 4 Pages

#1 African Americans and women have both had to struggle through obstacles to be treated equal as white men, but being an African American women meant there was going to be even more obstacles. Black Radical Feminist such as Shirley Chisholm and Angela Davis both had shared the same ideals of women gaining better job opportunity and speaking out on their oppression. Shirley Chisholm did not understand why is was acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but not acceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors and lawyers. She knew there was a prejudice assumption that women do not have the executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

Read More

Review Of The Film Paris Is Burning By Jessie Livingston

943 Words | 4 Pages

In this chapter, Hooks explains how the demasculinization of any person in a society is seen as a cross from a world of having little power into a world full of privilege. Hooks dives into the fact that many black comedians actually have their first success when they include their impersonations of black women. This is due to the fact that the black woman is often a target of ridicule and scorn. She also talks about how during her viewing experience many white people just treated the stories and hardships of these minorities as entertainment, and didn’t actually take it seriously. I would like to connect this subject to the actual documentary because it is suggested by multiple people in the film that black women are treated much worse than men, but despite this there are still many people in the film that either cross dress as a women, or that have undergone a sex change.

Read More

Combahee River Collective Statement

3302 Words | 14 Pages

Overall, feminism has not held white women accountable for their continuance of racism and disrespect towards Black women. Feminism has failed to hold white women accountable for not using their privilege to advocate for the needs of all women. To enact change, white feminists must use their privilege to oppose white supremacy. White feminists must stop being afraid to lose their privileges in going against these systems of oppression. Instead, there is much to be

Read More

At The Dark End Of The Street Analysis

1468 Words | 6 Pages

This is the case that is made by Danielle McGuire in At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women’s, Rape, and Resistance-A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power. In this text, the author expands the discussion of the challenges that African American women contended with prior to and during the civil rights movement during the mid-twentieth century. The author argues that the rape and sexual violence that was prevalent during this era and its impact on Black women received minimal attention. The organization and activism that was fueled by women was similarly minimized (McGuire, 2010.

Read More

Overview Of Their Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston

973 Words | 4 Pages

In the book, Hurston showed repeatedly how African Americans were not treated the same way as people who were White. As a challenge to the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston expands her portrayal of inequality to gender. Some examples of views within the book that depart from other people within the Harlem Renaissance is that she had a very strong feminist view in a movement that focused on African Americans. An example in the book of her discussing the role of women is, “Uh women by herself is a pitiful thing … Dey need aid and assistance” (90).

Read More

Gloria Steinem Intersectional Feminism

1090 Words | 5 Pages

It either includes all women, or it’s not feminism” (Makers). She frequently reminds individuals that it was disproportionately women of color, especially black women, who created the feminist movement. She contends that erasing black women’s integral contributions disgraces the founders of the movement and eradicates the efforts of feminism’s true founding

Read More

What Is The Strength Of Black Women In The First Steps Of Nation Making

369 Words | 2 Pages

In the First Steps of Nation Making we reflected on black women created clubs to help other women and the black community. The clubs created kindergartens, safe housing and more. Most of the women in these clubs were educated and considered to be a strong force in and out of the community. I believe the strength and accomplishments of these club women was a major reason that they faced opposition from other groups including black men. I never knew of these clubs and I am proud of the strength of these women and I also recognize how then and now black women are faced with an ugly stigma of being mean, bossy, and sometimes masculine when they have to get out there and create a life by holding their heads up, having pride in themselves, and achieving

Read More

Talking Back Thinking Black Analysis

318 Words | 2 Pages

In reading Bell Hooks “Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black” outlining her own discovery of herself and the place in society where she stands as a woman or even as a black woman. Hooks distinguishes the importance of “taking back” for the oppressed and the dominated to recover oneself. I felt the writing of Bell Hook in “Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black” is an audacious act by underlining the problem of woman and reveal Hooks path of rediscovery. Hooks writing “Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black” is an audacious act that underlines the problem of woman.

Read More

Bell Hooks On Whiteness Analysis

1596 Words | 7 Pages

Intersectional analysis still matter because race still matters in this generation. Intersectional analysis is a theory of discrimination with an individual identity, race, sex, age, and other characteristics. I personally think that not only women face intersectionality but men do as well. In this essay, I will argue that bell hooks’ main argument is how white people do not know what people of colour are going through and how “whiteness” has more privileges then the blacks. hooks approach is intersectional because people of colour are being treated as slaves to the “white” just because of their race and at times their gender.

Read More

Women In The Civil Rights Movement

1227 Words | 5 Pages

In “Invisible Black Women Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: The Triple Constraints of Gender, Race, and Class,” by Bernice McNair Barnett, Barnett explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and class and its effects on African American women and their unique experience in the Civil Rights Movement. During the Civil Rights Movements, women were allowed to participate, and they even played essential roles that helped to further the movement. From helping to organize the famous Bus Boycott, raising money, and initiating protests, black women in the Civil Rights Movement had a significant hand in creating one of the social movements. However, because of their gender, African American women weren’t allowed to receive any recognition for

Read More

Feminist Criminological Research

572 Words | 3 Pages

K(1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color. 43(6)pp.1241-1252 Hooks. B(1981) Aint I a woman: Black women and Feminism.

Read More

Social Stratification In The Movie The Help

610 Words | 3 Pages

Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

Read More

More about Bell Hook's Summary: The Impact Of Sexism On Black Women

Related Topics

Open Document