Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics 2nd Edition

I heard of bell hooks years ago, but have put off reading her for some time. I recently began to work alongside a mostly female team at my job, so I’m reading several feminist texts to appreciate their life and work experiences better. After reading this short work, I wish I would have read her sooner because her perspective was so healing! I liked it so much that I immediately purchased another book of hers, specifically discussing and addressing men (The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love).It’s no secret that American society has been undertaking a huge discussion about gender in the past 65 or so years. “Discussion” might not be the right word; “argument” might be better. Anyways, I’ve become concerned that our conversations tend to branch off from each other too much and never unite again. Fortunately, hooks’ words unite without losing feminism’s salty essence. Indeed, she seems to argue that feminism’s essence should unite. As a longstanding voice in feminism who grew to fame by bringing racial issues to light, her dual identity – or intersectionality – allows her to come to a bigger picture of human togetherness than a lot of white feminists can. Which is just another way to show how black women rock.The book’s only drawback for me was the chapter on feminism and spirituality. I’m about as passionate about Christian history as hooks is about feminism, so history’s depths root my words. She suggests swapping masculine religious symbols out for feminist ones because of Christianity’s “patriarchal norms.”I wholeheartedly agree that fundamentalist/evangelical Christianity in America maintains these norms and that they should be overcome. I disagree that this has always been the case in Christianity. Look at the long, positive history of dealing with the “Virgin Mary” which expresses the value of women choosing God. (Yes, Mary’s role is so strong that negative gender norms have fixated on her, too.) Or how the medieval church declared that God transcended gender. Or how Jesus invited women into his circle when no one else in Judaism gave them access. Or how the Second Great Awakening empowered women and enslaved persons. Etc. I support her argument for feminist inclusion in contemporary religion, but it needs to be made by someone with deeper theological roots.Overall, though, I love this book. It brought healing and unity in places it was lacking. More people should consider hooks’ insights. The word “feminism” in the title might scare some people off – particularly men – but considering her thoughts can only make us better people. And better people include men like me that want to be rock starts at work, in our families… and even trash talking with each other about sports. I’m grateful that hooks enlightened me a bit, and I’m looking forward to her next book.

Wow, for a short book, without too many five dollar words, this work is extremely thorough and requires a lot of work and contemplation on the part of the reader.hooks covers so much ground, so many facets of feminism in this work. From what consciousness raising is, to reproductive rights, to the impact of beauty standards, race and gender, classism, parenting, hetero and LGB relationships... Feminism is about love, and more, it's about freedom for men and women, to get away from the toxic societal models that are literally killing us."Most citizens of this nation still do not understand the link between male domination and male violence. And that failure to understand is underscored as our nation is called upon to respond to violent murders of family members, friends, and schoolmates by young males of all classes."Feminism, for those in the back, is NOT about hating men. hooks likes men; I love them - most feminists I know, love men as well as women. When hate enters the picture, it's about hating a dynamic that pits men and women against each other, that forces people into stereotypes that don't fit them. hooks addresses the problems created when feminism seemed to become white, academic, and classist, and encourages us all to learn about intersectionality (something I'm not great at yet, but am working on it)."If feminist movement had not offered a true accounting of the dangers of perpetuating sexism and male domination, it would have failed. There would have been no need to mount an anti-feminist campaign." There's a backlash BECAUSE doing something other than the thing we know, patriarchy, is terrifying to many, and threatens those who might lose their privilege.Yet if they did, there's so much to be gained, for all of us. Feminism is for everybody.

This book is a quick read and reminder of the true meaning of feminism. It is so much more than simply being female! Highly recommend if you need/want to remember what feminism is, really.

Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by Bell Hooks approaches feminism from a perspective of inclusiveness as indicated by the title. Hooks explores the idea that everyone benefits from the pursuit of equal rights for women. Interspersed in her essays is the idea that feminist leaders are sometimes guilty of playing into the patriarchy's hands by pitting those who should be joining together against one another. She explores the use of racism and classism, sometimes unconscious, as instrumental in keeping feminism from making the strides it could make. Hooks points out that when equality comes to our society everyone benefits in a stronger community filled with productive citizens working together for the betterment of all. She goes on to explore how the upper and even middle classes use inequality to exploit others for their own benefit often while not even seeing how the very lives they live are built on the services of other people. Hooks explores inequality and its relationship to feminism with passion, intelligence, and integrity to the point of making me examine how I live my life in relationship to those around me.

I love this book! Indeed, feminism is for everybody! Do buy the book if you can! I think the perspective hooks offers in this book needs to be made into a film so the mass can access to the depth of her analysis. I applaud the courage she had to put this type of works during her time. We take some stuff for granted but it's certainly thanks to intellectuals like hooks that racial relations are better understood in the U.S.

I love this book, it’s a great introduction to feminism, the author makes it very easy to understand and it’s not overwhelming long or hard to get through. Great quick book to have a better understand of feminism!

The subject is presented in a way that is easy to digest for readers that do not have prior knowledge on Feminism