bell hooks Feminist Theory 💡

Question 1

Why do we spell her name like that?

Answer 1

bell hooks has no capital letters in her name. This is a personal choice as she doesn’t want to define herself by her name.

Question 2

What is a patriarchy?

Answer 2

A society dominated by men.

Question 3

What does feminism mean, according to hooks?

Answer 3

1. Feminism, according to hooks, is the struggle to end patriarchal oppression.

Question 4

What does hooks believe and argue in her theory? (2)

Answer 4

1. She believes feminism is not a lifestyle choice - it’s a political commitment: you need to be active with it.
2. She believes there are levels of discrimination and oppression, and women are not all discriminated in the same way or to the same extent. This mainly occurs within cultures and societies.
   - Discrimination and oppression against women varies depending on ethnicity and class (e.g. women with less money / more or less beautiful get discriminated against more patriarchally)