It involves careful analysis of the importance of learning about patriarchy as a system of domination, its institutionalization, and its maintenance. This essential unlearning is revolutionary feminist consciousness-raising. Therefore, to change the patriarchy, women have to first change themselves. They are made through the rejection of patriarchal paradigms by the politically conscious. In a sexist society, everyone is encultured to uphold sexist views, and so feminists are not born, they need to be made.
hooks believes that this loss of values led to the loss of momentum in the movement, and argues that reformist feminism has to change for the movement to begin anew. Lifestyle feminism allows for the removal of politics from a fundamentally political and radical movement, pushing radical feminism into an esoteric academic circle and delineating it from public life. This is what hooks calls “ lifestyle feminism,” or the idea that no matter your politics, you could still be a feminist (e.g., an anti-abortionist could still be a feminist). Thus, allowing these women to lead double lives where they get to choose their roles as oppressors and oppressed while living comfortably within the existing sexist structure. Used as a tool for class mobility, reformist feminism can lead to fellow women trampling on other women to acquire higher societal standing. Revolutionary/visionary thinkers (identifying as one herself): those who wanted to do away with the patriarchal superstructure entirely Reformist thinkers: those who simply wanted to emphasise gender equality and work within the existing structure She draws a distinction between the women in the movement: To learn more about the origins of intersectionality, visit our study guide here.
She also highlights the importance of intersectionality in her discussion, focusing on the impossible nature of a united sisterhood if women continue to oppress other women for their varying overlapping marginalized identities, such as race or class. Women cannot group together under a single banner unless they confront their own sexist thoughts. This definition is one she still adheres to since it clearly states that the movement is not anti-male.Īs the movement progressed, it became clear that the problem is the overarching patriarchy, sexism and sexist thinking in both men and women. Hooks first offered this definition more than 10 years ago in her book Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center. “ Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” (p. Summary, part 1 Chapter 1: Feminist Politics
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