Tuesday 7 February 2012

Feminism Is For Everybody

"Feminists are made, not born. One does not be come an advocate of feminist politics simply by having the privilege of having been born female. Like all political positions, one becomes a believer in feminist politics through choice and action." (7)

"Without males as allies in struggle, the feminist movement will not progress. As it is we have to do so much work to correct the assumption, deeply embedded in the cultural psyche, that feminism is anti-male. Feminism is anti-sexism. A male who has divested himself of male privilege, who has embraced feminist politics, is a worthy comrade in struggle, in no way a threat to feminism; whereas a female who remains wedded to sexist thinking and behavior infiltrating feminist movement is a dangerous threat." (12)

"Feminism, as a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression, is alive and well. While we do not have a mass-based movement, the renewal of such a movement is our primary goal. To ensure the continued relevance of the feminist movement in our lives, visionary feminist theory must be constandy made and re-made so that it addresses us where we live, in our present. Women and men have made great strides in the direction of gender equality. And those strides towards freedom must give us strength to go further. We must courageously learn from the past and work for a future where feminist principles will undergird every aspect of our public and private lives. Feminist politics aim to end domination to free us to be who we are - to live lives where we love justice, where we can live in peace. Feminism is for everybody." (117-8)

Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, by Bell Hooks (2000)

Bell Hooks's 2000 book is one of my favourite explorations of feminism.
DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE BOOK, FOR FREE, HERE.

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