Chapter 4: Feminist Education for Critical Consciousness
In chapter 4 of Feminism is for Everybody, bell hooks discusses the education of feminism. Contrary to what some might assume, feminism is not a she-woman man hating club; being able to educate and familiarize one’s self with these feministic ideas is just another way to weed out sexism in our society. Being knowledgeable about a situation or a movement can really impact a person. Sadly, there are many road blocks in the education of feminism.
Literature is one of the most important tools in the education process; unfortunately, many books still contain sexist ideals. Books we were read as children and even many books now in our college careers are exposing us to these sexist ideals. “Children’s literature is one of the most crucial sites for feminist education for critical consciousness precisely because beliefs and identities are still being formed. And more often than not narrow minded thinking about gender continues to be the norm on the playground. Public education for children has to be a place where feminist activists continue to do the work of creating an unbiased curriculum” (hooks, 2000, p. 23).
Literature is not the only medium that needs to be changed. We need to look at everything. “Teaching feminist thought and theory to everyone means that we have to reach beyond the academic and even the written word. Masses of folks lack the skills to read most feminist books. Books on tape, songs, radio, and television are all ways to share feminist knowledge. And of course we need a feminist television network, which is not the same as a network for women” (hooks, 2000, p. 23-4). According to bell hooks, if we do not educate and further the knowledge of the masses on the subject of feminism, the subject will never be completely understood or taken seriously.
Sexism in today’s society
Question #1 What type of sexist roles do you see in this clip? Are you surprised by these roles? Would this ever be considered a movie if it was a man (I don’t know how HE does it)? Does this media example embody what bell hooks is trying to prevent? What are other media examples that still hold on to sexist ideas? (hint, hint: This would be a good place to incorporate media into your blog post!)
Tide Commercial
In chapter 4 of Feminism is for Everybody, bell hooks discusses the education of feminism. Contrary to what some might assume, feminism is not a she-woman man hating club; being able to educate and familiarize one’s self with these feministic ideas is just another way to weed out sexism in our society. Being knowledgeable about a situation or a movement can really impact a person. Sadly, there are many road blocks in the education of feminism.
Literature is one of the most important tools in the education process; unfortunately, many books still contain sexist ideals. Books we were read as children and even many books now in our college careers are exposing us to these sexist ideals. “Children’s literature is one of the most crucial sites for feminist education for critical consciousness precisely because beliefs and identities are still being formed. And more often than not narrow minded thinking about gender continues to be the norm on the playground. Public education for children has to be a place where feminist activists continue to do the work of creating an unbiased curriculum” (hooks, 2000, p. 23).
Literature is not the only medium that needs to be changed. We need to look at everything. “Teaching feminist thought and theory to everyone means that we have to reach beyond the academic and even the written word. Masses of folks lack the skills to read most feminist books. Books on tape, songs, radio, and television are all ways to share feminist knowledge. And of course we need a feminist television network, which is not the same as a network for women” (hooks, 2000, p. 23-4). According to bell hooks, if we do not educate and further the knowledge of the masses on the subject of feminism, the subject will never be completely understood or taken seriously.
Sexism in today’s society
Question #1 What type of sexist roles do you see in this clip? Are you surprised by these roles? Would this ever be considered a movie if it was a man (I don’t know how HE does it)? Does this media example embody what bell hooks is trying to prevent? What are other media examples that still hold on to sexist ideas? (hint, hint: This would be a good place to incorporate media into your blog post!)
Tide Commercial
Question #2 What were your initial reactions to the commercial? Why is it not okay that her daughter is not in pink? Do you think they would ever make a similar commercial with a boy in more feminine clothing? Why?
Question #3 Name a children’s book that embodies the sexist notions that bell books discusses in this chapter. Why do you think the book has these sexist ideas? What future consequences do you think that these books have?
Works Cited
hooks, b. (2000). Feminism is for everybody: Passionate politics.
Sorry for leaving a comment instead of posting a blog, Im having some trouble getting my email adress to work with this blog still. So for now, here's my Blog 3 response:
ReplyDelete1. In this clip we see and hear the conversation about how her male co-worker has four children and the female character only has two, yet becuase she is a woman it is hard to believe that she has the time and strength to take care of two kids, and do her job well every day. I was not surprised by how the male and female characters were portrayed, becuase this idea/story line seems very familiar in the media: a young mother struggling to balance her home/love life while also finding a place in the "men's working world". I doubt a movie called "I don't know how he does it" would ever be made in our culture becuase in our society it's more shocking to see a woman successfully balance having kids, a love life, AND a career than a man.
Yes, I believe this example embodies what Bell Hooks is trying to prevent, becuase it just promotes the idea that women are inferior in the workforce and they thrive the best in the home setting.
2. My first reaction was noticing how extreme the home and the actions of the mother who clearly is very "girly" in a sense that she loves pink, and her home is decorated in pastels and flowers, and so she has a hard time accepting that her young daughter is not the same way. To the woman in the commercial, it seems to not be okay that her daughter is not dressed in pink becuase she is uncomfortable; it's not "normal" that her little girl doesn't want to dress in pink.
I don't think they would make a similar commercial with a boy in feminine clothing becuase our society is supposidly moving closer to acceptance of homosexual behavior, especially feminine men, so I think more people would be offended and react negatively if a commercial was made about how a little boy wanting to wear more feminine clothing was not acceptable.
3. I couldn't remember any books that I've read as a child that apply to this well, but I searched online and found a children's book that was popular in the 1970's called "I'm Glad I'm a Boy! I'm Glad I'm a Girl!" written by Whitney Darrow. I did keep in mind that this was published during a different time, but it was still interesting none the less. In the book, there are a series of illustrations of both male and female characters. The captions are meant to be read in this order underneath the pictures: "Boys are pilots, Girls are stewardesses", "Boys are presidents, Girls are First Ladies", "Boys are doctors, Girls are nurses", "Boys are policemen, Girls are metermaids", "Boys can eat, Girls can cook", "Boys build houses, Girls keep houses", "Boys invent things, Girls use what boys invent", "Boys fix things, Girls need things fixed".
This book is kind of an extreme example, but along with the cute illustrations of boys dressed as policemen and girls dressed as house keepers, it also is telling children who read the book and look at these pictures what their role in society is.