Blog 6

Question 1:
hooks states, “…as feminist movement progressed and privileged groups of well-educated white women began to achieve equal access to class power with their male counterparts, feminist class struggle was no longer deemed important” (hooks, 2000, p. 37) and “From the onset of the movement women from privileged classes were able to make their concerns “the” issues that should be focused on in part because they were the group of women who received public attention” (hooks, 2000, p.37).

If working class women had received more attention from the media and made their struggle known, how do you think this would have impacted the feminist movement? Do you think this would have allowed women to gain equality in areas such as household duties and wage?

I think this would have had a positive effect on the feminist movement. The media is capable of bringing to light many issues that never would have been thought of or acknowledged otherwise. It’s almost frightening, the extent to which the media is able to influence society. However, in this case, the media’s heavy influence could have been a good thing.

The only issue is that there will always be people who will chose to believe whatever they want to, regardless of what is placed right in front of them.

As far as household duties and wage go, I think they are two different issues. Household duties are a much more personal and micro-level topic that should be left up to the individual. I don’t think it’s sexist for women to do the dishes and men to mow the lawn, as long as both are okay with those chores. I have no problem doing dishes or other typically “female” house roles, but I respect that some women wouldn’t want to be limited to only these tasks. Work wages should be equal for women and men who hold the same positions. I think more attention needs to be given to this issue, because I think many people are still in the dark that this is a situation at all.

Question 2:
Even though the global feminist movement has traditionally been headed by white, privileged women, it is important to note that women of the United States have helped lower rates of sexism and sexual exploitations in some nations. Through enforcing “white supremacist capitalist patriarchy” many women in the feminist movement were silenced. What types of women do you believe were silenced? If these silenced members’ opinions were voiced what effect do you think they would have on nations struggling with sexism, sexual exploitation, and oppression? Would this change the global interactions we see today, or would the world function similarly?

I think that the women who were silenced were any women who weren’t members of white upper-class society. I think those voices are especially important, because members of privileged society can’t possibly have the same empathy or understanding of underprivileged ways of living as those who have experienced such situations. I think it’s extremely important for everyone to have a say, and I’m not suggesting that those of upper-class white society can’t have a positive influence, but it shouldn’t simply stop there with those voices. Regardless of race, class, or any other demographic, every voice should be speaking out for those who can’t speak for themselves.

Question 3:
In bell hooks book she says “in many college classrooms today students both female and male will argue that feminist movement is no longer relevant since women now have equality.”

Do you think when women stay home and do the household work, do you think they get depressed because they aren’t making any money to help out in the family?

I don’t think it’s generally the case that women get depressed because they aren’t going out and getting jobs. I think that if women are able to stay at home while their husbands go out and earn the money, they should be thankful that they have that opportunity. There’s a difference between choosing to have a job just for the fun of it and actually being forced to go out and get a job because of economic needs.