bell hooks Discussion: Ch. 17-19

Chapter 17: To Love Again - The Heart of Feminism


In Chapter 17, bell hooks discusses that to be involved in the feminist movement, many women had to forgo romantic love because of patriarchal values such as domination, control and coercion. bell hooks states, "Early on the feminist critique of love was not complex enough. Rather than specifically challenging patriarchal misguided assumptions of love, it just presented love as the problem. We were to do away with love and put in its place a concern with gaining rights and power. Then, no one talked about the reality that women would risk hardening our hearts and end up bing just as emotionally closed as the patriarchal men or butch females we were rejecting in the name of feminist rebellion. And for the most part this is exactly what happened. Rather than rethinking lot and insisting on its importance and value, feminist discourse on love simply stopped" (p.102).


hooks explains that love can only truly exist through feminist thinking: no existing domination, mutual respect, and equal rights amongst partners. This is true love. "To choose feminist politics, then, is a choice to love" (p. 104).


What do you think about bell hooks view on feminism and love? Do you agree or disagree, and why?


Now, watch the following video interviewing Patti Stanger, the Millionaire Matchmaker.

Do you see any patriarchal views about dating, relationships, marriage or love in the previous clip? If so, what are they? Do you think that Patti Stanger's view on love alines with bell hooks' view? Why or why not? Does the previous clip seem to fit with society's view on love, relationships and/or marriage? Why or why not?

  

In Chapter 18, Feminist Spirituality, bell hooks talks about spirituality and religion, specifically in terms of Christianity. She explains that women have long used their religious beliefs to escape the male domination they experience - but then makes that religious escape null and void by saying that religion itself if male-dominated.

"...Western metaphysical dualism was the ideological foundation of all forms of group oppression, sexism, racism, etc., and that such thinking formed the basis of Judeo-Christian belife systems" (p. 105-106).
In the chapter, however, hooks never states a specific example of how religion (specifically Christianity) is patriarchal. Can you think of instances/parables/specific scriptures that shows male dominance or a patriarchal ideology? *If not, no one's going to be judged for lack of Bible knowledge - trust me :)

The above video is of Madonna's song "Papa Don't Preach". After watching the video and listening to the song, is there anything that could be a biblical reference or refer to religion in general? Do you think this is an accurate representation of the Christian religion - or could it be a societal "rule"?

CH 19: Visionary Feminism

This chapter discusses the vision of a better future in which feminist thinkers have been trying to achieve since the beginning of feminism. The main goal being, to change women’s lives by breaking off from male dominance and increasing their personal power. The chapter also mentions reasons why this message is not being heard, one of the reasons being lack of effective communication to the public. According to hooks, feminist/anti-sexist education is needed in the communities as well as elementary education.

Question: hooks states that, “Today in academic circles much of the most celebrated feminist theory is written in a sophisticated jargon that only the well-educated can read. Most people in our society do not have a basic understanding of feminism; they cannot acquire that understanding form a wealth of diverse material, grade school-level primers, and so on, because this material does not exist. We must create it if we are to rebuild feminist movement that is truly for everyone” (hooks 2000, pg. 112)

Do you find this to be true? And how do you think these “grade-school level primers” should be presented so that the message is successfully communicated to the younger audience?

Since my question was not related to a video, I thought I would put one up just for fun, hope you enjoy!