Status
Checked out
Publication
South End Press (1999), Edition: 59867th, 205 pages
Description
A classic work of feminist scholarship, Ain't I a Woman has become a must-read for all those interested in the nature of black womanhood. Examining the impact of sexism on black women during slavery, the devaluation of black womanhood, black male sexism, racism among feminists, and the black woman's involvement with feminism, Hooks attempts to move us beyond racist and sexist assumptions. The result is nothing short of groundbreaking, giving this book a critical place on every feminist scholar's bookshelf.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Valjeanne
This book changed my life. Bell Hooks helped me to redefine every myth I had about women and feminism. I was conducting my thesis at the time, and actually shifted the course of my research.
LibraryThing member ASKelmore
Best for: Those interested in exploring how feminism has failed at inclusivity, and how U.S. society has failed Black women.
In a nutshell: bell hooks provides a history of how racism, sexism and classism have impacted Black women in the U.S.
Line that sticks with me: “The process begins with the
Why I chose it: I picked this for my office’s equity and social justice book club because I don’t think my feminist reading has included nearly enough of the Black woman’s perspective, and I wanted to be able to discuss this with others.
Review: I’ve somehow managed to never read any bell hooks even though I’m familiar with her importance to feminism. With this great book (which is frustratingly hard to track down in bookstores - I had to resort to ordering online) I feel like I got a more in-depth education on issues that I’ve been trying to learn more about this year.
Starting with slavery, Dr. hooks examines how racism, sexism and classism work together in impacting the experience of Black women in the U.S. For example, she explores how women who were slaves were forced to perform “masculine” tasks, but men who were slaves were not compelled to perform “feminine” tasks, and how society has spent a lot of time examining how slavery impacted the Black male psyche but has spent far less time examining how it impacted — and continues to impact — Black women.
She also looks at how the patriarchy — when combined with racism — has influenced the experience of Black women in society, eschewing the idea that Black women exist in a matriarchy simply because some households are run by women.
In the sections that might be challenging to read for white women who consider themselves feminists, Dr. hooks examines the ways in which white women have pushed black women out of discussions of sexism, seeking to maintain their status within the patriarchy as at least above Black people. She also spends time looking at how society seems to default ‘women’ to mean white women and ‘Black’ to mean Black men, leaving Black women out completely, and what the implications of that are.
I appreciated Dr. hooks's examination of how so much of feminism (as practices by white feminists) seeks not to overturn the system, but to make gains with the patriarchal, capitalist system that exists in this country. This isn’t particularly imaginative or revolutionary, and can mean that instead of fighting for true freedom, we just end up fighting with each other for material gains. I also appreciate that despite all of this, she doesn’t argue that feminism is only for white women; she sees the real benefits of it, but only when we can really fight for the freedom that feminism should bring about. I’m looking forward to discussing it at work this week.
This is a dense read (at under 200 pages it still took longer than I expected) but definitely worth it.
In a nutshell: bell hooks provides a history of how racism, sexism and classism have impacted Black women in the U.S.
Line that sticks with me: “The process begins with the
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individual woman’s acceptance that American women, without exception, are socialized to be racist, classist, and sexist, in varying degrees, and that labeling ourselves feminists does not change the fact that we must consciously work to rid ourselves of the legacy of negative socialization.”Why I chose it: I picked this for my office’s equity and social justice book club because I don’t think my feminist reading has included nearly enough of the Black woman’s perspective, and I wanted to be able to discuss this with others.
Review: I’ve somehow managed to never read any bell hooks even though I’m familiar with her importance to feminism. With this great book (which is frustratingly hard to track down in bookstores - I had to resort to ordering online) I feel like I got a more in-depth education on issues that I’ve been trying to learn more about this year.
Starting with slavery, Dr. hooks examines how racism, sexism and classism work together in impacting the experience of Black women in the U.S. For example, she explores how women who were slaves were forced to perform “masculine” tasks, but men who were slaves were not compelled to perform “feminine” tasks, and how society has spent a lot of time examining how slavery impacted the Black male psyche but has spent far less time examining how it impacted — and continues to impact — Black women.
She also looks at how the patriarchy — when combined with racism — has influenced the experience of Black women in society, eschewing the idea that Black women exist in a matriarchy simply because some households are run by women.
In the sections that might be challenging to read for white women who consider themselves feminists, Dr. hooks examines the ways in which white women have pushed black women out of discussions of sexism, seeking to maintain their status within the patriarchy as at least above Black people. She also spends time looking at how society seems to default ‘women’ to mean white women and ‘Black’ to mean Black men, leaving Black women out completely, and what the implications of that are.
I appreciated Dr. hooks's examination of how so much of feminism (as practices by white feminists) seeks not to overturn the system, but to make gains with the patriarchal, capitalist system that exists in this country. This isn’t particularly imaginative or revolutionary, and can mean that instead of fighting for true freedom, we just end up fighting with each other for material gains. I also appreciate that despite all of this, she doesn’t argue that feminism is only for white women; she sees the real benefits of it, but only when we can really fight for the freedom that feminism should bring about. I’m looking forward to discussing it at work this week.
This is a dense read (at under 200 pages it still took longer than I expected) but definitely worth it.
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LibraryThing member EmScape
Though written almost 40 years ago, it is stunning (and distressing) how relevant this work still is today. Imperative reading for any feminist interested in advancing intersectionality.
LibraryThing member ricelaker
Yes, yes, yes! Excellent, excellent, excellent. Love her dialectical approach!!
LibraryThing member Pepperwings
Some heavy topics in here, but an excellent book. I guess I don't feel it's quite 5 stars, because it felt more like reading a dissertation or other academic paper more than any other sort of book, and that made it rather slow for me.
Still, worth the time and attention, Bell Hooks is awesome!
Still, worth the time and attention, Bell Hooks is awesome!
LibraryThing member viviennestrauss
Enlightening, appalling and enraging. Come on white feminists - we need to do better than this!
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
Absolutely essential for all feminists and antiracists. hooks holds nothing back in her intersectional criticisms the American Civil Rights and feminist movements.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1981
Physical description
205 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
089608129X / 9780896081291
Other editions
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks (Paperback)
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