Chapter 11 of The Feminist Theorist Hooks started with a line that would be the tone for the chapter. Hooks states within the beginning of the chapter, “During the early stages of contemporary feminist movement women’s liberation was often equated with sexual liberation.” Women seemed to pair sexuality with sexual freedom and this connection would in return be connected to being sexually liberated. Hooks in chapter 11 asks the question should the two really be linked. So, we should also ask, should sexual freedom be part of the feminist movement? And, how are these actually connected? Hooks goes on to say that it is an important, relevant issue from feminist politics and states, “It has been a simple task for women to describe and criticize negative aspects of sexuality as it has been socially constructed in a sexist society, to expose male objectification and dehumanization of women.” She says it has become a far more difficult task for women to envision a new sexual model. The way society is set up, has made it hard for people to see male objectification and the dehumanization of women in any other way. Our society is male dominated and socially constructed to follow a model of sexism. She then talks about the sexual inequality between men and women that leads to a barrier in sexual happiness. This barrier takes men and women no further then to the sexual frustrations between each party. Men and women are viewed different when it comes to sex and its perception of each gender. Hooks then talks about the lesbian women’s role in the feminist movement in general. They are recognized as the ones who worked the hardest to end heterosexual oppression. The struggle to end prejudice, exploitation, and oppression of lesbian and gay people is at the top of feminist agenda Hooks explained. We learn about the “Lavender menace” and how lesbians were often silenced early in feminist movement. Hooks says, “Feminist activists need to remember that the political choices we make are not determined by who we choose to have genital sexual contact with.” You can fight for what you believe in and have political views and it has nothing to do with the person you have sexual contact with. This was her main point to start the chapter as well. But, she also talks on the contrary where she says that women can also have opinions on feminist struggle and still be with a man. Just because you are heterosexual does not mean you cannot have feminist ideas. And, even if you are a man, does that mean you cannot be for feminism? One of feminist’s goal was to free sexually oppressed lesbians and gay men and allow them to have sexual freedom. Hooks tells women that it is okay to be a heterosexual women and still be truly feminist. How you identify sexually does not mean you cannot be for feminism. Hooks ends the chapter with, “Feminist efforts to develop a political theory of sexuality must continue if sexist oppression is to be eliminated. Yet we must keep in mind that the struggle to end sexual oppression is only one component of a larger struggle to transform society and establish a new social order.” Socially, there is still a lot of work to do in our society to make sure women’s rights are transformed.
Chapter 12 tells us the story that we all know that transformation takes more time than many early feminist were ready to give it. Women were focused on attacking men early in this movement. They attacked men as the villain. Hooks says, “The focus on “men” and “male behavior” has overshadowed emphasis on women developing themselves politically so that we can begin making the cultural transformations that would pave the way for the establishment of a new social order.” Women have done miracles for the feminist movement and aren’t done yet the goal for this movement is for women to be able to feel safe and the world is coming closer and closer to that. Revelation can be and usually are initiated by violent overthrow of an existing political structure. In the United States, men and women are prepared and armed to be able to do and accept violence even while being overpowered in America.
Do you see a connection between sexuality and sexual
freedom?
What are some examples, we can see in today’s current society, government, and politics that show we are taking steps to transform women’s movement in a positive way?
Chapter 11 of The Feminist Theorist Hooks started with a line that would be the tone for the chapter. Hooks states within the beginning of the chapter, “During the early stages of contemporary feminist movement women’s liberation was often equated with sexual liberation.” Women seemed to pair sexuality with sexual freedom and this connection would in return be connected to being sexually liberated. Hooks in chapter 11 asks the question should the two really be linked. So, we should also ask, should sexual freedom be part of the feminist movement? And, how are these actually connected? Hooks goes on to say that it is an important, relevant issue from feminist politics and states, “It has been a simple task for women to describe and criticize negative aspects of sexuality as it has been socially constructed in a sexist society, to expose male objectification and dehumanization of women.” She says it has become a far more difficult task for women to envision a new sexual model. The way society is set up, has made it hard for people to see male objectification and the dehumanization of women in any other way. Our society is male dominated and socially constructed to follow a model of sexism. She then talks about the sexual inequality between men and women that leads to a barrier in sexual happiness. This barrier takes men and women no further then to the sexual frustrations between each party. Men and women are viewed different when it comes to sex and its perception of each gender. Hooks then talks about the lesbian women’s role in the feminist movement in general. They are recognized as the ones who worked the hardest to end heterosexual oppression. The struggle to end prejudice, exploitation, and oppression of lesbian and gay people is at the top of feminist agenda Hooks explained. We learn about the “Lavender menace” and how lesbians were often silenced early in feminist movement. Hooks says, “Feminist activists need to remember that the political choices we make are not determined by who we choose to have genital sexual contact with.” You can fight for what you believe in and have political views and it has nothing to do with the person you have sexual contact with. This was her main point to start the chapter as well. But, she also talks on the contrary where she says that women can also have opinions on feminist struggle and still be with a man. Just because you are heterosexual does not mean you cannot have feminist ideas. And, even if you are a man, does that mean you cannot be for feminism? One of feminist’s goal was to free sexually oppressed lesbians and gay men and allow them to have sexual freedom. Hooks tells women that it is okay to be a heterosexual women and still be truly feminist. How you identify sexually does not mean you cannot be for feminism. Hooks ends the chapter with, “Feminist efforts to develop a political theory of sexuality must continue if sexist oppression is to be eliminated. Yet we must keep in mind that the struggle to end sexual oppression is only one component of a larger struggle to transform society and establish a new social order.” Socially, there is still a lot of work to do in our society to make sure women’s rights are transformed.
Chapter 12 tells us the story that we all know that transformation takes more time than many early feminist were ready to give it. Women were focused on attacking men early in this movement. They attacked men as the villain. Hooks says, “The focus on “men” and “male behavior” has overshadowed emphasis on women developing themselves politically so that we can begin making the cultural transformations that would pave the way for the establishment of a new social order.” Women have done miracles for the feminist movement and aren’t done yet the goal for this movement is for women to be able to feel safe and the world is coming closer and closer to that. Revelation can be and usually are initiated by violent overthrow of an existing political structure. In the United States, men and women are prepared and armed to be able to do and accept violence even while being overpowered in America.
Do you see a connection between sexuality and sexual
freedom?
What are some examples, we can see in today’s current society, government, and politics that show we are taking steps to transform women’s movement in a positive way?