Hooks validates her views, which regard America as a racist, sexist, capitalistic society throughout her essay. For instance, in referencing The Feminist Mystique by Betty Friedan, hooks points out that even the basis for the feminist movement was initially racist and capitalistic. Hooks infers the plight of feminism was originally centered on the needs of “well-educated white-women” who wanted to set aside their household chores and start careers. Yet, as I previously noted, hooks views are dependant on her perspective, and the s

Gilligan, Carol. “ Women’s place in Man’s Life Cycle.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. 6th Edition. Ed. Jacobus, L. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2002.

Woolf’s statement tends to support hooks theory that America is a sexist society valuing the opinion of men over women. However, again, it speaks to a different era, as Woolf made this statement in 1929. Yet, today America is still typically viewed as a patriarchal society. However, I would guess, due to the feminist movement there are numerous households within our society that wouldn’t define themselves as patriarchal. So again, I must stress that these are elements that characterize our society, but they are not definitions set in stone.

Additionally, hooks defines the state of oppression as the “Absence of choices.” (hooks, p. ? ) She further points out that both the black men and white women can be either oppressors or the oppressed, whereas black women are only in the position to be oppressed. Hooks states that that the reason for this is simply that the black women have no “institutionalized other” to oppress. Hooks also notes that this may be the difference in the view, that many people may not feel their own oppression because they are still left with choices, although limited. Which really gave me some understanding as to why I hear more of my black female friends refer to their experiences of sexism opposed to some of my white female friends who seem far less affected on a whole by sexism, although they still experience it.

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