《性别、亲密关系与社会》课程教学资源：FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Passionate Politics

FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Passionate Politics bell hooks South End Press Cambridge,MA

FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY Passionate Politics bell hooks South End Press Cambridge, MA

CONTENTS Copyright 2000 by Gloria Watkins Cover design by Ellen P.Shapiro Cover illustration by Laura DeSantis,Artville INTRODUCTION Any properly footnoted quotation of up to 500 sequential words Come Closer to Feminism vii may be used without permission,as long as the total number of words quoted does not exceed 2,000.For longer quotations or for a 1.FEMINIST POLITICS greater number of total words,please write to South End Press for Where We Stand 1 permission. 2.CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING A Constant Change of Heart 7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hooks,Bell. 3.SISTERHOOD IS STILL POWERFUL 13 Feminism is for everybody:passionate politics/Bell Hooks. 4.FEMINIST EDUCATION p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS 19 ISBN0-89608-629-1-ISBN0-89608-628-3(pbk.) 1.Feminist theory.2.Feminism-Philosophy.3.Feminism- 5.OUR BODIES,OURSELVES Political aspects.4.Sex discrimination against women.I.Title. Reproductive Rights 25 HQ1190.H672000 6.BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT 31 305.4201-dc21 00-036589 7.FEMINIST CLASS STRUGGLE 37 South End Press,7 Brookline Street,#1,Cambridge,MA 02139 060504 789 8.GLOBAL FEMINISM 44 Printed in Canada 9.WOMEN AT WORK 48

Copyright © 2000 by Gloria Watkins Cover design by Ellen P. Shapiro Cover illustration by Laura DeSantis, © Artville Any properly footnoted quotation of up to 500 sequential words may be used without permission, as long as the total number of words quoted does not exceed 2,000. For longer quotations or for a greater number of total words, please write to South End Press for permission. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hooks, Bell. Feminism is for everybody: passionate politics / Bell Hooks. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-89608-629-1 - ISBN 0-89608-628-3 (pbk.) 1. Feminist theory. 2. Feminism - Philosophy. 3. Feminism - Political aspects. 4. Sex discrimination against women. 1. Title. HQl190 .H67 2000 305.42'01 - dc21 00-036589 South End Press, 7 Brookline Street, #1, Cambridge, MA 02139 06 05 04 7 8 9 Printed in Canada CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Come Closer to Feminism 1. FEMINIST POLITICS Where We Stand 2. CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING A Constant Change of Heart 3. SISI:ERHOOD IS STILL POWERFUL 4. FEMINIST EDUCATION FOR CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS 5. OUR BODIES, OURSELVES Reproductive Rights 6. BEAUTY WITHIN AND WITHOUT 7. FEMINIST CLASS STRUGGLE 8. GLOBAL FEMINISM 9. WOMEN AT WORI( Vll 1 7 13 19 25 31 37 44 48

10.RACE AND GENDER 55 11.ENDING VIOLENCE 61 12.FEMINIST MASCULINITY 67 13.FEMINIST PARENTING 72 INTRODUCTION 14.LIBERATING MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIP 78 Come Closer to Feminism 15.A FEMINIST SEXUAL POLITIC Everywhere I go I proudly tell folks who want to know who I am An Ethics of Mutual Freedom 85 and what I do that I am a writer,a feminist theorist,a cultural critic.I tell them I write about movies and popular culture,analyzing the 16.TOTAL BLISS Lesbianism and Feminism 93 message in the medium.Most people find this exciting and want to know more.Everyone goes to movies,watches television,glances 17.TO LOVE AGAIN through magazines,and everyone has thoughts about the messages The Heart of Feminism 100 they receive,about the images they look at.It is easy for the diverse public I encounter to understand what I do as a cultural critic,to un- 18.FEMINIST SPIRITUALITY 105 derstand my passion for writing (lots of folks want to write,and do). But feminist theory-that's the place where the questions stop.In- 19.VISIONARY FEMINISM 110 stead I tend to hear all about the evil of feminism and the bad femi- INDEX 119 nists:how“they”hate men;how“they'want to go against nature- and god;how"they"are all lesbians;how"they"are taking all the jobs ABOUT SOUTH END PRESS 125 and making the world hard for white men,who do not stand a chance. When I ask these same folks about the feminist books or maga- zines they read,when I ask them about the feminist talks they have heard,about the feminist activists they know,they respond by let- ting me know that everything they know about feminism has come into their lives thirdhand,that they really have not come close enough to feminist movement to know what really happens,what it's really about.Mostly they think feminism is a bunch of angry vii

10. RACE AND GENDER 11. ENDING VIOLENCE 12. FEMINIST MASCULINITY 13. FEMINIST PARENTING 14. LIBERATING MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIP 15. A FEMINIST SEXUAL POLITIC An Ethics of Mutual Freedom 16. TOTAL BLISS Lesbianism and Feminism 17. TO LOVE AGAIN The Heart of Feminism 18. FEMINIST SPIRITUALITY 19. VISIONARY FEMINISM INDEX ABOUT SOUTH END PRESS 55 61 67 72 78 85 93 100 105 110 119 125 INTRODUCTION Come Closer to Feminism Everywhere I go I proudly tell folks who want to know who I am and what I do that I am a writer, a feminist theorist, a cultural critic. I tell them I write about movies and popular culture, analyzing the message in the medium. Most people find this exciting and want to know more. Everyone goes to movies, watches television, glances through magazines, and everyone has thoughts about the messages they receive, about the images they look at. It is easy for the diverse public I encounter to understand what I do as a cultural critic, to un￾derstand my passion for writing Oots of folks want to write, and do). But feminist theory - that's the place where the questions stop. In￾stead I tend to hear all about the evil of feminism and the bad femi￾nists: how "they" hate men; how "they" want to go against nature￾and god; how "they" are all lesbians; how "they" are taking all the jobs and making the world hard for white men, who do not stand a chance. When I ask these same folks about the feminist books or maga￾zines they read, when I ask them about the feminist talks they have heard, about the feminist activists they know, they respond by let￾ting me know that everything they know about feminism has come into their lives thirdhand, that they really have not come close enough to feminist movement to know what really happens, what it's really about. Mostly they think feminism is a bunch of angry Vll

viⅷi FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY INTRODUCTION ix women who want to be like men.They do not even think about would be naive and wrongminded for feminist thinkers to see the feminism as being about rights-about women gaining equal movement as simplistically being for women against men.To end rights.When I talk about the feminism I know-up close and per- patriarchy (another way of naming the institutionalized sexism)we sonal-they willingly listen,although when our conversations end, need to be clear that we are all participants in perpetuating sexism they are quick to tell me I am different,not like the"real"feminists until we change our minds and hearts,until we let go of sexist who hate men,who are angry.I assure them I am as a real and as rad- thought and action and replace it with feminist thought and action. ical a feminist as one can be,and if they dare to come closer to femi- Males as a group have and do benefit the most from patriarchy, nism they will see it is not how they have imagined it. from the assumption that they are superior to females and should Each time I leave one of these encounters,I want to have in my rule over us.But those benefits have come with a price.In return for hand a little book so that I can say,read this book,and it will tell you all the goodies men receive from patriarchy,they are required to what feminism is,what the movement is about.I want to be holding dominate women,to exploit and oppress us,using violence if they in my hand a concise,fairly easy to read and understand book;not a must to keep patriarchy intact.Most men find it difficult to be patri- long book,not a book thick with hard to understand jargon and aca- archs.Most men are disturbed by hatred and fear of women,by male demic language,but a straightforward,clear book-casy to read violence against women,even the men who perpetuate this vio- without being simplistic.From the moment feminist thinking,poli- lence.But they fear letting go of the benefits.They are not certain tics,and practice changed my life,I have wanted this book.I have what will happen to the world they know most intimately if patriar- wanted to give it to the folk I love so that they can understand better chy changes.So they find it easier to passively support male domina- this cause,this feminist politics I believe in so deeply,that is the tion even when they know in their minds and hearts that it is wrong. foundation of my political life. Again and again men tell me they have no idea what it is feminists I have wanted them to have an answer to the question"what is want.I believe them.I believe in their capacity to change and grow. feminism?"that is rooted neither in fear or fantasy.I have wanted And I believe that if they knew more about feminism they would no them to have this simple definition to read again and again so they longer fear it,for they would find in feminist movement the hope of know:"Feminism is a movement to end sexism,sexist exploitation, theit own release from the bondage of patriarchy. and oppression."I love this definition,which I first offered more It is for these men,young and old,and for all of us,that I have than 10 years ago in my book Feminist Theory:From Margin to Center.I written this short handbook,the book I have spent more than 20 love it because it so clearly states that the movement is not about be- years longing for.I had to write it because I kept waiting for it to ap- ing anti-male.It makes it clear that the problem is sexism.And that pear,and it did not.And without it there was no way to address the clarity helps us remember that all of us,female and male,have been hordes of people in this nation who are daily bombarded with socialized from birth on to accept sexist thought and action.As a anti-feminist backlash,who are being told to hate and resist a move- consequence,females can be just as sexist as men.And while that ment that they know very little about.There should be so many little does not excuse or justify male domination,it does mean that it feminist primers,easy to read pamphlets and books,telling us all

V1ll FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY women who want to be like men. They do not even think about feminism as being about rights - about women gaining equal rights. When I talk about the feminism I know - up close and per￾sonal- they willingly listen, although when our conversations end, they are quick to tell me I am different, not like the "real" feminists who hate men, who are angry. I assure them I am as a real and as rad￾ical a feminist as one can be, and if they dare to come closer to femi￾nism they will see it is not how they have imagined it. Each time I leave one of these encounters, I want to have in my hand a little book so that I can say, read this book, and it will tell you what feminism is, what the movement is about. I want to be holding in my hand a concise, fairly easy to read and understand book; not a long book, not a book thick with hard to understand jargon and aca￾demic language, but a straightforward, clear book - easy to read without being simplistic. From the moment feminist thinking, poli￾tics, and practice changed my life, I have wanted this book. I have wanted to give it to the folk I love so that they can understand better this cause, this feminist politics I believe in so deeply, that is the foundation of my political life. I have wanted them to have an answer to the question "what is feminism?" that is rooted neither in fear or fantasy. I have wanted them to have this simple definition to read again and again so they know: "Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression." I love this definition, which I first offered more than 10 years ago in my book Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center. I love it because it so clearly states that the movement is not about be￾ing anti-male. It makes it clear that the problem is sexism. And that clarity helps us remember that all of us, female and male, have been socialized from birth on to accept sexist thought and action. As a consequence, females can be just as sexist as men. And while that does not excuse or justify male domination, it does mean that it INTRODUCTION IX would be naive and wrongminded for feminist thinkers to see the movement as simplistically being for women against men. To end patriarchy (another way of naming the institutionalized sexism) we need to be clear that we are all participants in perpetuating sexism until we change our minds and hearts, until we let go of sexist thought and action and replace it with feminist thought and action. Males as a group have and do benefit the most from patriarchy, from the assumption that they are superior to females and should rule over us. But those benefits have come with a price. In return for all the goodies men receive from patriarchy, they are required to dominate women, to exploit and oppress us, using violence if they must to keep patriarchy intact. Most men find it difficult to be patri￾archs. Most men are disturbed by hatred and fear of women, by male violence against women, even the men who perpetuate this vio￾lence. But they fear letting go of the benefits. They are not certain what will happen to the world they know most intimately if patriar￾chy changes. So they find it easier to passively support male domina￾tion even when they know in their minds and hearts that it is wrong. Again and again men tell me they have no idea what it is feminists want. I believe them. I believe in their capacity to change and grow. And I believe that if they knew more about feminism they would no longer fear it, for they would find in feminist movement the hope of their own release from the bondage of patriarchy. It is for these men, young and old, and for all of us, that I have written this short handbook, the book I have spent more than 20 years longing for. I had to write it because I kept waiting for it to ap￾pear, and it did not. And without it there was no way to address the hordes of people in this nation who are daily bombarded with anti-feminist backlash, who are being told to hate and resist a move￾ment that they know very little about. There should be so many little feminist primers, easy to read pamphlets and books, telling us all

FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY about feminism,that this book would be just another passionate 1 voice speaking out on behalf of feminist politics.There should be bill- boards;ads in magazines;ads on buses,subways,trains;television commercials spreading the word,letting the world know more about feminism.We are not there yet.But this is what we must do to share feminism,to let the movement into everyone's mind and heart. Feminist change has already touched all our lives in a positive way. FEMINIST POLITICS And yet we lose sight of the positive when all we hear about femi- nism is negative. Where We Stand When I began to resist male domination,to rebel against patri- archal thinking(and to oppose the strongest patriarchal voice in my Simply put,feminism is a movement to end sexism,sexist exploita- life-my mother's voice),I was still a teenager,suicidal,depressed, tion,and oppression.This was a definition of feminism I offered in uncertain about how I would find meaning in my life and a place for Feminist Theory:From Margin to Center more than 10 yeats ago.It was myself.I needed feminism to give me a foundation of equality and my hope at the time that it would become a common definition justice to stand on.Mama has come around to feminist thinking.She everyone would use.I liked this definition because it did not imply sees me and all her daughters (we are six)living better lives because of that men were the enemy.By naming sexism as the problem it went feminist politics.She sees the promise and hope in feminist move- directly to the heart of the matter.Practically,it is a definition which ment.It is that promise and hope that I want to share with you in implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem,whether this book,with everybody. those who perpetuate it are female or male,child or adult.It is also Imagine living in a world where there is no domination,where broad enough to include an understanding of systemic institutional- females and males are not alike or even always equal,but where a vi- ized sexism.As a definition it is open-ended.To understand femi- sion of mutuality is the ethos shaping our interaction.Imagine living nism it implies one has to necessarily understand sexism. in a world where we can all be who we are,a world of peace and pos- As all advocates of feminist politics know,most people do not sibility.Feminist revolution alone will not create such a world;we understand sexism,or if they do,they think it is not a problem. need to end racism,class elitism,imperialism.But it will make it possi- Masses of people think that feminism is always and only about ble for us to be fully self-actualized females and males able to create women seeking to be equal to men.And a huge majority of these beloved community,to live together,realizing our dreams of freedom folks think feminism is anti-male.Their misunderstanding of femi- and justice,living the truth that we are all "created equal."Come nist politics reflects the reality that most folks learn about feminism closer.See how feminism can touch and change your life and all our from patriarchal mass media.The feminism they hear about the lives.Come closer and know firsthand what feminist movement is all most is portrayed by women who are primarily committed to gender about.Come closer and you will see:feminism is for everybody. equality-equal pay for equal work,and sometimes women and 1

x FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY about feminism, that this book would be just another passionate voice speaking out on behalf of feminist politics. There should be bill￾boards; ads in magazines; ads on buses, subways, trains; television commercials spreading the word, letting the world know more about feminism. We are not there yet. But this is what we must do to share feminism, to let the movement into everyone's mind and heart. Feminist change has already touched all our lives in a positive way. And yet we lose sight of the positive when all we hear about femi￾nism is negative. When I began to resist male domination, to rebel against patri￾archal thinking (and to oppose the strongest patriarchal voice in my life - my mother's voice), I was still a teenager, suicidal, depressed, uncertain about how I would find meaning in my life and a place for myself. I needed feminism to give me a foundation of equality and justice to stand on. Mama has come around to feminist thinking. She sees me and all her daughters (we are six) living better lives because of feminist politics. She sees the promise and hope in feminist move￾ment. It is that promise and hope that I want to share with you in this book, with everybody. Imagine living in a world where there is no domination, where females and males are not alike or even always equal, but where a vi￾sion of mutuality is the ethos shaping our interaction. Imagine living in a world where we can all be who we are, a world of peace and pos￾sibility. Feminist revolution alone will not create such a world; we need to end racism, class elitism, imperialism. But it will make it possi￾ble for us to be fully self-actualized females and males able to create beloved community, to live together, realizing our dreams of freedom and justice, living the truth that we are all "created equal." Come closer. See how feminism can touch and change your life and all our lives. Come closer and know firsthand what feminist movement is all about. Come closer and you will see: feminism is for everybody. 1 FEMINIST POLITICS Where We Stand Simply put, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploita￾tion, and oppression. This was a definition of feminism I offered in Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center more than 10 years ago. It was my hope at the time that it would become a common definition everyone would use. I liked this definition because it did not imply that men were the enemy. By naming sexism as the problem it went directly to the heart of the matter. Practically, it is a definition which implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, whether those who perpetuate it are female or male, child or adult. It is also broad enough to include an understanding of systemic institutional￾ized sexism. As a definition it is open-ended. To understand femi￾nism it implies one has to necessarily understand sexism. As all advocates of feminist politics know, most people do not understand sexism, or if they do, they think it is not a problem. Masses of people think that feminism is always and only about women seeking to be equal to men. And a huge majority of these folks think feminism is anti-male. Their misunderstanding of femi￾nist politics reflects the reality that most folks learn about feminism from patriarchal mass media. The feminism they hear about the most is portrayed by women who are primarily committed to gender equality - equal pay for equal work, and sometimes women and 1