Hood Feminism
Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot
-
-
4.2 • 6 Ratings
-
-
- $17.99
Publisher Description
'It is absolutely brilliant, I think every woman should read it' PANDORA SYKES, THE HIGH LOW
'My wish is that every white woman who calls herself a feminist will read this book in a state of hushed and humble respect ... Essential reading' ELIZABETH GILBERT
All too often the focus of mainstream feminism is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few.
Meeting basic needs is a feminist issue. Food insecurity, the living wage and access to education are feminist issues. The fight against racism, ableism and transmisogyny are all feminist issues.
White feminists often fail to see how race, class, sexual orientation and disability intersect with gender. How can feminists stand in solidarity as a movement when there is a distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?
Insightful, incendiary and ultimately hopeful, Hood Feminism is both an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux and also clear-eyed assessment of how to save it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Blogger Kendall (Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists) indicts mainstream feminism for focusing on "debates over last names, body hair, and the best way to be a CEO" rather than the basic survival of marginalized women in this searing essay collection. Grounding her critique in personal experiences of gun violence, police discrimination, single motherhood, poverty, sexual harassment, and the "school-to-prison pipeline," Kendall accuses "theoretically feminist white women" of failing to "make common cause against white supremacy" and "turn to the patriarchy for protection" when they feel threatened. She asks white, straight, cisgender, middle- and upper-class women to become "accomplices" rather than "allies"; to stop fetishizing the bodies of women of color; and to make a living wage, safe neighborhoods,"food insecurity," voting rights, and access to quality medical care and education feminist issues. In the case of Muslim and African-American women challenging the patriarchal structures of Islam and the black church, however, Kendall advises mainstream feminists to step back and resist the impulse to play "white savior." Her forays into satire, including instructions for "How to Write About Black Women," are less impactful than her autobiographical reflections, but Kendall manages to draw a clear picture of what true intersectional feminism looks like. This hard-hitting guide delivers crucial insights for those looking to build a more inclusive movement.
