Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks

28 reviews

cass_lit's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, and Sexism

brookeasmith17's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

A thorough history, Ain't I a Woman tells the perspective of black women in feminism, or rather, the exclusion of black women in feminism.

bell hooks clearly details the impact of not only racist but sexist oppression that has a very wide effect on the lives of black women throughout American history and still exists today. 

It's a crucial viewpoint to the feminist movement and everyone who calls themselves a feminist, especially white women who have been at the pinnacle of excluding black women from their movement, should give this book a read. 

An informative and valuable book. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Classism, Body horror, Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

acciohannah's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

5 stars

This is one of the most important books I’ve ever read & should be required reading for everyone. 

A heart wrenching and honest perspective on the continuing oppression of black women. hooks’ criticism of white feminism, white supremacy & the patriarchy is so well researched & presented in this book. the writing is incredibly readable, thought-provoking & informative. 

an in-depth look at the intersection of racism, capitalism, classism & imperialism. though it can be a bit redundant at times, and obviously some facts are dated as this book was written 40 years ago, for the most part it holds true. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Classism

liaer's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book was excellent. Bell hook is a wonderful writer who is an expert at the English language. It was incredibly informative and was obviously very well researched. The only reason that I didn't give it five stars is because it seemed to jump around a little for me. It followed history, examining the slave trade, then slavery, then antebellum era, and onwards. However, I felt like when she was in each of these eras she moved around a little too fast for me. I would recommend this to everyone and anyone. 

Fair warning is that there are a lot of triggering content that can be deeply upsetting. I have tried to include all of the ones I could remember in the content warnings, but please go in with the expectation that there are things that are horrific, but important to learn about. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gore, Death, and Colonisation

fleurjlbooth's review

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Violence, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Colonisation

marionhoney's review

challenging informative sad slow-paced

5.0

Should be taught in schools. Can be dense to get through in places, but I already want to immediately re-read it to take it all in again.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Slavery

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Violence

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

 

Ain’t I a Woman is fantastic.  I hope it is already, but if it’s not, this book needs to be part of every conversation about feminism, every Women’s Studies class.  In Ain’t I a Woman, hooks discusses the history of Black women in America.  From objectification to dehumanization to cultural and gender divisions… hooks shares a side of history that gets buried beneath racism, sexism, and self-interest.

This book is not written for white women.  Ain’t I a Woman can be enlightening for white women, but it is a call for Black women to keep fighting for what they believe in and keep their hope.  The ending paragraphs say it best – those who are racist, sexist, or elitist aren’t truly feminist.  Much of the feminist agenda has been driven in selfishness rather than the desire to dismantle the system and rebuild something new and better.  Ain’t I a Woman was first published in 1981 – but 40 years later, it is still disappointingly relevant.

This book is an absolute must read for anyone who wants to call themself a feminist.  It challenges the movement as it has been known and calls for true solidarity, welcoming, discourse, and definitive change.  These days, we call it “intersectional feminism” but even that is not enough.  Conversations about sexism need to include conversations about racism, elitism, ableism, antisemitism, ageism... all of it.  Every prejudice, ever seed of hate.  Between intricately crafted essays about Black women’s experience during slavery to the constant betrayals of both Black men and white women of Black women.

I can’t say it better than bell hooks.  She doesn’t care about hurting anyone’s feelings because change is too important for that.  I hope folks read this one, and after they read it, they analyze their own activism and motivation. It’s a powerful work, well-researched and well-spoken.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Misogyny

aegireads's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence