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danaishpastry 's review for:
Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
by bell hooks
Overall, this was an incredibly necessary exploration of the racism and classism which has been interwoven with feminism since the movement’s beginning. hooks is observant and well spoken; not only does she point out the problems, she also discusses how we can overcome them.
I have one gripe which comes from the chapter on female sexual oppression: hooks repeatedly implies that sexuality is a choice. She claims that “despite heterosexism, many women have acknowledged and accepted that they do not have to be heterosexual (that there are other options) and have chosen to be exclusively or primarily heterosexual.” Perhaps it’s because the novel is a couple of decades old now, but reading that was a genuine shock to me.
I don’t give a book fewer stars solely because I disagree with the points made within it, as I don’t believe my disagreement invalidates the merits of a book. However, I don’t just disagree with hooks’ claim. I think the claim that sexuality is a choice is harmful to the LGBTQ community and works against gay liberation. Such a claim is backwards, and I was astounded that an otherwise progressive book, which is extremely sensitive to and understanding of class, race and gender struggles, contained such a phrase.
As such, 4 stars instead of 5. I still think Feminist Theory is a necessary and important book and would thoroughly recommend it. Just a tad disappointed that an otherwise perfect book contained that claim :(
I have one gripe which comes from the chapter on female sexual oppression: hooks repeatedly implies that sexuality is a choice. She claims that “despite heterosexism, many women have acknowledged and accepted that they do not have to be heterosexual (that there are other options) and have chosen to be exclusively or primarily heterosexual.” Perhaps it’s because the novel is a couple of decades old now, but reading that was a genuine shock to me.
I don’t give a book fewer stars solely because I disagree with the points made within it, as I don’t believe my disagreement invalidates the merits of a book. However, I don’t just disagree with hooks’ claim. I think the claim that sexuality is a choice is harmful to the LGBTQ community and works against gay liberation. Such a claim is backwards, and I was astounded that an otherwise progressive book, which is extremely sensitive to and understanding of class, race and gender struggles, contained such a phrase.
As such, 4 stars instead of 5. I still think Feminist Theory is a necessary and important book and would thoroughly recommend it. Just a tad disappointed that an otherwise perfect book contained that claim :(