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eliotfyffe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I came to this book full of cognitive dissonance about how I fit into the feminist movement. I knew that feminism is the path to everyone's liberation- men and women alike, but I couldn't recognize how to define myself outside of patriarchy without hating myself and my personal male-ness. This book taught me to view patriarchy as the enemy, not necessarily men. She argues, like plenty of her peers, that patriarchy was co-constructed and is perpetuated by both men and women, despite men being rewarded with power by this system. She urges us to abandon the view that the ability to violently dominate others is privilege, but rather define it as the ability to love and be loved. 100/10 best thing to ever happen to me.
p.s. there is so much wisdom sprinkled in that has nothing to do with gender dynamics too- this book helped me move away from simultaneous grandiosity and self-deprecation (both self-centered outlooks), embrace radical empathy in all contexts, and gain a greater understanding of intersectionality and our current domination ethic
p.p.s. One major caveat to this book, which everyone that I've spoken to has agreed on, is that much like many leftist like to reduce things entirely to class, hooks seems to explain every social phenomena through gender. It could be me misinterpreting her examples when they're supposed to be prototypical, but that's how most people seem to interpret her writing nonetheless. Her thoughts on religion were also somewhat confusing and seemingly contradictory.
p.s. there is so much wisdom sprinkled in that has nothing to do with gender dynamics too- this book helped me move away from simultaneous grandiosity and self-deprecation (both self-centered outlooks), embrace radical empathy in all contexts, and gain a greater understanding of intersectionality and our current domination ethic
p.p.s. One major caveat to this book, which everyone that I've spoken to has agreed on, is that much like many leftist like to reduce things entirely to class, hooks seems to explain every social phenomena through gender. It could be me misinterpreting her examples when they're supposed to be prototypical, but that's how most people seem to interpret her writing nonetheless. Her thoughts on religion were also somewhat confusing and seemingly contradictory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
tmchopra's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
iris_garden's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
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