Stand Up Against The Norm
Feminism and patriarchy have never gone hand in hand. Patriarchy ultimately disregards the female contribution to society by placing all of the importance on the male. Many feminist theories typically revolve around the concept of patriarchy because of the biased perception towards women.
The Patriarchal Norm
In the works of bell hooks, “Theory as Liberatory Practice,” she expresses what theory is and how she perceives it. In general, hooks presents the gap between feminist theory and feminist practice. Throughout the article she presents situations where the importance of black women and women of color is being omitted. Theory is presented through varied perceptions, however, the example of “using theory as intervention, as a way to challenge the status quo” stood out in a higher importance to me. In particular, the relation hooks connected it to.
“I remember trying to explain at a very young age to Mama why I thought it was highly inappropriate for Daddy, this man who hardly spoke to me, to have the right to discipline me, to punish me physically with whippings…” — hooks
This connects with, “Patriarchal Norms Still Shape Family Care,” by Nancy Folbre. Here Folbre comments on the patriarchal norms that societies have grown to accept and passed along through the generations. Both Folbre and hooks state that women are expected to stay home and take care of the children and household duties, while men are the expected breadwinners for the family. This ultimately gives rise to the male and their power over the female because males are entitled to a “greater” responsibility.
hooks ties this back to black women. She stated that when gathered to honor a black male leader that spoke and acted in resistance to the status quo, “black women were still negating our right to engage in oppositional political dialogue and debate…” My interpretation of this dealt with the conformity of the patriarchal society embedded around us. Women, in particular to black women and women of color, are withheld from their rights to speak up and express their part without the interference of men overlooking their judgment. It is more accustomed to let the men speak for the women. It is frowned upon when the roles are switched and the women are the ones speaking up for the men. Much of that habit deals with men being “smarter” than women.
In her work, hooks states, “black women/women of color are told that we cannot be fully heard or listened to because our work is not theoretical enough.” Here hooks highlights the fact that black women and women of color are disregarded due to their “lack of knowledge.” I see an emphasis in the patriarchy implemented in society through that statement made by hooks. Men are always presented as superior to women. They look down more on black women and women of color for whatever it is that they attempt to do because it had become a norm that black women and women of color are not educated. However, in an article by Kayla Stewart, “Black Women Are Now America’s Most Educated Group,” Stewart presents that a high percentage of 9.7% represents black women enrolled in college. More than 65% of black women receive a bachelor’s, master’s and/or doctorate degree. If that amount of education is not enough to be heard, then who knows what is.
Female Empowerment
“…the ‘real’ black woman is always the one who speaks from the gut…” — hooks
This statement sparked one woman to my mind, Sojourner Truth. In December 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Convention in Ohio. After reading hooks’ words, the speech by Truth immediately popped into my mind. Particularly, the part where she says, “I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me… I could work as much and eat as much as a man… and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman?” The relation between hooks’ statement to Truths’ speech ties with the courage that Truth had to deliver the speech. hooks had stated that the woman is one who speaks from the gut, and in Truths’ speech, she did just that. Truth confronted the norms and spoke out against the privilege that other women, typically white, have compared to black women.
bell hooks ultimately establishes the importance of eliminating the gap between feminist theory and feminist practice. If more black women and women of color, rise up against the norm like how Sojourner Truth did, then there could be a greater importance placed in the feminist movements. Rising up and challenging the patriarchal society will essentially close the gap between feminist theory and feminist practice.
