Ain't I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism

Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by social critic and educator bell hooks is a study of the intersectionality of racism and sexism and how both contribute to the marginalization of Black women. hooks examines the social, cultural, and psychological impact of slavery and how the institution shaped contemporary perceptions of Black women. She exposes how white feminism has discriminated against Black female experiences and how Black men absorbed white patriarchal culture, imposing hierarchical structures in their homes and relationships. Published in 1981, Ain’t I a Woman was hooks’s first book and is considered a foundational text for feminist reading, drawing attention to the ways racism and sexism are inherently intertwined and challenging readers to dismantle oppression by turning a critical eye to cultural norms. hooks went on to publish over 30 books and taught at universities across the United States until her death in 2021.

This guide utilizes the 2015 paperback edition published by Routledge.

Content Warning: This book and study guide include discussions of white supremacy, physical and sexual violence, slavery, and abuse.

Summary

In the Introduction to bell hooks’s Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism, the author asks readers to consider the position of Black women within feminist movements such as the

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