Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
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Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, published in 1984, confirmed bell hooks' importance as a leader in radical feminist thought. in this, her second book, hooks forges into previously unexplored cutting edge topics and perspectives.
Central to understanding any of bell hooks' theory is familiarity with the idea of "white-supremecist capitalist patriarchy," a term hooks coined in order to talk about the structures of domination at work in our country today. The premise that informs this term is that different forms of oppression--the most prominent, according to hooks, being racism, sexism, and classist oppression--are all manifestations of a larger root cause. That root cause is the conception of power in our society--the idea that might equals right, that the ability to dominate another through violence is somehow an imperative to do so. The term "white-supremecist capitalist patriarchy" itself is a critique of this common conception of power, as well as a linguistic reminder that capitalism, racism, and patriarchy are interconnected forms of oppression and as such, must be reckoned with as whole rather than individually. Also important to note is that hooks refutes the idea of men as the "enemy" as untrue, ineffective, and a simplification of the complex societal issues at hand.
In Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, hooks uses the term "white-supremecist capitalist patriarchy" as a lens through which to both critique various aspects of American culture and to offer potential solutions to the problems she explores. hooks addresses topics including the goals of feminist movement, the role of men in feminist struggle, the relevance of pacifism, solidarity among women, and the nature of revolution. hooks can be identified in her discussions of these topics as a radical feminist (rather than a liberal feminist) because of her arguments that the system itself is corrupt and that achieving equality in such a system is neither possible--equality with who? white straight men? black men who are wealthy? Asian-American gay men?--nor a worthy goal of feminist movement. She promotes instead a complete transformation of society and all of its institutions as a result of protracted struggle, envisioning a life-affirming, peaceful tomorrow.
