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Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Nonfiction (2020)Today's feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord and women who rebuff at carrying the title. Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?
267 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2020
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January 14, 2024
FOR YEARS YOUR PRIVILEGE HAS BEEN AN ENEMY TO MY RIGHT! YES, YOU! CHECK. YOUR. PRIVILEGE!
This book is not meant to be pretty or pleasant. It says what it says and it will call you out on your bullshit!
I will stress that this is a very important book that covers key issues for black people and black women most importantly because even within our own community we are still at the bottom of the food chain.
Its definitely not shocking to me and it's not news that mainstream feminism/feminist iconism will almost always certainly exclude the black woman.
In majority (if not all) of third world countries plus not forgetting in the Hood, POC are facing issues such as Homelessness, Poverty, Hunger, BLOODY GUN VIOLENCE & Lack of access to consistent quality education to name just but a few. These are our issues yet if we're are feminists as we so call ourselves left right and center how come I don't here you talk about these issues sis?
Where's the solidarity sis?
This book is not meant to be pretty or pleasant. It says what it says and it will call you out on your bullshit!
I will stress that this is a very important book that covers key issues for black people and black women most importantly because even within our own community we are still at the bottom of the food chain.
Its definitely not shocking to me and it's not news that mainstream feminism/feminist iconism will almost always certainly exclude the black woman.
In majority (if not all) of third world countries plus not forgetting in the Hood, POC are facing issues such as Homelessness, Poverty, Hunger, BLOODY GUN VIOLENCE & Lack of access to consistent quality education to name just but a few. These are our issues yet if we're are feminists as we so call ourselves left right and center how come I don't here you talk about these issues sis?
Where's the solidarity sis?
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April 12, 2020
This was a good book, but I had trouble finishing it. The reasons for that, however, are mostly personal. I'm a black feminist, and most of this book is focused on educating white feminists on issues they may not typically consider feminist or associate with the feminist movement - such as housing, food, and education. Kendall makes the argument that all these needs are feminist causes that need addressing, especially in poor communities/hoods where survival is paramount. I agree with almost everything she says, but I also found myself zoning out because I already know the issues and statistics so well, and I wasn't really the target audience for this book.
Although the writing was clumsy and repetitive at times, I think this could be a great resource for white women looking to learn how to be better allies, particularly to people of color. I would recommend starting with something classic like Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, then following up with this to get a handle on those concepts in the context of modern issues.
Although the writing was clumsy and repetitive at times, I think this could be a great resource for white women looking to learn how to be better allies, particularly to people of color. I would recommend starting with something classic like Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, then following up with this to get a handle on those concepts in the context of modern issues.
May 9, 2020
An engaging essay collection that I would recommend to those who want to learn more about intersectional feminism. Mikki Kendall does a great job of connecting feminism to topics such as the housing crisis, hunger, black women’s maternal health, and more, which often are ignored in a movement that centers cis, heterosexual white women. She dives deep into social issues like gun violence and poverty, thus providing us with a solid understanding of these issues, while always drawing connections to how women – especially women of color – are almost always disproportionately affected by social inequities and injustices. She interweaves anecdotes from her personal life that help illustrate the gravity of these issues in a more focused emotional lens, as opposed to solely drawing from systemic analysis or theory and statistics.
I’m not sure how much mileage you would get from this collection if you’re already pretty well-versed in intersectional feminism, though I still found the essay an enjoyable read and I’d definitely recommend it to people who think mostly of white women when feminism comes to mind. I noticed a pattern in which some essays would veer off into a more unfocused exploration of many topics by the middle before being wrapped back up into the original thesis by the end, which felt a little clumsy. However, I recognize that so many of these issues intersect and sprawl into one another. Yay for expanding the extent to which feminism also takes into account race, socioeconomic status, and additional vectors of identity.
I’m not sure how much mileage you would get from this collection if you’re already pretty well-versed in intersectional feminism, though I still found the essay an enjoyable read and I’d definitely recommend it to people who think mostly of white women when feminism comes to mind. I noticed a pattern in which some essays would veer off into a more unfocused exploration of many topics by the middle before being wrapped back up into the original thesis by the end, which felt a little clumsy. However, I recognize that so many of these issues intersect and sprawl into one another. Yay for expanding the extent to which feminism also takes into account race, socioeconomic status, and additional vectors of identity.
May 6, 2020
This was an okay read. I follow Kendall on Twitter and I think that it's a better medium for her than a full-length book on social issues. Although I agree with the vast majority of her political stances and her critique of mainstream feminism for ignoring the needs of women of color, I think she's concocted a bit of a straw man (woman?) in her conception of "white feminism" here. This term is thrown around very loosely throughout the book, almost to the point at which there is little to no distinction between white women in general and white feminists in particular. In general, the tone is very casual and draws more on personal anecdote and history than research, studies or concrete examples outside Kendall's own experiences. I completely agree with all of her points about the importance of creating a feminist movement that centers the needs of the most marginalized women, and that feminism needs to look beyond "equality" in the workplace and political spheres to embrace food justice, prison abolitionism, reproductive justice, and much more. I just wish she had backed up these points with more in-depth research and evidence throughout the text. However, it could be an accessible introductory text for folks who aren't familiar with intersectional feminism.
November 22, 2020
Really important thoughtful book on feminism and how women can do a better job at being more inclusive. I think this book is very educational and something everyone should take the time to read, I feel like I learned so much.
October 12, 2020
This should be absolutely required reading. For everyone.
Rarely in life do you find a work of nonfiction this short and this readable that is also so expansive, so all-encompassing, and so effective.
I really don't feel I need to use this review as a space to say anything more than PLEASE READ THIS, but I will explain briefly why this isn't quite 5 stars:
This book spends more time and is more explicit in condemning the words of Bernie Sanders supporters than it is of those of Trump supporters or Trump himself. For a thesis that includes universal healthcare, equal access to education (including at the college level), and more democratic socialist platforms as part of its version of feminism, as for many other reasons, I just don't see how that's justifiable.
But even with that, this is a stunning book.
Bottom line: If you are a person and you are on this planet, read this book.
"We rarely talk about basic needs as a feminist issue. Food insecurity and access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. Instead of a framework that focuses on helping women get basic needs met, all too often the focus is not on survival but on increasing privilege. For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met."
Rarely in life do you find a work of nonfiction this short and this readable that is also so expansive, so all-encompassing, and so effective.
I really don't feel I need to use this review as a space to say anything more than PLEASE READ THIS, but I will explain briefly why this isn't quite 5 stars:
This book spends more time and is more explicit in condemning the words of Bernie Sanders supporters than it is of those of Trump supporters or Trump himself. For a thesis that includes universal healthcare, equal access to education (including at the college level), and more democratic socialist platforms as part of its version of feminism, as for many other reasons, I just don't see how that's justifiable.
But even with that, this is a stunning book.
Bottom line: If you are a person and you are on this planet, read this book.
"We rarely talk about basic needs as a feminist issue. Food insecurity and access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. Instead of a framework that focuses on helping women get basic needs met, all too often the focus is not on survival but on increasing privilege. For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met."
Read
January 28, 2021"For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met."
October 11, 2020
Do you the know the word intersectionality? Do you know the definition? Because if you don't I need you to read this book and even if you think you know what it means READ THIS BOOK. It's so easy to classify yourself as a feminist BUT does your idea of feminism really address ALL women specifically BLACK women? Last year I was luck enough to receive a copy of Mikki Kendall's graphic novel which I still haven't had the opportunity to read; however, the moment I saw that she was coming out with this book I knew that it was one that I needed to devour quickly.
The information in Hood Feminism doesn't surprise me. You see, I'm a black woman. I know what it's like to watch non-Black individuals declare that they are feminist without truly considering the Black women that they are forgetting. Yet, it was interesting to learn the ways in which certain aspects of feminism directly forget the issues that affect Black women. It was well detailed and made me really think about the ways that a lot of movements have left out the narratives of certain groups.
Like a lot of non-fiction books that discuss race, this isn't an easy read. It will make a lot of individuals feel uncomfortable BUT that's the purpose. These are the conversations that need to happen. Race plays a huge part in everything related to the American system, but for some odd reason it's the one conversation that people are scared to have or they hide behind phrases like "we're a post-racial country" or "I'm color blind." These are the tough conversations we need to have in order to move forward.
Some of my favorite sections of this book included her discussion on the fetishization of being fierce, education, and (this was the best section) allies, anger, and accomplices. If you're looking for a short, but complex novel that looks at the feminist movement in terms of Black women I would recommend checking out this book.
The information in Hood Feminism doesn't surprise me. You see, I'm a black woman. I know what it's like to watch non-Black individuals declare that they are feminist without truly considering the Black women that they are forgetting. Yet, it was interesting to learn the ways in which certain aspects of feminism directly forget the issues that affect Black women. It was well detailed and made me really think about the ways that a lot of movements have left out the narratives of certain groups.
Like a lot of non-fiction books that discuss race, this isn't an easy read. It will make a lot of individuals feel uncomfortable BUT that's the purpose. These are the conversations that need to happen. Race plays a huge part in everything related to the American system, but for some odd reason it's the one conversation that people are scared to have or they hide behind phrases like "we're a post-racial country" or "I'm color blind." These are the tough conversations we need to have in order to move forward.
Some of my favorite sections of this book included her discussion on the fetishization of being fierce, education, and (this was the best section) allies, anger, and accomplices. If you're looking for a short, but complex novel that looks at the feminist movement in terms of Black women I would recommend checking out this book.
August 18, 2020
The best feminism book I've yet to read
I haven't read a lot of books on feminism (14 on my shelf) so perhaps it's too soon to make the assertion this is the best. I can say though, that of the books I have read, this is by far the best.
Mikki Kendall is a brilliant writer, eloquent and passionate and intelligent. She points out all the (many) ways traditional feminism is lacking, how it has commonly worked for the needs of middle- and upper-class straight cisgender white women while excluding everyone else.
When the Women's March first took place in 2017, I was confused why many women of colour did not want to join. But we're all women, I thought. We all are fighting against the patriarchy and standing up against the presidential election of a man who demeans and harms women at every turn.
How naive I was.
Over the years I have thought about this a lot and gradually started understanding why many Black and Brown women felt distanced and did not feel like they belonged or that their needs would be addressed.
I was only seeing the tip of the iceberg though and Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot really opened my eyes.
Ms. Kendall ardently explains how feminism needs to change in order to work for the needs of all women. She addresses the ways in which feminism tends to exclude and leave behind many women, especially women of color and transwomen, and shows how things like race, sexual orientation, class, and disability come together to create unique challenges and needs for women.
She asserts that everything that affects women is a feminist issue and the conversation needs to expand to address issues like:
•Affordable housing
•Gun violence
•Eating disorders among Black girls and women
•Access to quality education
•Medical care
•Violence against women of color, especially trans women of color
•Equal pay (traditional feminism tends to ignore the fact that Black women make even less than white women).
These and others are important issues that concern women, especially women of colour, and which need to be addressed and taken seriously.
In case you find yourself bristling and worrying that now white women are going to be left out of the conversation (you won't be), know that, as Ms. Kendall explains, "the reason the concept of intersectionality centers on Black women and justice is that Black women are the least likely to have the kind of class privilege that can grant them access to anything like justice."
This book is illuminating. Ms. Kendall shares personal experiences throughout in order to illustrate how important it is that we start including all women in our fight for women.
There is some repetition but that is the only somewhat-complaint I have. Repetition isn't always a bad thing; sometimes we need to hear things over and over before we really "get it".
I highly recommend this book to everyone who calls themself a feminist. We have to start taking an intersectional approach and open our eyes to the unique challenges facing minorities. We need to listen to minority women and take their lead when it comes to finding solutions to their needs. As Mikki Kendall asserts, "the most realistic approach to solidarity is one that assumes that sometimes it simply isn’t your turn to be the focus of the conversation."
"Sometimes being a good ally is about opening the door for someone instead of insisting that your voice is the only one that matters."
"White feminism is going to have to get comfortable with the idea that until they challenge their racist aunts, parents, cousins, and so on, it is definitely all white women who are responsible."
"If feminism’s goal truly is equality for all, that means the future of feminism has to look very different from its past."
I haven't read a lot of books on feminism (14 on my shelf) so perhaps it's too soon to make the assertion this is the best. I can say though, that of the books I have read, this is by far the best.
Mikki Kendall is a brilliant writer, eloquent and passionate and intelligent. She points out all the (many) ways traditional feminism is lacking, how it has commonly worked for the needs of middle- and upper-class straight cisgender white women while excluding everyone else.
When the Women's March first took place in 2017, I was confused why many women of colour did not want to join. But we're all women, I thought. We all are fighting against the patriarchy and standing up against the presidential election of a man who demeans and harms women at every turn.
How naive I was.
Over the years I have thought about this a lot and gradually started understanding why many Black and Brown women felt distanced and did not feel like they belonged or that their needs would be addressed.
I was only seeing the tip of the iceberg though and Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot really opened my eyes.
Ms. Kendall ardently explains how feminism needs to change in order to work for the needs of all women. She addresses the ways in which feminism tends to exclude and leave behind many women, especially women of color and transwomen, and shows how things like race, sexual orientation, class, and disability come together to create unique challenges and needs for women.
She asserts that everything that affects women is a feminist issue and the conversation needs to expand to address issues like:
•Affordable housing
•Gun violence
•Eating disorders among Black girls and women
•Access to quality education
•Medical care
•Violence against women of color, especially trans women of color
•Equal pay (traditional feminism tends to ignore the fact that Black women make even less than white women).
These and others are important issues that concern women, especially women of colour, and which need to be addressed and taken seriously.
In case you find yourself bristling and worrying that now white women are going to be left out of the conversation (you won't be), know that, as Ms. Kendall explains, "the reason the concept of intersectionality centers on Black women and justice is that Black women are the least likely to have the kind of class privilege that can grant them access to anything like justice."
This book is illuminating. Ms. Kendall shares personal experiences throughout in order to illustrate how important it is that we start including all women in our fight for women.
There is some repetition but that is the only somewhat-complaint I have. Repetition isn't always a bad thing; sometimes we need to hear things over and over before we really "get it".
I highly recommend this book to everyone who calls themself a feminist. We have to start taking an intersectional approach and open our eyes to the unique challenges facing minorities. We need to listen to minority women and take their lead when it comes to finding solutions to their needs. As Mikki Kendall asserts, "the most realistic approach to solidarity is one that assumes that sometimes it simply isn’t your turn to be the focus of the conversation."
"Sometimes being a good ally is about opening the door for someone instead of insisting that your voice is the only one that matters."
"White feminism is going to have to get comfortable with the idea that until they challenge their racist aunts, parents, cousins, and so on, it is definitely all white women who are responsible."
"If feminism’s goal truly is equality for all, that means the future of feminism has to look very different from its past."
February 10, 2021
This is a good book but I thought I was going to like it more than I did. I agree with a lot of the ideas and concepts in this book and found it very interesting and eye opening to learn about feminism and so many issues from a different point of view than my own. I did not however, like the writing style of this book. I found it to be very repetitive, unorganized and often went completely off topic. It brought up a lot of issues to consider and look into but it was mostly all based on her opinion and experiences and I feel like there was not a lot of statistics or research put into this book. Although her lived experiences are extremely valid, I feel like more organization and research would have led to a more informative reading experience with more effective arguments.
I don't know of a lot of books personally that cover feminism through the eyes of marginalized women so for that reason alone I would still recommend this book, but more as a starting point of topics to educate yourself on than because it is such an informative and well written book.
I don't know of a lot of books personally that cover feminism through the eyes of marginalized women so for that reason alone I would still recommend this book, but more as a starting point of topics to educate yourself on than because it is such an informative and well written book.
Read
March 29, 2021Everyone needs to read/listen to this book.
Everyone.
Everyone.
July 24, 2023
An intelligent, insightful read.
It made me more aware of my own ignorance as a white female living in Australia - so many of these things I hadn't even considered - and it made me feel a little ashamed, to be honest.
That being said, the point of this book is not to shame, but to educate. She talks about issues that feminism supposedly tackles and then describes how badly feminism is missing the mark when it comes to women of colour. Apparently racism is more powerful than misogyny. I'm very vocal when it comes to women standing up for women, particularly when it comes to sexual violence, so when I encountered this particular quote regarding rape culture, I was horrified:
The scariest part was that, as disgusting as the idea of that is to me, I had to take the time and make sure I wouldn't be someone who stood back. I want to make sure that I don't have any of these subconscious racist notions myself. (I do feel confident that I would help someone in trouble, no matter the colour of their skin. I truly hope so.)
That's such a big part of why this book was so powerful to me. Because so many of these things I hadn't even considered, because my white privilege has kept me safe. I have a home, a family I can rely on, a steady job, and an income that allows me basic needs as well as some things I want. I'm not afraid to walk around the neighbourhood, or hang out in parks, and if I'm really in trouble I'm confident that law enforcement will help. I'm not afraid of being incarcerated for making a mistake, and no one has ever implied that I will be unfit to raise children when the time comes. All of these things I have taken for granted, and if you have too I encourage you to read this book.
This book is begging for accomplices - not just allies. It's not enough to send thoughts and prayers. It's not enough to 'hope things work out'. This book asks us to stop putting the responsibility on the marginalised groups to stand up for themselves and make our own efforts to change how they're treated. They need allies in positions of power to be moved by their plight - to understand that supporting women of colour won't cost them their white privilege - and then actually make changes for the better. They need action from those of us who have had the fortune to be born white.
I've honestly never felt so powerless. I wish I was in a position to do more.
But wishes aren't enough, either, so in the absence of that I intend to educate myself as best I can, and this book was a great introduction. It covers a lot of important subjects in a calm, rational and educated manner. There's even a little humour, and the author uses anecdotes from her own life to help demonstrate the issues.
My only complaint really is that it was too intelligent for me - I could have used a glossary because there are so many terms in here that I'd never heard of before. However that does also highlight once again how naive I was before I picked up this book.
If you're looking to educate yourself on real issues that Black women face, this is a really good starting point because it covers things so comprehensively. Some of it is quite heavy reading, and you may need a dictionary on hand for some of the terms, but it's well worth the time.
I'm grateful to find books like this that can help me learn, and grow, and further understand the struggles of others.
It made me more aware of my own ignorance as a white female living in Australia - so many of these things I hadn't even considered - and it made me feel a little ashamed, to be honest.
That being said, the point of this book is not to shame, but to educate. She talks about issues that feminism supposedly tackles and then describes how badly feminism is missing the mark when it comes to women of colour. Apparently racism is more powerful than misogyny. I'm very vocal when it comes to women standing up for women, particularly when it comes to sexual violence, so when I encountered this particular quote regarding rape culture, I was horrified:
When you can't count on solidarity for women in danger, when bystander intervention isn't a solution because white female bystanders may feel that a Black woman's plight doesn't deserve their attention because race has a more powerful effect than gender, then we aren't really battling rape culture.
The scariest part was that, as disgusting as the idea of that is to me, I had to take the time and make sure I wouldn't be someone who stood back. I want to make sure that I don't have any of these subconscious racist notions myself. (I do feel confident that I would help someone in trouble, no matter the colour of their skin. I truly hope so.)
That's such a big part of why this book was so powerful to me. Because so many of these things I hadn't even considered, because my white privilege has kept me safe. I have a home, a family I can rely on, a steady job, and an income that allows me basic needs as well as some things I want. I'm not afraid to walk around the neighbourhood, or hang out in parks, and if I'm really in trouble I'm confident that law enforcement will help. I'm not afraid of being incarcerated for making a mistake, and no one has ever implied that I will be unfit to raise children when the time comes. All of these things I have taken for granted, and if you have too I encourage you to read this book.
This book is begging for accomplices - not just allies. It's not enough to send thoughts and prayers. It's not enough to 'hope things work out'. This book asks us to stop putting the responsibility on the marginalised groups to stand up for themselves and make our own efforts to change how they're treated. They need allies in positions of power to be moved by their plight - to understand that supporting women of colour won't cost them their white privilege - and then actually make changes for the better. They need action from those of us who have had the fortune to be born white.
I've honestly never felt so powerless. I wish I was in a position to do more.
But wishes aren't enough, either, so in the absence of that I intend to educate myself as best I can, and this book was a great introduction. It covers a lot of important subjects in a calm, rational and educated manner. There's even a little humour, and the author uses anecdotes from her own life to help demonstrate the issues.
My only complaint really is that it was too intelligent for me - I could have used a glossary because there are so many terms in here that I'd never heard of before. However that does also highlight once again how naive I was before I picked up this book.
If you're looking to educate yourself on real issues that Black women face, this is a really good starting point because it covers things so comprehensively. Some of it is quite heavy reading, and you may need a dictionary on hand for some of the terms, but it's well worth the time.
I'm grateful to find books like this that can help me learn, and grow, and further understand the struggles of others.
April 2, 2021
First, if you've never heard the word intersectionality or have little to no understanding about how race intersects with other forms of identity, this would be fine to read, though I could recommend better material on the subject. If you already have an understanding about these topics, this book may be so obvious it will be very tedious to get through. Second, in terms of the writing, another critical review noted that the editors "failed" this author and while that seems harsh, there were many points in the book that I found myself thinking the same exact thing. Third, there are no "notes" from "the women" that a movement forgot, as the title promises. Just one long note from one woman.
August 2, 2020
In a world of #girlboss bullshit and emphasis on if we have enough female CEOs running problematic Fortune 500 companies, Mikki Kendall's Hood Feminism is a beacon of light with a simple message: If your feminism isn't actively centering and loudly fighting for the most marginalized people in our society first and foremost, that feminism is incredibly privileged, white, and performative.
I can only speak for my own identities, so if you're a white woman who considers yourself a feminist, do yourself a favor and allow this book to completely flatten you and re-arrange everything you thought you knew about how you conceptualize your fight for equality.
Honestly, consider Hood Feminism required reading in my opinion.
I can only speak for my own identities, so if you're a white woman who considers yourself a feminist, do yourself a favor and allow this book to completely flatten you and re-arrange everything you thought you knew about how you conceptualize your fight for equality.
Honestly, consider Hood Feminism required reading in my opinion.
September 29, 2020
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot is a much needed check for white women who claim to be feminist.
”Instead of a framework that focuses on helping women get basic needs met, all too often the focus is not on survival but on increasing privilege. For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met.”
It’s more than having a seat at the table or being paid the same as your male colleagues — Basic needs like access to quality education, medical and reproductive rights, and safe housing are just some of the major issues often absent from discussions about feminism.
In Hood Feminism Mikki Kendall explores why each of these tenets is critical to feminism and how they have often been ignored or minimized in the discussion, yet have large impacts on marginalized communities. While I have long considered myself to be a supporter of feminist ideas and an advocate for equal playing fields, this book was a welcome reality check — My idea of feminism is too narrow and my perspective demands expansion.
The most powerful chapter is the closing one about white women as allies and why we should instead be accomplices:
”Accomplice feminists would actively and directly challenge white supremacist people, policies, institutions, and cultural norms. They would know they do not need to have the same stake in the fight to work with marginalized communities. They would put aside their egos and their need to be centered in our struggles in favor of following our instructions, because they would internalize the reality that their privilege doesn’t make them experts on our oppression. This style of feminism would be performative, would not pay lip service to equality while sustaining and supporting those who actively work against it. Becoming an accomplice feminist is not simply semantic. Accomplices do not just talk about bigotry; they do something about it.”
Read it — Share it — Change your definition of feminism and Act on it.
”Instead of a framework that focuses on helping women get basic needs met, all too often the focus is not on survival but on increasing privilege. For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met.”
It’s more than having a seat at the table or being paid the same as your male colleagues — Basic needs like access to quality education, medical and reproductive rights, and safe housing are just some of the major issues often absent from discussions about feminism.
In Hood Feminism Mikki Kendall explores why each of these tenets is critical to feminism and how they have often been ignored or minimized in the discussion, yet have large impacts on marginalized communities. While I have long considered myself to be a supporter of feminist ideas and an advocate for equal playing fields, this book was a welcome reality check — My idea of feminism is too narrow and my perspective demands expansion.
The most powerful chapter is the closing one about white women as allies and why we should instead be accomplices:
”Accomplice feminists would actively and directly challenge white supremacist people, policies, institutions, and cultural norms. They would know they do not need to have the same stake in the fight to work with marginalized communities. They would put aside their egos and their need to be centered in our struggles in favor of following our instructions, because they would internalize the reality that their privilege doesn’t make them experts on our oppression. This style of feminism would be performative, would not pay lip service to equality while sustaining and supporting those who actively work against it. Becoming an accomplice feminist is not simply semantic. Accomplices do not just talk about bigotry; they do something about it.”
Read it — Share it — Change your definition of feminism and Act on it.
March 20, 2021
Please, I urge you. Read this book.
Read
April 5, 2022“Girls like me seemed to be the object of the conversations and not full participants, because we were a problem to be solved, not people in our own right.”
Really excellent collection of essays covering a wide range of topics. They all lead back to the idea that feminism involves so much more than reproductive justice or wage gaps, or other topics that are most discussed in mainstream (white) feminism, and that these issues can be solved if the root of them is addressed. This book discusses not only how the issues of race and class intersect in feminism for Black women especially, and how feminism currently focuses most on the privileged women rather than those who need it most, but it also discusses how the only way to truly achieve all of feminism’s goals is to ensure that there are systems in place to support all women and establish a high quality of life for them. I also liked how the book covered what feminism looks like in the US and included personal anecdotes from Kendall’s life as well. Overall, a great examination of what (white) American feminism currently is, and what it should be.
February 4, 2022
4.5 stars - If someone wanted to understand what intersectional feminism or womanism looks like, I would point them straight to this book. Kendall covers a dazzling range of issues and explains how they are correlated to the experiences of many Black women. This is one of of those books where I feel like I need to let it simmer and come back to it at some point to go a layer deeper. So good and a great example of nonfiction centered on social analysis
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January 30, 2021This book was great! It's my goal to read more non-fiction in 2021 and I'm so happy I started with this one. My favorite section was the one about education (I'm a teacher, so that hit close to home). I definitely recommend picking this up! It took me awhile to get through because the information is less narrative and more packed with information, but taking it in slowly is allowed me to think more about the content while I was reading it, which I enjoyed. The author is not afraid to be blunt and face the hard truth about women of color and how feminists aren't actually promoting the equality and opportunity for all women.
December 18, 2020
Wow. I’ll have to get Botox to fix the wrinkles I got from being perpetually confused by Kendall’s bizarre logic and misdirected anger. This not a good book. Apart from essentially expanding the definition of feminism to include every imaginable societal issue, she has nothing new to offer to the conversation. In addition, she acts as if, if you don’t view the societal problems she discusses such as gun violence and hunger through a distinctly “feminist” lens, you must simply not care about the women that are impacted by those things. Make it make sense. I’m not even convinced much research went into this book, which is a shame because she does raise important issues very much worthy of discussion, like gender-based violence, but she goes about it in a completely wrong/unhelpful way. Truly not impressed.
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February 25, 2020One of the biggest issues with mainstream feminist writing has been the way the idea of what constitutes a feminist issue is framed. We rarely talk about basic needs as a feminist issue. Food insecurity and access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. Instead of a framework that focuses on helping women get basic needs met, all too often the focus is not on survival but on increasing privilege. For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall is an essay collection addressing a different feminist topic per chapter, which at points also doubles as Kendall's memoir. The collection tries to analyse modern feminism and construct a new framework through which to various feminist issues should be perceived. Using intersectional feminism as the theoretical framework, this book looks at how issues often deemed to be 'non-feminist' are intimately tied with the ideals of the movement and looks at how feminism and feminists have routinely failed certain women who do not fit within pre-selected categories, especially Black women and trans women.
Overall I thought the breadth of this collection was impressive. Kendall had a lot to say about many issues and made many points which I think are very important. The way she explored so many different issues in a relatively small book was impressive. At times I did think some points would wander or stray and get lost, and then get clumsily tied together at the end. But overall, it was well written with a host of excellent information and arguments. I appreciated the statistics and research included and also the references. I also thought Kendall's inclusion of personal anecdotes broke up the book a little making it easier to read and more accessible.
For me, a major issue was just that parts of this were very centred on American issues, which felt unrelatable. I felt almost like this was intended solely for American audiences at points. Sometimes it meant sections had no impact on me since the specifically American policies or situations did not apply. That said, there is plenty still that translated globally and I wouldn't say don't pick this up if you're American. But I would say, definitely pick it up if you are because I think there will be a lot in here for you.
Overall, this is a well written and extensive essay collection that covers a range of topics with clarity and depth. Kendall's take on feminism and intersectional feminism is important and I'm glad I read this.
*Thankyou to the publisher for providing me a copy for review
May 26, 2020
What I do have is a deep desire to move the conversation about solidarity and the feminist movement in a direction that recognizes that an intersectional approach to feminism is key to improving relationships between communities of women, so that some measure of true solidarity can happen. Erasure is not equality, least of all in a movement that draws much of its strength from the claim that it represents over half of the world’s population.
Listen Mikki Kendall did not come to play with y'all in this book, she addresses every single area that the movement forgot and I was here for it. I learned SOOOOO much reading this book and what having a holistic approach to feminism looks like. It needs to be truly firm on every issue that affects women.
A must read for anyone who is interested in being a better person and a better feminist. Well written and well researched.
Listen Mikki Kendall did not come to play with y'all in this book, she addresses every single area that the movement forgot and I was here for it. I learned SOOOOO much reading this book and what having a holistic approach to feminism looks like. It needs to be truly firm on every issue that affects women.
A must read for anyone who is interested in being a better person and a better feminist. Well written and well researched.
August 23, 2020
Sometimes being a good ally is about opening the door for someone instead of insisting that your voice is the only one that matters.
...
Sometimes solidarity is just that simple; step up, reach back and keep pushing forward.
This book has given me a heck of a lot to think about. Breaking feminism down to its barebones and highlighting how it impacts so much more than women in the workplace. I am inordinately privileged to have grown up where hunger, housing and gun violence have not impacted my life and have had my eyes blown open to how much more should be done & not ignored/brushed aside till later.
Highly recommend!
It might be uncomfortable at times - but if I've learned anything from 2020 so far it's to keep on pushing and the more uncomfortable something might be to hear doesn't mean it is not worth listening to, working to better understand and re-examine my perception of the world vs the one we all share.
Privilege not only blinds you to oppression it blinds you to your own ignorance even when you notice the oppression.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by the author herself and cannot recommend this highly enough.
Everyone should be angry about injustice, not just those experiencing it.
...
Sometimes solidarity is just that simple; step up, reach back and keep pushing forward.
This book has given me a heck of a lot to think about. Breaking feminism down to its barebones and highlighting how it impacts so much more than women in the workplace. I am inordinately privileged to have grown up where hunger, housing and gun violence have not impacted my life and have had my eyes blown open to how much more should be done & not ignored/brushed aside till later.
Highly recommend!
It might be uncomfortable at times - but if I've learned anything from 2020 so far it's to keep on pushing and the more uncomfortable something might be to hear doesn't mean it is not worth listening to, working to better understand and re-examine my perception of the world vs the one we all share.
Privilege not only blinds you to oppression it blinds you to your own ignorance even when you notice the oppression.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by the author herself and cannot recommend this highly enough.
Everyone should be angry about injustice, not just those experiencing it.
May 15, 2022
An essential intersectional feminist text. I appreciated how the author was able to succinctly touch on so many issues, from housing and education to healthcare and hunger, through a feminist lens. And though it’s an accessible, engaging read it doesn’t lack complexity. Kendall interrogates issues feminists face from without and within the group.
Having read a few other books along these lines, I do feel like this is a good place to start if you’re looking for a feminist text that is wide ranging but distinctly intersectional. This was a good reminder for many topics I’ve read about before as well as bringing new ways to think about things I am not as well versed in.
Having read a few other books along these lines, I do feel like this is a good place to start if you’re looking for a feminist text that is wide ranging but distinctly intersectional. This was a good reminder for many topics I’ve read about before as well as bringing new ways to think about things I am not as well versed in.
September 27, 2022
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I remember seeing this book everywhere when it first came out, and since I love reading books about feminism, I was really eager to read it. Now that I've finally gotten my grubby mitts on it, I can say that it mostly lived up to my expectations. In this book, Mikki Kendall illustrates (with examples) how feminism has historically failed women of color, and how white women can broaden their intellectual scope to be more inclusive to the intersectional branches of feminism, including BIPOC women, LGBT+ women, and women living below the party line (and these groups are not mutually exclusive). I think the biggest takeaway from this book is that "white feminism" often looks to increase and broaden existing privilege, which doesn't always work for people who already have little to none. While some women are pushing for advancement to a CEO position, others can't get work. Period. In addition to being a rallying call to action and a blistering recounting of harsh but necessary truths, it's also a cautionary tale against being short-sighted and selfish when it comes to pushing for change.
That said, as other reviews have noted, I do feel that this is more of a primer for said privileged women (including myself) than it is for BIPOC women who already know this stuff and probably don't need to be told twice. I do think it's worth reading though because Kendall has a beautiful way with words, and I love the way that she chooses them so as to express her points in language that is spare, concise, and cutting. For me, the best feminist essays are emotionally charged, and include self-referential or autobiographical elements, so in addition to getting the author's viewpoint, you also see how they got to that viewpoint from within the framework of their own lives. You really get that here, and I think it added to the essays in a really positive and beneficial way.
Some of the topics discussed in here are gentrification, fetishization and hyper-sexualization of women of color, gun control and gun violence, discrimination in all forms, microaggresions, tone policing and respectability politics, poverty, food stamps, and violence against women. I thought the chapters about hyper-sexualization and about food stamps were the strongest, and I felt like the author did a good job showing how both society and the government fail women (working or no) who require basic things to take care of themselves and/or their children. I also liked the chapter about how society forces women-- especially BIPOC women-- to grow up too fast, usually against their will, and how these preconceived notions of a woman's coming-of-age can lead to violence or a dispassionate reaction to seeing violence being committed against BIPOC women. The line about respectability politics made me especially thoughtful because it reminded me of a Tweet I saw condemning people (so-called feminists) for the way they talked about Caitlin Jenner and basically misgendering her or making fun of her, and how it's not feminist or progressive to misgender people when critiquing them because it suggests that people are only worthy of their identities when we're in agreement with them, when this should be a basic tenet of decency, if not a human right. I feel like Kendall was making a similar point with this book: that Black women are more than just examples to be held up to make a throwaway argument for cheap points, and that they are rightfully owed a voice and a position at the table, whether or not they are making white feminists at that same table uncomfortable with their thoughts and views.
There were a couple essays in this book that didn't resonate with me as much (the parenting one, mostly because I am child-free and can't really imagine motherhood and the sacrifices that comes with, even though I appreciated her points about child rearing as a BIPOC woman and how that can differ for some BIPOC women below the poverty line who don't have access to the resources that might make parenting a relative breeze for someone with access to more resources, etc.), but there were none that I disliked. I will say that, at times, it sometimes felt like the author was imagining the face of white feminism as a yoga-pants wearing, Whole Foods-shopping, Taylor Swift-listening caricature of privilege, and while that is certainly one face of white feminism-- and perhaps the one that this book is geared primarily towards since they have the most social power and cachet when it comes to privilege-- I do think it's a tactical error to resort to this sort of bland stereotyping when making these sorts of arguments, as it chips away at the otherwise solid rhetoric that anyone could stand to open their mind and check their privilege and makes it far too easy for people to say, "Well, I'm not like that. This doesn't apply to ME." Maybe we're just brushing people like that off as a lost cause for being too thick to realize that this book was written about them, but it's still worth noting, imo.
But over all, this was great. Definitely lived up to the hype. I hope she posts another collection.
3.5 to 4 stars
September 5, 2020
Unpopular opinion but i feel this adds nothing new to this conversation.
February 25, 2021
Educational and eye-opening.
July 4, 2020
I was expecting a 5-star book, but ended up underwhelmed. I didn't gel with the writing style. I also think it would have worked better as an anthology featuring Black writers of varying perspectives, i.e. who are actually also trans or disabled or sex workers, exploring how issues brought to light in their own experiences uphold white supremacy in mainstream feminism. Instead, much of it felt like just "telling"; fleshing out statistics and iterating over viral incidents of racial injustice.
Still, I highlighted quite a few moments that gave me much to think about for my own intersectional feminist practice:
'There's nothing feminist about having so many resources at your fingertips and choosing to be ignorant. Nothing empowering or enlightening in deciding that intent trumps impact. Especially when the consequences aren't going to be experienced by you, but will instead be experienced by someone from a marginalized community.'
'The idea that poor white people are morally and socially inept, too ignorant to be a part of the wider world, excuses them from the racist systems that they lack the access to create even when they benefit from them. It's that internal oppression that whiteness enacts on itself that helps create a narrative that the world is out to get working-class white people — and that people of color are specifically at fault for their problems.'
'Why is it that we're more inclined to create programs to combat obesity than ones that meaningfully address hunger? Proponents of things like a soda tax hold their plans up proudly, but never talk about why soda is such a staple in homes where food insecurity is a problem.'
'Mainstream feminist engagement with beauty culture often centers on the male gaze and its impact, but that's not the only toxic component. The ways that being white, cis, slim, and able-bodied are valorized must also be addressed.'
'The same fear of the hood that prevents mainstream feminism from entering it without gentrifying it also contributes to the idea that no one needs to care about the scary angry women who live there, unless they can be useful.'
'There's a blithe assumption that low voter turnout is about laziness or a lack of information or motivation. It almost never comes up in political discourse during an election cycle that for those living in decaying neighborhoods, the years of neglect have let the impression that party doesn't matter, that no politician cares enough to try to stem the tide.'
'Despite the idea of freedom and equality for all being a significant part of American ideals, in execution American society relies on anti-Blackness and inequality. After all, despite the significant overlap between activists involved in abolitionism and women's rights, the history of the women's suffrage movement includes a clear goal of maintaining white supremacy by giving white women equal power with white men.'
'The problem was that the theoretically leftist supporters of Sanders felt comfortable calling Black and Brown voters "low-information" for not supporting their preferred candidate.'
'While abortion is seen as a feminist issue, access to healthcare is not necessarily framed that way. Reproductive justice needs to be reframed to include the entire spectrum of choices surrounding every stage of women's health, reproductive and otherwise. [...] It rightfully focuses on preserving the right to choose, but too often advocates center on access to contraception at the expense of communities that are still facing other obstacles. True reproductive justice involves not only access to affordable birth control, abortion, and healthcare, but also providing access to those who are imprisoned, who are in immigration detention centers, who are seen as unworthy of controlling their own lives for a variety of reasons.'
'When a presidential candidate seriously intimates that Mexican immigrants are rapists, and a white feminist comedian makes jokes along those same lines, what's the difference in social impact? Yes, that candidate might promise to make a bunch of laws and build a wall, but the one who makes it sound less racist is the white feminist who normalizes that kind of rhetoric by undermining the seriousness of the racism inherent in it.'
'We find mainstream feminism hunkered down in the Hipster Mommy Wars, where at best the discussion is about the guilt you might feel for leaving your child with a nanny while you go to work. A long, navel-gazing paragraph about the guilt you might feel for not being feminist enough because you choose to stay home might be personally satisfying, but what does it do for marginalized parents?'
'We must understand that any feminist work done in public is supported by the under-recognized, feminized work done by caregivers, sex workers, clerks, and cleaners.'
Still, I highlighted quite a few moments that gave me much to think about for my own intersectional feminist practice:
'There's nothing feminist about having so many resources at your fingertips and choosing to be ignorant. Nothing empowering or enlightening in deciding that intent trumps impact. Especially when the consequences aren't going to be experienced by you, but will instead be experienced by someone from a marginalized community.'
'The idea that poor white people are morally and socially inept, too ignorant to be a part of the wider world, excuses them from the racist systems that they lack the access to create even when they benefit from them. It's that internal oppression that whiteness enacts on itself that helps create a narrative that the world is out to get working-class white people — and that people of color are specifically at fault for their problems.'
'Why is it that we're more inclined to create programs to combat obesity than ones that meaningfully address hunger? Proponents of things like a soda tax hold their plans up proudly, but never talk about why soda is such a staple in homes where food insecurity is a problem.'
'Mainstream feminist engagement with beauty culture often centers on the male gaze and its impact, but that's not the only toxic component. The ways that being white, cis, slim, and able-bodied are valorized must also be addressed.'
'The same fear of the hood that prevents mainstream feminism from entering it without gentrifying it also contributes to the idea that no one needs to care about the scary angry women who live there, unless they can be useful.'
'There's a blithe assumption that low voter turnout is about laziness or a lack of information or motivation. It almost never comes up in political discourse during an election cycle that for those living in decaying neighborhoods, the years of neglect have let the impression that party doesn't matter, that no politician cares enough to try to stem the tide.'
'Despite the idea of freedom and equality for all being a significant part of American ideals, in execution American society relies on anti-Blackness and inequality. After all, despite the significant overlap between activists involved in abolitionism and women's rights, the history of the women's suffrage movement includes a clear goal of maintaining white supremacy by giving white women equal power with white men.'
'The problem was that the theoretically leftist supporters of Sanders felt comfortable calling Black and Brown voters "low-information" for not supporting their preferred candidate.'
'While abortion is seen as a feminist issue, access to healthcare is not necessarily framed that way. Reproductive justice needs to be reframed to include the entire spectrum of choices surrounding every stage of women's health, reproductive and otherwise. [...] It rightfully focuses on preserving the right to choose, but too often advocates center on access to contraception at the expense of communities that are still facing other obstacles. True reproductive justice involves not only access to affordable birth control, abortion, and healthcare, but also providing access to those who are imprisoned, who are in immigration detention centers, who are seen as unworthy of controlling their own lives for a variety of reasons.'
'When a presidential candidate seriously intimates that Mexican immigrants are rapists, and a white feminist comedian makes jokes along those same lines, what's the difference in social impact? Yes, that candidate might promise to make a bunch of laws and build a wall, but the one who makes it sound less racist is the white feminist who normalizes that kind of rhetoric by undermining the seriousness of the racism inherent in it.'
'We find mainstream feminism hunkered down in the Hipster Mommy Wars, where at best the discussion is about the guilt you might feel for leaving your child with a nanny while you go to work. A long, navel-gazing paragraph about the guilt you might feel for not being feminist enough because you choose to stay home might be personally satisfying, but what does it do for marginalized parents?'
'We must understand that any feminist work done in public is supported by the under-recognized, feminized work done by caregivers, sex workers, clerks, and cleaners.'
April 3, 2024
This book is so necessary, eye opening and should be read by every non poc out there. A great resource on intersectional feminism, and Mikki does a superb job of saying all this in plain English and no “bs’ing” around. She covers topics like mental health for black women, hunger, eating disorders, colorism, and debunking that “strong black woman” myth. We are not monoliths!!
“I am a strong person; I am a flawed person. What I am not is superhuman. Nor am I a Strong Black Woman. No one can live up to the standards set by racist stereotypes like this that position Black women as so strong they don’t need help, protection, care, or concern. Such stereotypes leave little to no room for real Black women with real problems. In fact, even the most “positive” tropes about women of color are harmful precisely because they dehumanize us and erase the damage that can be done to us by those who might mean well, but whose actions show that they don’t actually respect us or our right to self-determine what happens on our behalf.”
If you are wanting to be a better ally, or I’ll take it one step more—an accomplice, then I would urge you to read this book. It may make you uncomfortable, but that uncomfortableness is a sign that means you are about to be stretched in a good way, and brought to new truths and realizations. That is called growth and that is what we need in America today. These issues are real, and are still here.
“I am a strong person; I am a flawed person. What I am not is superhuman. Nor am I a Strong Black Woman. No one can live up to the standards set by racist stereotypes like this that position Black women as so strong they don’t need help, protection, care, or concern. Such stereotypes leave little to no room for real Black women with real problems. In fact, even the most “positive” tropes about women of color are harmful precisely because they dehumanize us and erase the damage that can be done to us by those who might mean well, but whose actions show that they don’t actually respect us or our right to self-determine what happens on our behalf.”
If you are wanting to be a better ally, or I’ll take it one step more—an accomplice, then I would urge you to read this book. It may make you uncomfortable, but that uncomfortableness is a sign that means you are about to be stretched in a good way, and brought to new truths and realizations. That is called growth and that is what we need in America today. These issues are real, and are still here.
September 6, 2023
Kendall is a good writer, and much of this is a compelling argument. However, intersectionality does not mean that every issue is a feminist issue, even if the issue impacts women, even if it disproportionally impacts women. One example off the top of my head; mental health care access (other than gender disparity in access or care) is not a feminist issue.
When feminism is stuffed full with issues outside of eliminating gender bias and curing the damage of past and present gender bias it loses focus and loses power. That feminism has abandoned black and brown and trans women is indisputable, and that is a great failure of feminism. Equal access to education, wealth, reproductive choice and the democratic process, those are fundamental feminist issues, and statistically women of color and trans women are more likely to have that access curtailed or withheld. Kendall makes these points really well and provides personal stories which supply context and illustrate the truth of these principles. Just because mental health issues or mass incarceration of black people in the US intersect with women's power that does not make them feminist issues. We as feminists might (and IMO should) work to end the criminalization of blackness, but that does not make it part of the liturgy.
Despite my liking a great deal of this, Kendall comes to a pile of conclusions that have zero support and that harms the whole. She expands the definition of feminism so greatly it loses all meaning. Also, she rejects personal responsibility at every turn. One example, if poor people were given access to quality, healthy, affordable food we need to accept they might not find it palatable and therefore it is fine they don't eat it. You think anyone prefers kale to mashed potatoes? And how is that even something to be addressed by feminism?
Lots of good stuff here and it is great to hear from someone who has been a single parent, has lived in public housing, has received SNAP. If all of this had not been set forth as feminist theory, had instead been identified as cultural commentary through a feminist lens, it might have been a 4 star. It is worth the read, but solid scholarship, and a more defined and sensible big picture were missing for this reader.
When feminism is stuffed full with issues outside of eliminating gender bias and curing the damage of past and present gender bias it loses focus and loses power. That feminism has abandoned black and brown and trans women is indisputable, and that is a great failure of feminism. Equal access to education, wealth, reproductive choice and the democratic process, those are fundamental feminist issues, and statistically women of color and trans women are more likely to have that access curtailed or withheld. Kendall makes these points really well and provides personal stories which supply context and illustrate the truth of these principles. Just because mental health issues or mass incarceration of black people in the US intersect with women's power that does not make them feminist issues. We as feminists might (and IMO should) work to end the criminalization of blackness, but that does not make it part of the liturgy.
Despite my liking a great deal of this, Kendall comes to a pile of conclusions that have zero support and that harms the whole. She expands the definition of feminism so greatly it loses all meaning. Also, she rejects personal responsibility at every turn. One example, if poor people were given access to quality, healthy, affordable food we need to accept they might not find it palatable and therefore it is fine they don't eat it. You think anyone prefers kale to mashed potatoes? And how is that even something to be addressed by feminism?
Lots of good stuff here and it is great to hear from someone who has been a single parent, has lived in public housing, has received SNAP. If all of this had not been set forth as feminist theory, had instead been identified as cultural commentary through a feminist lens, it might have been a 4 star. It is worth the read, but solid scholarship, and a more defined and sensible big picture were missing for this reader.
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