View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the Preface to the first edition (1984), what general theme does the author present?

2. How were black women's efforts received by white feminists?

3. How does the author describe feminism in the U.S.?

4. What was the shared feeling that helped define sisterhood in the early years of the movement, according to the author?

5. What does the author say about the statement: "I am a feminist"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the author's approach to discussing feminism in Chapter Two, "Feminism - A Movement to End Sexist Oppression;" i.e. how does she structure the chapter?

2. In Chapter Three, "The Significance of the Feminist Movement" how does the author describe her understanding of feminism and the family?

3. Are there tensions around female heterosexuality within the feminist movement?

4. What differences and similarities does the author see between black men and white men?

5. In the 2000 Preface is the author's attitude towards change in the feminist movement positive or negative, and what examples does she give?

6. Does the author mention different branches of the feminist movement in Chapter Eight, and if so what kind of relationship do they have?

7. What does the author say about feminist writer Betty Friedan's book The Feminine Mystique?

8. Why is educating women a "feminist agenda," as the title to Chapter Eight suggests?

9. What reasons does the author give for people finding themselves at the center of society?

10. Does the author offer her own definition of feminism in Chapter Two, and if so, what is it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Essay on Ch. 10: Motherhood.

In Ch. 10, the author discusses views on motherhood, both feminist and traditional.

1) Describe traditional beliefs about motherhood mentioned by the author.

2) Next, describe and discuss early feminist reactions to motherhood.

3) Do early feminist beliefs and reactions concerning motherhood challenge and change, or simply reject traditional beliefs?

Essay Topic 2

Essay on the two Prefaces: Purpose and reception of author's work.

In the Prefaces to the first and second editions of Feminist Theory From Margin to Center by bell hooks, the author discusses the reasons for her work and how its reception has evolved.

1) Discuss the author's primary reasons for writing the book. Why is a perspective from the margins important? How might a person from the margins see things differently?

2) Next, discuss the book's initial reception and the possible reasons for it.

3) Has the attitude towards analyses of gender, race, and class changed within the feminist movement? Why and how?

Essay Topic 3

Essay on Ch. 1: The mainstream feminist movement.

In Ch. 1, the author goes into great detail regarding the weaknesses of the mainstream feminist movement.

1) Discuss the role of race and class in the author's critique. Why and how is mainstream feminist theory classist and racist? Provide specific examples from the text.

2) In the second part of your paper, discuss why and how less privileged women's perspectives can alter (and have altered) feminist theory.

3) What is specific to less privileged women's vision and perspectives that more privileged feminists have overlooked?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 907 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample