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

Short Answer Questions

1. What question does the author raise about the desire for equality with men?

2. In the Preface (2000), what examples does the author give of the problematic status of women in contemporary society?

3. What belief about men did early feminists act out, according to the author.

4. Were there ever alternate reactions to black women's efforts to participate in the early feminist movement, and if so what were they?

5. How does the author characterize the aims of the feminist movement in relationship to other movements?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the author's central criticism of feminist theory in Chapter One, "Black Women - Shaping Feminist Theory."

3. Describe the kind of power that the author sees in communities of economically disadvantaged women.

4. Is the author clear about her position on women who define feminism as seeking equality with men?

5. Does the author offer any ideas about how to create sisterhood?

6. Is true sisterhood, i.e. solidarity in the struggle to achieve feminist goals, supported by society, according to the author?

7. What can alternative models of power accomplish, according to the author?

8. In the author's view, are feminists ambivalent about power?

9. Does the author encourage a particular attitude towards manifesting change?

10. The title of Chapter Seven, "Rethinking the Nature of Work," suggests that ideas about work must change; what changes does the author propose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Essay on Ch. 11: Sexual liberation.

Sexual liberation comes across as problematic in Ch. 11.

1) Why is the (male-defined) idea of sexual liberation problematic for the author?

2) Does it seem like our contemporary society promotes sexual liberation? Give examples of why or why not.

3) In your opinion, does the author's promotion of freedom from conforming to one model, and tolerance towards all sexualities, go far enough in addressing, or redefining the male-defined models of sexual liberation?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Essay on Ch. 2 and 10: Ideas about the family.

Looking at Ch. 2 and Ch. 10 compare and contrast early and/or mainstream feminist ideas about the family with those of less privileged women.

- Did women of color and lower class women agree with mainstream feminist views on the family? What was their reaction?

- How does the author describe the relationship to family experience by many women of color, especially in relation to the broader society in which they live?

(see the answer keys)

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