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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 can happen to women in light of the social views about their gender?

2. As stated in the 1984 Preface, what is the primary weakness of feminist theory that the author promises to address in her book?

3. In the author's view, is it valid to define feminism in terms of creating a sense of community?

4. Overall, what does the author think about the effects of the feminist movement?

5. When and where did the author enroll in her first women's studies class?

Short Essay Questions

1. Overall, what do Chapters Two and Three develop for the reader with regard to feminism?

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

3. Does the author still believe in her work?

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

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. Describe the author's discussion of early feminist attitudes towards men.

7. How does war relate to the authors discussion of violence and women?

8. Are sexual liberty and "ending sexual oppression" the same thing for the author?

9. In the Preface to the First Edition (1984), what reasons does the author give for people finding themselves on the margins of society?

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

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. 2, 3, and 10: Parenting.

Compare the author's discussion of the family in Ch. 2 and 3 with her discussion on revolutionary parenting in Ch. 10.

1) What is the author's thesis?

2) How can the family as a unit reproduce patriarchal ideas? E.g., how does sexism affect the family structure?

3) What role does feminism play in redefining family?

4) How can the idea of the family be reformulated so as to transform traditional models and ideas about motherhood?

Essay Topic 3

Essay on Ch. 8: Women and education.

Provide an overview of the author's discussion of the role of literacy in relationship to feminism. Analyze her recommendation that women of color should seek to further their education and intellectual development in order to participate more in feminist theory and the feminist movement.

1) The author promotes literacy as a solution to the problem of many women-especially women of color- being excluded from the feminist movement. How does promoting literacy address the problem of exclusion? What other things does literacy accomplish (e.g. furthering feminism's goals, dispelling stereotypes, etc.).

2) Does promoting literacy address the problem of feminist writing being too academic and intellectual, and therefore inaccessible? What is the author's recommendation for dealing with this problem? Is this a realistic solution in your view?

3) Are there other solutions that the author does not suggest? For example, are there ways to dispel stereotypes, promote feminist goals, and educate women about feminist issues that do not include promoting higher educating and intellectual development. In your view, how can women who do not wish to become intellectuals participate in the feminist movement?

(see the answer keys)

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