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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. At the end of the Preface (2000), what does the author say regarding "patriarchal mass media" and feminism?

2. In Chapter 3, "The Significance of Feminist Movement," the author discusses which of the following themes?

3. What potential effect can feminism have on the family, in the author's view?

4. In the Preface to the second edition (2000), how does the author characterize the later reception of her work?

5. What are some of the biggest challenges to sisterhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unique about black women's perspectives?

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

3. Compare the Preface to the second edition with Ch. 12: What similarities do you see regarding the author's vision for the future of the feminist movement? List two to three examples.

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

5. Which two kinds of power does the author discuss in Chapter Six, "Changing Perspectives on Power"?

6. How are traditional patriarchal concepts of gender related to violence against women?

7. In chapter Nine, "Feminist Movement to End Violence," how does the author describe the patriarchal perspective on gender.

8. From the author's perspective, is theory related to experience in her discussion in Chapter One?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Essay on Ch. 7: Women and work.

From the beginning of the feminist movement, work has been an important issue in feminism. In this paper you will discuss early feminist views of work, as well as the idea of a gendered division of labor (e.g. housework as women's work, and therefore as devalued).

1) Describe traditional beliefs about work and gender. What kind of work was seen as men's work and what kind of work was seen as women's work? Do we still see these ideas reflected in contemporary society?

2) Quoting the text, discuss early feminist views of housework and of work outside the home. Does the rejection of housework by women reflect society's devaluation of so-called "women's work."

3) What is the author's critique of this early view, e.g. how is the early feminist idealization of work outside the home connected to traditional beliefs about success?

4) How can changing attitudes about work in and outside of the home assist in addressing the imbalances perpetuated by traditional, gender-biased beliefs?

Essay Topic 2

Essay on Ch. 9: Women and war.

In Ch. 9 the author discusses the nature of violence against women and the phenomenon of violence in general. She uses war as an example of how women, too, demonstrate a capacity for violence. In your essay, think about the connection between traditional beliefs about gender and the author's analysis of women and war. Use quotations by the author to support your argument where necessary.

1) Discuss the author's position on how war is an example of women's capacity for violence.

- How do women support war?

- Does women's support for war, and their encouragement of male family members to go to war, seem to come from and reinforce traditional beliefs about men's and women's natures (e.g. aggressive, nurturing, etc.), whether innate or culturally learned?

2) Is condoning war the same as condoning violence? What can you gather about the author's views on war? Following the author's thinking, is war an example of using violence as a form of social control?

3) Does encouraging women (and gay men) to participate in the military and in war promote social equality?

4) If violence is a manifestation of hierarchy and power, what do women have to gain or lose from participating in war?

Essay Topic 3

Essay on Ch. 6: Consumerism.

Analyze how resisting consumerism is, in the author's view, a positive manifestation of women's alternative uses of power. Please include quotations from the book to support your argument.

1) Begin by defining consumerism.

2) What kind of system does consumerism support, according to the author?

3) How does the author advise women to deal with consumerism? What strategies of resistance can they use?

4) Following the author's analysis, how is resisting consumerism a positive manifestation of women's alternative use of power?

5) Do you feel that consumerism distracts us from more important things? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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