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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 to the second edition, where does the author maintain that a feminist path will lead us?

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

3. What change to the language expressing involvement in feminism does the author advocate?

4. How does the author propose to prioritize the struggles against various forms of prejudice?

5. In the Preface to the second edition (2000), how does the author describe the original reception of her book?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In the author's view, is idealism enough to enact needed changes?

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

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

5. Does the author see feminism as aligned with other struggles, and if so why?

6. In Chapter Eight, "Educating Women - A Feminist Agenda," what does the author encourage black women to do regarding education and academic work?

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

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

9. Do early feminists beliefs about violence support traditional patriarchal concepts of gender?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Essay on Ch. 12: The process of feminist-oriented change.

The final chapter of the book looks at the process of feminist-oriented change and what is required to enact that change. This essay will provide an overview of the author's critiques and her prescriptions for revolutionary feminist change.

1) Discuss the author's analysis of early feminist approaches to creating change. In what way do these approaches fall short?

2) Discuss the author's recommendation for enacting change: What kind of social analysis does the author call for? What kind of action does she call for?

3) Discuss the author's view of the process of change: What attitude is called for? Why is the process of change difficult for Americans in particular?

4) Do you believe that the change the author calls for is possible?

Essay Topic 2

Essay on Ch. 9: Violence and the media.

Fighting violence against women has been one of the mainstays of the feminist movement since it's inception. One of the forms this has taken more recently, has been to address the problem through looking at media images that display violence against women.

1) The author claims that men and women are desensitized to violence. What are the repercussions of this phenomenon and how does she explain it?

2) In what ways does the media make violence against women seem normal? for example, by makig it sexually appealing, or associating it with love, etc.

3) Discuss several examples from film and other media, such as fashion magazines or video games, in which you have noticed images of violence against women. Analyze your examples.

4) Have you seen signs in the media that violence against women is discouraged? Discuss your examples.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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