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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. The phrase "suffering cannot be measured and compared quantitatively" comes from which of the following authors?

2. What did she notice about white female students at the time?

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

4. For the author, which two main terms had been left out of feminist discussions when she first published her book?

5. "The problem that has no name" is a quotation by which author?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the experience of many non-white and lower class women working outside the home?

2. In Chapter Eleven, why does the author disagree with early feminist concepts of sexual liberty?

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

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

5. Describe the author's views of how modern western cultures deal with the process of change.

6. Who harbors sexist attitudes and what can be done about it?

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

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

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

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. 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 2

Essay on Ch. 4: Sisterhood.

The concept of sisterhood is discussed at length in Ch. 4. In this assignment you will explore the complexity of the term based on your reading.

1) Is sisterhood something that exists automatically between women based on their gender? Why or why not.

2) When and how is sisterhood challenged?

3) Why does the author choose to base sisterhood on solidarity in the face of all forms of oppression, and in your opinion does this definition work?

Essay Topic 3

Essay on Ch. 5: Men and feminism.

In Ch. 5, the author looks at the relationship between men and the feminist movement.

1) Describe and discuss early feminist views of men as "the enemy."

2) What is the author's critique of this early view? How do race and class figure into her argument?

3) The author also makes the potentially controversial statement that "all men support and perpetuate sexism and sexist oppression in one form or another...."

What does she mean by this statement? Do you think that it is in conflict with her call to see men as comrades in the feminist struggle? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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