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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 assertion does the author make (once again) about who benefits from the current feminist movement?

2. For the author, what perspective really changed the direction of feminist thought?

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

4. What does the author say about the statement: "I am a feminist"?

5. For the author, what is the relationship between traditional beliefs about the family and society at large?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Is there a note of caution in the author's tone regarding the extent to which the system of power has actually changed? Where?

3. How does the author discuss feminists views on housework?

4. Describe the particular perspective that the author offers throughout her work. What position does she claim to write from and why?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Essay on Ch. 2: Definition of feminism.

In Ch. 2, the author advocates ending sexist oppression as a better definition of feminism.

1) How does the author define sexist oppression and how does ending sexist oppression differ from previous definitions?

2) What social institutions (e.g. the family) will potentially be changed by this new definition of feminism?

3) Does the author advocate a more comprehensive approach to fighting all forms oppression in general? How?

Essay Topic 2

Essay on Ch. 3: Struggle against oppression.

In Ch. 3 the author argues against prioritizing struggles against different forms of prejudice and oppression.

1) Present some of the arguments by other writers that the author engages with and refutes regarding the prioritization of one struggle over another. What holes does she find in their logic?

2) Next, outline the authors ideas on this subject, paying attention to specific connections she makes in the text. How does the author link all these struggles together?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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