Academic Reading and Writing

Final Paper

1. We Should all be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2. Talking Back (Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black) by Bell Hooks
3. Gender Representation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in ‘We Should all be Feminists’
by Feny Anggeria
4. We Should All Be Feminists Connection Paper by Citlaly Torres
 ‘The topic of feminists and feminism is something that has become more prevalent in our culture in recent
years.’ Feminism is frequently associated with the fight for women's equality, but it is equally linked to the
fight for human equality for all genders. 'We Should All Be Feminists,' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is a
pocket-sized book that acts as a non-academic justification of feminism. Adichie speaks from the
perspective of a modern Nigerian woman residing in the United States. Bell Hooks' article 'Talking Back:
Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black' examines the Black feminist movement and how it navigates race, class,
and gender via a series of writings based on her own personal experiences. Bell hooks by focusing on the
main theme of the text, 'talking back', combined personal experience with theory and analysis to put
emphases on the significance of not staying silent in the face of oppression. The patriarchal culture found in
most nations is a kind of inequality that favors males over women. Both Adichie and Hooks demonstrate
how women face significant sexism and racism in their workplace and in everyday life.
Hooks gives an outline of feminist awareness and provides an interesting study of the issue. The author
gives a thorough explanation of this notion. She also discusses ways to overcome white and male
supremacy, as well as self-recovery. Intimate connections are also discussed extensively in the book. The
book is made up of a collection of pieces in which the author expresses her thoughts regarding being black
and the notion of feminism in the United States. Hooks recounts her own experiences in an engaging
manner. She discusses her upbringing in a Southern culture dominated by masculine supremacy. Adichie in
her text ‘We should all be feminists’, sheds light on the problem of gender biasness. Adichie's goal is to
transform people's perceptions of one another. To demonstrate how revolting it is to live in a world where
this still occurs. “Gender does matter, and we should all be free to be ourselves”. (Adiche, 2014) She
attempts to dispel misunderstandings and preconceptions around the notion of feminism.
The main theme explored in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books is feminism and how this word is weighed
down with negative interpretations. To quote the author here, “Feminism is, of course, part of human rights
in general – but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular
problem of gender”. (Adiche, 2014) In choosing examples like the socialization of girls and boys into their
respective gender roles, and the ways in which women in managerial positions are read as aggressive for the
same behaviors that garner a male manager praise as assertive, Adichie takes on gender oppression while
keeping the tone respectively light. There are moments of humor and self-reflexivity throughout: Adichie
recalls how she began to identify as a “Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men” as a means of
anticipating the stereotypes she encountered as a self-identified feminist. (Adiche, 2014)
Bell Hook’s article ‘Talking Back: Thinking Black, Thinking Feminist’ is more of an autograph book. She
goes into great depth about some of the situations she has had in her own life. Hooks is able to weave
together her own personal experiences with current events in society. She emphasizes on the
interconnectedness of race, class, and gender, as well as their propensity to promote and propagate
oppression and dominance, in this work. Hooks gives a thorough definition and explanation of oppression
and dominance. She also recommends methods for ending or avoiding these vices. "It is vital for us to
remember that when we think about dominance, we'll all have the power to act in ways that oppress,
dominate, and harm," Hooks says in one passage. (Hooks, 1989) This remark clearly demonstrates that
humans are subject to oppression and dominance. This is why, according to Hooks, overcoming tyranny
begins with resisting the oppressor inside. It is also vital to save the potential oppressed individual. She
believes so. This is the only way to liberate ourselves from oppression.
Adichie used ethos when expressing how being a feminist causes her to despise African culture, pathos
when recounting personal tales, and logos when arguing that gender norms should be abolished. Adichie
 employs these rhetorical tactics to demonstrate how the audience might change their attitudes toward one
another. Because she is a feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recounts how Nigerians see her as someone
who despises males and African culture. These ideas stem from a stereotyped definition of feminism. When
Adichie walked inside a hotel, she claims that she was not treated similarly. She was thought of as a sex
worker as she entered alone. Adichie investigates how gender roles and gender norms in Africa and beyond
are harmful not only to women but also to men — everyone suffers when each gender's position in society is
limited. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie likewise used pathos to urge her readers to reconsider their positions
on gender equality. She goes on to say that when it comes to women accomplishing things, guys are equally
sexist. Adichie said, 'We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls that
you can be ambitious...’. (Adiche, 2014) Both writers work emphasizes how tough it was for African women
to carve out a niche for themselves. Hooks had a tremendous need to communicate or have her own voice.
She chose writing as a means of expressing herself. The speech she employs to explain the episodes is short,
straightforward, and aimed to a broad audience, particularly women in the black community who can
connect. Hook used metaphorical terminology on several occasions, such as when she refers to the day her
sisters read her personal journal by saying, "hanging like newly clean laundry, out in the air for everyone to
see." Hooks (1989). Hooks also discusses the psychological and emotional toll that these occurrences had on
her. Her lack of self-esteem, even after so many years, had a significant influence, making her doubt herself
as a writer. This demonstrates how damaging patriarchal culture can be. Hooks has used her personal
experiences, thought process, and loophole in African society to say that if she had been born a boy, she
would have received all the support she needed to speak up and believe in herself, whereas it was difficult to
be born as a girl in African society, "There was no "calling" for talking girls, no legitimized rewarded
speech," she says later in her essay. Growing up in such an atmosphere puts the girls in a position where
 they lack the courage to speak out for themselves, let alone in an academic situation. Hook took the bold
step of sharing her reality, as well as the traps that women frequently fall into in order to keep the male-
dominated workplace in place. Some women, for example, rely on their husbands to offer financial security
while they are at home. Although this is no longer the case as more women enter the employment, the
societal perception of women as housewives persists.
Both Adichie and hooks are black feminists who attempt to write non-academic primers on feminism in
order to make feminism accessible to non-academic readers; both begin with the premise that feminism is
widely misunderstood and negatively stereotyped; both do not formally cite sources other than themselves;
both speak in terms of what hooks calls "Visionary Feminism," in which readers are encouraged to imagine
a world that is more equitable and joyful for a Adichie confronts individuals who argue that feminism is no
longer necessary in today's world. She selects examples that will appeal to a broad audience; the
conversational tone and plain language are appropriate for an audience that isn't used to thinking critically
about gender. Lauren Fornier supports this in her review of Adichie’s book by saying, “She chooses
examples that resonate with a wide readership; the informal tone and straightforward language suits
an audience that might not be accustomed to thinking critically about gender.” (Forneir, 2015) This is
in contrast to Bell Hook's writing style, which begins by exposing us to the culture of the black community
and repeatedly references to her heritage. Hook's story appears rebellious at first, but not aggressive. When
Hooks talks about her highs, like discovering her voice in a sea of stillness, she also talks about her lows.
One time, her privacy was compromised when her sisters read her journal, in which she aired her
frustrations. “When my sisters found and read them, they ridiculed and mocked me – poking fun. I felt
violated, ashamed, as if the secret parts of myself had been exposed.”, she says. (Hooks, 1989)
 The topics mentioned in both articles are similar. Both make references to their own cultures. Adichie
emphasizes how prevalent it is to provide unsolicited advice, especially if you are a woman. Society will tell
you how to spend your life and expect you to follow those instructions. This is due to society's division of
gender roles and behavior. "They were meant to quiet me – the child – and especially the girl child," Hooks
says of her black society's role in child rearing. (Hooks, 1989) Adichie echoes this sentiment, writing,
"Anger, the tone implied, is particularly bad for a woman." (Adiche, 2014) Subtlety, silence, and politeness
are all required of women. Adichie addresses the unequal treatment of males, as well as the expectations and
burdens placed on them, at the close of the book. Her work takes on a more balanced tone as a result of this.
Hooks, on the other hand, was centered on a single gender and concentrated on her particular path. She
compares her youth to 1989, when there were more black female writers. Hooks' tone became more upbeat
as the story progressed. The act of "Talking back" is empowering and freeing for Hooks. On the issue of
stereotypes, the two articles also cross paths. Despite the fact that the works were published years apart, they
both addressed the stereotype of women who belong in the kitchen that still prevails today.
The tone of frustration and disappointment is very evident in both the author’s text. The concept of
feminism, with its negative connotations and stereotyped understandings is still alive in today’s world.
Women are still expected to not be treated equally, both corporately and at home. The challenges raised in
this regard are not only exclusive to black culture, but they are rather universal. We've been made to believe
that males are superior to women and that women are inferior and obedient. We, as readers, feel optimistic
towards change. Until a few years ago, talking about harassment, rape etc., was considered to be not normal.
‘The topic of feminists and feminism is something that has become more prevalent in our culture in
recent years. With women like Malala making a change and celebrities who are using their platform
to contribute to the movement, awareness is being spread and people are being educated. It is now
easier than ever to reach larger audiences with the technology present today. The “Me Too”
movement began with a tweet and is now recognized worldwide.’ (Citlaly, 2019)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. (2014) We Should All Be Feminists. Purple Hibiscus
2. Hooks, Bell. (1989) Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black. Boston: South End Press.
3. Fornier, Lauren. (2015) We Should All Be Feminist Review. New York: Anchor Books
4. Torres, Citlaly, "We Should All Be Feminists Connection Paper" (2019). Fall 2019. 8.