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A review by calarco
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
5.0
Sometimes memories from my teens resurface of when people would ask me if I was a “feminist” and I would scoff and respond, “No, I’m a humanist!” with the dismissive petulance only a teenager is capable of. I generally cringe at these recollections, but I do now offer my past-self some slack in that I really did not see myself, my family, or my values reflected in a movement that at the time (early-2000s) was not yet fully rooted in the intersectional inclusivity that it is today. I really wish Mikki Kendall’s [b:Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot|36687229|Hood Feminism Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot|Mikki Kendall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1577489813l/36687229._SY75_.jpg|58481445] was available back then, but boy am I happy it exists now. What a great read!
Mikki Kendall does not forget where she comes from, and her feminism is inclusivity incarnate. She writes about people of color, LGBTQ folks, the poor, the disabled, abuse survivors, and the people that society wants to sweep under the rug, including sex workers. Everyone has to work for a living, and everyone is deserving of being treated like a person. It is crazy to me that this is still considered a radical sentiment to love thy neighbor (or at the very barest of minimums do not harass or murder thy neighbor just for existing), but here we are. Notably, Kendall’s writing is authentically all-encompassing in that it is rooted in her critique of respectability politics:
“Respectability politics are really about controlling group behavior with designations of appropriate or inappropriate behavior rooted in structural inequality. Gatekeepers of respectability push dominant narratives but don’t necessarily understand where their ideas of what is respectable come from, or how much of it is about mimicry and not innate value. The structure of respectability requires adherence, not autonomy, and relies on dominant norms to create a hierarchy of privilege in marginalized communities.”
I often struggle with where to stand on matters of “respectability.” On the one hand, it was the pragmatically utilized used by MLK Jr. and civil rights activists in the 60s to pass civil rights legislation. On the other hand, I have seen firsthand how it can be used to exclude transwomen from LGBTQ circles, lower income women from middle class circles, and other instances of marginalized groups looking down on even more marginalized individuals. It’s an unfortunate cycle that never seems to end. Considering today’s context, I think Kendall has officially convinced me that respectability is a tool of hegemony, and a rather insidious one in that it is enforced by self-shame.
What I loved most about this collection of essays though, is that Kendall never buys into her own hype or sense of excellence. She is successful, but rather than soaking in the myth of her own exceptionalism, she pays homage to the support network that empowered her, and points out that there are numerous other people who could do more if they had the same opportunities. She aims to be an accomplice, not just an ally. Whereas an ally says things of support, an accomplice will actually do supportive things that go beyond lip service. Overcoming adversity means nothing if you do not hold the door open for others to come in after you.
Overall, this is an amazing book. Each essay is well-written, well-argued, and offers great life insight. I absolutely recommend this read, and am looking forward to anything else Kendall writes in the future.
Mikki Kendall does not forget where she comes from, and her feminism is inclusivity incarnate. She writes about people of color, LGBTQ folks, the poor, the disabled, abuse survivors, and the people that society wants to sweep under the rug, including sex workers. Everyone has to work for a living, and everyone is deserving of being treated like a person. It is crazy to me that this is still considered a radical sentiment to love thy neighbor (or at the very barest of minimums do not harass or murder thy neighbor just for existing), but here we are. Notably, Kendall’s writing is authentically all-encompassing in that it is rooted in her critique of respectability politics:
“Respectability politics are really about controlling group behavior with designations of appropriate or inappropriate behavior rooted in structural inequality. Gatekeepers of respectability push dominant narratives but don’t necessarily understand where their ideas of what is respectable come from, or how much of it is about mimicry and not innate value. The structure of respectability requires adherence, not autonomy, and relies on dominant norms to create a hierarchy of privilege in marginalized communities.”
I often struggle with where to stand on matters of “respectability.” On the one hand, it was the pragmatically utilized used by MLK Jr. and civil rights activists in the 60s to pass civil rights legislation. On the other hand, I have seen firsthand how it can be used to exclude transwomen from LGBTQ circles, lower income women from middle class circles, and other instances of marginalized groups looking down on even more marginalized individuals. It’s an unfortunate cycle that never seems to end. Considering today’s context, I think Kendall has officially convinced me that respectability is a tool of hegemony, and a rather insidious one in that it is enforced by self-shame.
What I loved most about this collection of essays though, is that Kendall never buys into her own hype or sense of excellence. She is successful, but rather than soaking in the myth of her own exceptionalism, she pays homage to the support network that empowered her, and points out that there are numerous other people who could do more if they had the same opportunities. She aims to be an accomplice, not just an ally. Whereas an ally says things of support, an accomplice will actually do supportive things that go beyond lip service. Overcoming adversity means nothing if you do not hold the door open for others to come in after you.
Overall, this is an amazing book. Each essay is well-written, well-argued, and offers great life insight. I absolutely recommend this read, and am looking forward to anything else Kendall writes in the future.