Home / Quotes / Quote by Barbara Smith

Quote by Barbara Smith

“Feminism is the political theory and practice that struggles to free all women: women of color, working-class women, poor women, disabled women, lesbians, old women—as well as white, economically privileged, heterosexual women. Anything less than this vision of total freedom is not feminism, but merely female self-aggrandizement.”

Quote by Barbara Smith

Book:The Truth That Never Hurts 25th anniversary edition: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom

Work

The Truth That Never Hurts 25th anniversary edition: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

According to limited available information, Barbara Smith (December 16, 1946 - September 13, 2010) was an American author known for her contributions to African American literature and feminist criticism. She held significant influence in the field of literary criticism. more

You May Also Like

“Dans cette vie, la moitié de tout ce qui se passe a été créée par des femmes.”

Book:Entrer en pédagogie féministe

Source: Entrer en pédagogie féministe

“I think it's true that at least one of the reasons for the rise in sex crimes is the increase in stimulation — and that includes fashion, pornography, advertising, films, TV, the lot.' 'And who determines women's fashions?' 'Mostly men, I should imagine.' 'That's right. You dress us the way you want us, you create us in the image you desire, and then you have the gall to accuse us of asking for it.”

Book:Gallows View

Source: Gallows View

“Clinton personified the deepening disconnect between elite women’s ascension to high office and improvements in the lives of the vast majority.”

Political Feminism Clinton Disparity Of Wealth

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“The mainstream media continues to equate feminism, as such, with liberal feminism. But far from providing the solution, liberal feminism is part of the problem. Centered in the global North among the professional-managerial stratum, it is focused on “leaning-in” and “cracking the glass ceiling.” Dedicated to enabling a smattering of privileged women to climb the corporate ladder and the ranks of the military, it propounds a market-centered view of equality that dovetails perfectly with the prevailing corporate enthusiasm for “diversity.” Although it condemns “discrimination” and advocates “freedom of choice,” liberal feminism steadfastly refuses to address the socioeconomic constraints that make freedom and empowerment impossible for the large majority of women. Its real aim is not equality, but meritocracy. Rather than seeking to abolish social hierarchy, it aims to “diversify” it, “empowering” “talented” women to rise to the top. In treating women simply as an “underrepresented group,” its proponents seek to ensure that a few privileged souls can attain positions and pay on a par with the men of their own class.”

Political Feminism Media Solidarity Neoliberalism Mainstream Media Intersectionality Media Manipulation

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“By definition, the principal beneficiaries are those who already possess considerable social, cultural, and economic advantages. Everyone else remains stuck in the basement.”

Political Feminism Disparity Neoliberalism Intersectionality Income Inequality

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“Fully compatible with ballooning inequality, liberal feminism outsources oppression. It permits professional-managerial women to lean in precisely by enabling them to lean on the poorly paid migrant women to whom they subcontract their caregiving and housework.”

Political Feminism Labour Disparity Neoliberalism Intersectionality Income Inequality Global South Lean In

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“Happiness isn't always easy," he'd said. "But it's a priority.”

Happiness Band Ya Priority

Book:Kill the Boy Band

Source: Kill the Boy Band

“Its love affair with individual advancement equally permeates the world of social-media celebrity, which also confuses feminism with the ascent of individual women. In that world, “feminism” risks becoming a trending hashtag and a vehicle of self-promotion, deployed less to liberate the many than to elevate the few.”

Political Feminism Media Social Media Celebrity Neoliberalism Intersectionality Influencers Lean In

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“feminism for the 99 percent seeks profound, far-reaching social transformation. That, in a nutshell, is why it cannot be a separatist movement. We propose, rather, to join with every movement that fights for the 99 percent”

Political Feminism Crisis Neoliberalism Intersectionality Intersectional Feminism

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

“What we are living through is a crisis of society as a whole—and its root cause is capitalism.”

Political Feminism Capitalism Crisis Neoliberalism Intersectionality

Book:Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto

Source: Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto