--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the dominator model the pursuit of…" description: "\"“In the dominator model the pursuit of external power, the ability to manipulate and control others, is what matters most. When culture is based on a d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/bell-hooks-464_power_in-the-dominator-model-the-pursuit-of-ex_359336.jpg" --- # In the dominator model the pursuit of external power, the… ![“In the dominator model the pursuit of external power, the ability to manipulate and control others, is what matters most. When culture is based on a dominator model, not only will it be violent but it will frame all relationships as power struggles.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/bell-hooks-464_power_in-the-dominator-model-the-pursuit-of-ex_359336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/bell-hooks-464_power_in-the-dominator-model-the-pursuit-of-ex_359336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/bell-hooks-464_power_in-the-dominator-model-the-pursuit-of-ex_359336.jpg) > ““In the dominator model the pursuit of external power, the ability to manipulate and control others, is what matters most. When culture is based on a dominator model, not only will it be violent but it will frame all relationships as power struggles.”” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dominator culture prioritizes power over people, making relationships violent and competitive. **In simple terms:** Power‑hungry societies create conflict. Key Takeaway Seek collaborative, caring relationships. Themes power violence culture relationships social justice Mood critical hopeful Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - education reform - family interactions - policy making - community organizing Key Concepts dominator vs. partnership models ethical frameworks human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster partnership models? - What steps reduce power struggles in daily life? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated power structures is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Dominator culture teaches all of us that the core of our identity is defined by the will to dominate and control others. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/dominator-culture-teaches-all-of-us-that-the-core-of-our-identity-is/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [When you're in a broken family and your role model is a violent male, boys grow up believing that's the way they're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/when-you-re-in-a-broken-family-and-your-role-model-is-a-violent-male/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I'm proud to say you are not a racist or a bigot or anything like that if you say that the Netherlands, as Australia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/i-m-proud-to-say-you-are-not-a-racist-or-a-bigot-or-anything-like/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [Today's culture is based on selling us a lifestyle that does not exist. It is selling us values that are worth nothing. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-baxendale/today-s-culture-is-based-on-selling-us-a-lifestyle-that-does-not/) [Helen Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-baxendale/) > [We now have a whole culture based on the assumption that people know nothing and so anything can be said to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vizinczey/we-now-have-a-whole-culture-based-on-the-assumption-that-people-know/) [Stephen Vizinczey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vizinczey/) > [That's what culture is based on, the passing down of a certain narrative by imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/that-s-what-culture-is-based-on-the-passing-down-of-a-certain/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [The theory of cultural bias... is the idea that a culture is based on a particular form of organization. It can't be transplanted except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-douglas/the-theory-of-cultural-bias-is-the-idea-that-a-culture-is-based-on-a/) [Mary Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-douglas/) > [Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself- to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What are the relationships between power and knowledge? There are two bad, short answers: 1. Knowledge provides an instrument that those in power can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/what-are-the-relationships-between-power-and-knowledge-there-are-two/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [“Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to hold power over another is to choose to limit oneself—to serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-paul-young/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to-2/) [William Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-paul-young/) > [“Successful long term relationships are all about power levels. A high power level male will attract and succeed with a high level power female.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-black/successful-long-term-relationships-are-all-about-power-levels-a-high/) [Robert Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-black/) > [“Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to hold power over another is to choose to limit oneself -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wm-paul-young/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to-4/) [Wm. Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wm-paul-young/) > [Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to hold power over another is to chose to limit to onself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [There are people who have comfortable relationships with power and people with natural antagonism to power. I think it's easy to guess where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/there-are-people-who-have-comfortable-relationships-with-power-and/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) ## More by bell hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Power quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) [Browse all 17,893 Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the dominator model the pursuit of external power, the ability to manipulate and control others, is what matters most. 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