--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most American women, particularly white…" description: "\"“Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the racism, sexism, and class elitism they ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg" --- # Most American women, particularly white women, have not… ![“Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the racism, sexism, and class elitism they hold towards less powerful groups of women in this society or the masses of women globally.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg) > ““Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the racism, sexism, and class elitism they hold towards less powerful groups of women in this society or the masses of women globally.”” [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. Women must decolonize their mindset to dismantle intersecting oppressions. **In simple terms:** Unlearn oppression. Key Takeaway Critically examine personal biases. Themes intersectionality decolonization gender Mood critical challenging Type academic activist When to use this quote - education - policy reform - personal reflection Key Concepts feminist theory social justice Questions to Reflect On - What biases do you hold? - How can you foster inclusive thinking? A Different Perspective Change can be uncomfortable and resisted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Decolonized Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decolonized-thinking-3282744/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Neocolonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neocolonialism-130109/) [White women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-women/) [Women Decolonized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-decolonized-3282743/) [Women Globally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-globally-1582611/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of African American women wanted to emulate white women. But I said in my mind, rationally thinking, there is no way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/a-lot-of-african-american-women-wanted-to-emulate-white-women-but-i/) [Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/) > [We cannot educate white women and take them by the hand. Most of us are willing to help but we can't do the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/we-cannot-educate-white-women-and-take-them-by-the-hand-most-of-us/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [As long as imperialism exists it will, by definition, exert its domination over other countries. Today that domination is called neocolonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/as-long-as-imperialism-exists-it-will-by-definition-exert-its/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [“remembering how the United States and Europe have protected their investments by supporting rapacious African dictators like Mobutu, we must speak of neocolonialism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/remembering-how-the-united-states-and-europe-have-protected-their/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [“The whiteness celebrated in Paris is Burning is not just any old brand of whiteness but rather that brutal imperial ruling-class capitalist patriarchal whiteness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-whiteness-celebrated-in-paris-is-burning-is-not-just-any-old/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The formal granting of independence created a more Manichean system of dependency and exploitation, since for those who practice it, it means power without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame/the-formal-granting-of-independence-created-a-more-manichean-system/) [Kwame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame/) > [Boosting STEM education opportunities for young women globally is one critical way that the U.S. can promote women's equality, as well as economic development,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/boosting-stem-education-opportunities-for-young-women-globally-is-one/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [Unfortunately, violence against women is not the only injustice women face globally; it is one of the many inequalities that impede the full development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/unfortunately-violence-against-women-is-not-the-only-injustice-women/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I worry about women globally. When we talk about having a presidential candidate who would tear up the Paris accords, who doesn't believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-worry-about-women-globally-when-we-talk-about-having-a-presidential/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [I think we're in a really interesting moment for women globally just in terms of, like, historically, I think we're in an interesting moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-banks/i-think-we-re-in-a-really-interesting-moment-for-women-globally-just/) [Elizabeth Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-banks/) > [The Platform for Action gives due emphasis to the fact that women globally have continued to have insufficient access to the resources necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-shipley/the-platform-for-action-gives-due-emphasis-to-the-fact-that-women/) [Jenny Shipley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-shipley/) > [And this exclusion of "women's work" continues, despite United Nations data gathered since 1975 (the beginning of the UN Decade for Women) indicating that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riane-eisler/and-this-exclusion-of-women-s-work-continues-despite-united-nations/) [Riane Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riane-eisler/) > [See what's happening to our sisters around the world. I'm very interested in the protection of women globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/see-what-s-happening-to-our-sisters-around-the-world-i-m-very/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [How do women still go out guys, when you consider that there is no greater threat to women than men? We're the number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/how-do-women-still-go-out-guys-when-you-consider-that-there-is-no/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [President Obama has called for economic and political empowerment of women globally. The Equal Futures Partnership promotes removal of policy, legal, and regulatory barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lael-brainard/president-obama-has-called-for-economic-and-political-empowerment-of/) [Lael Brainard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lael-brainard/) ## 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 American women quotes > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/the-great-thing-about-american-women-is-their-energy-and-the-way-they/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“She was bold, and yet she was reserved. She was sensual and girlish, but she was never coy. So I think that what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fees/she-was-bold-and-yet-she-was-reserved-she-was-sensual-and-girlish-but/) [Paul Fees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fees/) > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [“Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/americans-consume-more-cow-s-milk-and-its-products-per-person-than/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things and make up songs and be--' The Will I fell in love with, she almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-want-you-to-say-dreadfully-mad-funny-things-and-make-up-songs-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) [Fannie Barrier Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-barrier-williams/) > [Newsweek recently asked American women which women they admire the most, and the answer varied, actually, depending on which political party you were from...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/newsweek-recently-asked-american-women-which-women-they-admire-the/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-am-an-african-american-woman-of-dark-skin-tone-and-there-are-very/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [If our American women are going to work to put food on the table and pay for the mortgage, then we better make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/if-our-american-women-are-going-to-work-to-put-food-on-the-table-and/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/an-estimated-2-million-american-women-will-be-diagnosed-with-breast/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) [Browse all 221 American women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the racism, sexism, and class elitism they hold towards less powerful groups of women in this society or the masses of women globally.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "bell hooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-american-women-particularly-white-women-have-not-decolonized/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American women" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-american-women-particularly-white-women-have-not-decolonized/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d69/bell-hooks-464_american-women_most-american-women-particularly-white-w_2777030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most American women, particularly white women, have not decolonized their thinking either in relation to the…” — bell hooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "bell hooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Most American women, particularly white women,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-american-women-particularly-white-women-have-not-decolonized/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-american-women-particularly-white-women-have-not-decolonized/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```