The author names a number of discourse communities in the chapter. Marginalized groups in society like Negros, Homosexuals, and White women who have historically found it very difficult to have their voices heard are just a few of the communities the author names. Being unable to speak up made them some of the most marginalized groups in society. However, the author claims that these demographic groups are very covert in how they communicate their opinions. For example, the opinions of the members of these discourse communities when expressed in academic writings are accepted by the community much more openly than when in the channels where their identities can be easily known to the outside world.
According to the author, the opinions of these sections of the population should not be taken for what is generally believed and perceived by others. Rather, the author encourages the reader to have a very expansive perspective on the theorizing process in order to truly understand the hidden feelings and ideas of these often neglected discourse communities (Hooks 63).
Question 2a
The main idea of the author in this book is that many people find it difficult to express their ideas freely in this world due to a number of factors. Some of the sections of the population like children, black woman, and homosexuals are constantly restricted by the limitations of the society. These sections of the population resort to theorizing as a way of escaping from the trauma they are suffering. Children often resort to theorizing since they were not trained to accept the regular social practices surrounding them. Similarly, other sections of the society like homosexuals and Negroes too utilize avenues like academic research as a way of escaping from the routine.
According to the author, theorizing is one of the best liberatory practices which can help people to escape from the world surrounding them.
Question 2b
The first area where I totally agree with the author is right in the first page where the author says that she came to theory when she was very young. I agree with her view that theorizing is resorted by children. I found evidence to this from my own personal experience in my childhood.
I also agree with the author when she says that many individuals in the United States have feminist thinking to educate themselves (Hooks 70). I totally agree with the author, since feminism was the dominant theory that has dominated the social and political discourse during the past century. Many great writers and thinkers have used feminism to educate themselves.
Question 3
In the text, the author cleverly utilizes other sources in order to bring more clarity to the ideas she is dealing in the chapter. One place where the author utilizes an external source is right in the first page of the chapter (Hooks 59). Here he takes a paragraph from the book ‘The Significance of Theory’ by Terry Eagleton. By cleverly using this source, the author makes a point that one of the section of population that resort to theorizing is children due to the unique situation they find themselves in from a very young age. The use of this source is good as it introduces the topic in a very easy manner to the reader.
The second instance where the author utilizes other external sources in order to make a point is when she refers the essay by Patricia Williams “On Being the Object of Property” (Hooks 74). Here also, the author borrows a poetic expression made by the author in order to make the readers understand the importance of pain suffered by other individuals.
Works Cited
Hooks, Bell. Teaching to Trangress. London: Routledge, 1994. Print.
