Book SummaryThe Will to Change, by Bell Hooks

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Will to Change

In The Will to Change, bell hooks argues that patriarchy harms men by forcing them to suppress their emotions and use violence to assert dominance. She contends that men need to reject patriarchal masculinity and embrace feminist masculinity, which emphasizes emotional awareness, self-love, and nonviolence. hooks also argues that feminist culture must address how patriarchy affects men and encourage their participation in feminist causes.

bell hooks (1952-2021) was a prominent feminist theorist, cultural critic, and author. She wrote...

The Will to Change Summary The Structures and Manifestations of a Patriarchal Society

In the following sections, we will explore the core concepts of patriarchal systems, the mechanisms and manifestations of patriarchy, and the perpetuation of patriarchal structures.

Core Concepts of Patriarchy Systems

hooks argues that patriarchy comprises a structure that values certain human traits while devaluing others. It impacts everyone, regardless of gender.

(Shortform note: In Women at the Center, anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday describes the Minangkabau of West Sumatra, Indonesia, as a matrilineal society where women’s kinship ties and mothers’ houses, not male authority, determine status and values.)

Mechanisms and Manifestations of a Society Ruled by Patriarchy's Norms

Patriarchy promotes men's dominance and control, according to hooks. It’s characterized by blind obedience, suppressing every feeling but fear, crushing will, and quashing thoughts that deviate from the leader's thinking. Patriarchal thinking shapes cultural values, and everyone is conditioned to participate in it. Most people learn patriarchal attitudes in their families of origin, often taught by mothers, and these attitudes are bolstered...

The Will to Change Summary Pathways to Healing and Feminist Masculinity

hooks asserts that feminist masculinity encourages men to engage with others and build community. This approach allows men to reconnect with themselves and others, revealing the inherent positive qualities of being male and letting everyone appreciate the glory of loving masculinity. In contrast, patriarchal masculinity causes men to feel isolated and disconnected.

Theories of Multiple Masculinities

hooks’s distinction between feminist and patriarchal masculinity is part of a larger field of critical men’s studies, which examines how different forms of masculinity are constructed and maintained in society. This field challenges the idea that there’s a single, natural way to be a man. Instead, it argues that masculinity is a set of social patterns that compete with each other. Sociologist R. W. Connell’s theory of multiple masculinities, for example, identifies a dominant “hegemonic masculinity” that’s supported by other forms of masculinity and femininity.

hooks believes that men need new examples of how to be masculine, rejecting domination and violence. These models should...

Shortform Exercise: Examining Patriarchal Norms and Emotions

Consider how patriarchal norms impact emotional expression in men and women.

How do patriarchal norms teach boys to handle their emotions, and what are the long-term effects on their ability to connect with others?