Unpacking 'Hood Feminism' by Mikki Kendall: Addressing Mainstream Feminism's Blind Spots
BY MIKKI KENDALL
One of the most impactful and thought-provoking feminist books I have ever read. It is revolutionary not just in its content but in its title alone, which hints at its bold challenge to mainstream feminist narratives.
Mikki Kendall makes a compelling argument: mainstream feminism has consistently failed to include and uplift all women, despite its claims of universality. Instead of addressing the diverse and intersecting struggles faced by women from marginalized communities, it has often centered the experiences and priorities of privileged women, leaving many others behind.
Through a series of incisive essays, Kendall examines contemporary feminism with an unflinching lens.
She identifies how its true values—solidarity, equity, and justice—have been diluted and urges feminist groups to expand their understanding and advocacy to include those whose issues have long been ignored. Her work is both a critique and a call to action, demanding an urgent reckoning with the ways in which feminism has failed to meet its own ideals.
Kendall does not shy away from addressing the issues that mainstream feminism has neglected or outright dismissed: gun violence, access to quality education, systemic injustice, housing insecurity, and hunger. These are not just women’s issues; they are feminist issues. Kendall masterfully argues that if feminism is to be truly inclusive and transformative, it must focus on the basic needs and survival of all women, particularly those from Black, brown, and other marginalized communities.