What Was the Need and Model for Feminist Theory According to Charlotte Bunch?

Feminist Theory According to Charlotte Bunch

Author Bunch feels feminism is more important to women than ever before, and that feminists often give up the fight for a number of reasons. She writes, "When feminists despair, burn out, or give up, it is often because the forces against us are strong and because our theoretical framework does not give us a sense of how individual activities contribute to significant victories in the future" (Bunch 12). Bunch's ideas of "irreverent theorizing" seem just like what Hooks was fighting so desperately against, until Bunch "became aware of the critical role of theory in the movement" (Bunch 12). Thus, Bunch helps build on Hooks' theories, and adds some information of her own, including the functions of feminist theory, which she believes ultimately will "aid the liberation of women" (Bunch 13). She continues, "Feminist theory, therefore, is not an unengaged study of women. It is an effort to bring insights from the movement and from various female experiences together with research and data gathering to produce new approaches to understanding and ending female oppression" (Bunch 13). This theory seems to sum up feminism and feminist thought in a nutshell and also makes perfect sense for the movement and the women who fight for it.

Personally, Bunch's theories are a bit easier to digest than Hooks', but they both have essentially the same message -- feminist theory is important, and putting it into practice is equally important. She notes that theories and actions may change, but usually the long-term goal (in this case feminist reform), stays constant, and so, the theories can grow and alter, while the goal remains the same until it is achieved. Bunch also gives her own model for creating theory, which is helpful and informative. She advocates everything from information gathering to analysis, and this makes sense when creating any theory and setting attainable goals. The feminist theory has altered throughout the years, as some goals have been reached and others are still hiding. These articles were interesting, informative, and thought provoking, and made me want to learn more about feminist theory and its' challenges.