Where We Stand: Class Matters

Published in 2000, Where We Stand: Class Matters emerged at a time of increasing discourse on intersectionality, particularly within feminist, racial justice, and economic movements. Scholar and writer, Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term in 1989 as “a way of thinking about identity and its relationship to power.” Intersectionality provides a framework for understanding how different elements of a person’s identity (race, gender, class, religion, etc.) “combine to create intersecting forms of privilege and oppression depending on [their] context and existing power structures such as patriarchy, ableism, colonialism, imperialism, homophobia and racism” (Intersectionality Resource Guide and Toolkit: An Intersectional Approach to Leave No One Behind. eBook, unwomen.org, January 2022). The rise in neoliberal economic policies in the late 20th century widened wealth inequality and disproportionately affected marginalized communities, leading scholars and activists to highlight the relationship between socio-economic hierarchy and discrimination based on race and gender. As globalization accelerated, economic instability and job insecurity became more pronounced, particularly among the working class and poor. This period also marked the increasing commercialization of activism, where social movements were often co-opted by corporate interests, further deepening class divides.

hooks’s work speaks directly to these issues, arguing that class must be central to discussions of justice alongside race and gender. She challenges the American myth of a classless society and critiques both capitalist exploitation and the failure of progressive movements to fully address economic inequalities. The book also responds to the cultural shift toward consumer capitalism, which equates material wealth with personal success, further alienating those in lower economic classes. hooks emphasizes that “the vast majority of the black poor today (many of whom are young) lack the oppositional consciousness that our ancestors utilized to ensure hardship and poverty without succumbing to dehumanization” (127). This observation highlights how economic oppression has intensified under contemporary capitalism, severing poor communities from traditions of resilience and collective support.

Where We Stand reflects a growing awareness of intersectionality. While discussions of race and gender inequality have long been present in academic and activist circles, class was often treated as a secondary concern. hooks insists that without economic justice, struggles against racism and sexism remain incomplete. Her work serves as a personal testimony and systemic critique, urging readers to interrogate their own relationship to class privilege and economic power.