“Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk, sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us, revelling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community.”
In this quote, bell hooks discusses the concept of "dominator culture" and its impact on society. She highlights how this culture instills fear in individuals, leading them to prioritize safety and conformity over taking risks and celebrating diversity. By acknowledging and moving through this fear, she believes that people can come together and form meaningful connections based on shared values and a sense of community. This quote speaks to the importance of breaking free from societal constraints and embracing differences in order to foster unity and understanding among individuals.
In today's society, bell hooks' words still ring true as we continue to navigate a world dominated by fear and conformity. The idea of moving through fear, embracing our differences, and connecting with one another is crucial in fostering a sense of unity and belonging in our communities. By breaking free from the constraints of dominator culture, we can create a world where diversity is celebrated and meaningful connections are formed.
bell hooks encourages us to challenge dominator culture by moving through fear and embracing diversity. By connecting with others and celebrating our differences, we can create a meaningful and inclusive community based on shared values.
bell hooks encourages us to move beyond fear and embrace diversity in order to create a meaningful community. Reflect on the following questions to deepen your understanding and personal connection to this idea:
“To let God make us, instead of painfully trying to make ourselves; to follow the path that his love shows us, instead of through conceit or cowardice or mockery choosing another; to trust Him for our strength and fitness as the flowers do, simply giving ourselves back to Him in grateful service,—this is to keep the laws that give us the freedom of the city in which there is no longer any night of bewilderment or ignorance or uncertainty.”
“What a tricky balance of safety and risk it is that brings out the best in us?”
“By giving us control, our new technologies tend to enhance existing idols in our lives. Instead of becoming more like Christ through the forming and shaping influence of the church community, we form, and shape, and personalize our community to make it more like us. We take control of things that are not ours to control. Could it be that our desire for control is short-circuiting the process of change and transformation God wants us to experience through the mess of real world, flesh and blood, face-to-face relationships?”
“Instead of regretting what we cannot do, it is better to do anything we can do. Even if what we do does not bring us to our goal, it brings us much closer to it.”
“But,instead of what our imagination makes us suppose and which we worthless try to discover,life gives us something that we could hardly imagine.”