Critical Review of Bell Hooks’ “Theory as a Liberatory Praxis” Essay (Essay Sample)

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Critical Review of Bell Hooks’ “Theory as a Liberatory Praxis”
In “Theory as Liberatory Praxis,” Bell Hooks’ focus is on her need to use the ‘claim’ theory, specifically the feminist one, which addresses issues not only on being feminist, but also being Black and female. The author makes the sense of disconnection between academia and her own life (Hooks 2). She argues that the leveling-out aspect of feminist theory is not just achieved theorizing an issue that one has read; it should be examined from a detached and unemotional manner, ensuring that theory is put into practice. Moreover, the author encourages people to practice what they preach. A crucial component of what she refers to as ‘liberatory’ is the manner in which theory as a practice can heal pain endured as far as during childhood. In her article, she cites Dr. Alice Miller, who has suffered from child abuse, just like Hooks (Hooks 2). The suffering led Miller to become an advocate for abused children in her capacity as a psychoanalyst. Therefore, Hooks succeeds in showing that practicing the feminist theory can bridge the gap between theory and practice and help people heal from childhood abuse.