“All too often women believe it is a sign of commitment, an expression of love, to endure unkindness or cruelty, to forgive and forget. In actuality, when we love rightly we know that the healthy, loving response to cruelty and abuse is putting ourselves out of harm's way.”

bell hooks is an American cultural critic and feminist theorist. She is best known for her accessible, intersectional writings on race, gender, and education, blending academic rigor with a commitment to social justice. Her work remains influential in discussions about identity and systemic change.