bell hooks and The Big Issue

bell hooks insinuates the idea that feminism is a struggle to end sexist/patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination. Subconsciously, The Big Issue represent women in a more positive light, alongside addiction (drugs, alcohol) and rough sleeping, something that The Big Issue have continuously tackled since it was initially released by John Bird in 1991.

However, it is evident that women are not 'represented' until page six. Indeed, the first woman to appear in this issue is Marvina Newton, who had began sleeping rough on the streets when she was a teenager. As well as representing women, The Big Issue also represent women of colour without exploiting both groups. This contrasts from what bell hooks had proposed; the idea that race and class as well as sex determine the extent to which individuals are exploited, discriminated against or oppressed.

There is perhaps somewhat of a continuity in The Big Issue's articles surrounding women, race and class. As the newspaper is more left leaning (and their sellers, as well as most consumers, are of working class), they tend to represent these groups without wanting credit or gratification.