Per un nuovo umanesimo militante e solidale: alcune riflessioni in chiave femminista attraverso l’opera di bell hooks

This chapter explores the need for a ‘new humanism’ in contemporary multicultural societies by engaging with feminist critiques of the ‘universal subject’. These critiques deconstruct the traditional humanist model, revealing it as an exclusionary construct rooted in androcentric and Eurocentric hierarchies and unable to account for the complexities of diverse human experiences. Central to this inquiry is the pedagogical and political contribution of bell hooks, whose intersectional framework offers a transformative perspective to redefine human subjectivity. Through the lens of bell hooks’ work, the chapter argues for a shift toward an ‘active and solidaristic humanism’ that moves beyond abstract individualism. The discussion highlights how bell hooks’ emphasis on ‘teaching community’ and the ‘practice of freedom’ fosters the construction of inclusive human environments. Ultimately, the chapter advocates a radical educational project grounded in bonds of solidarity, aimed at building equitable communities oriented toward social justice and collective liberation.