Love leads people to change, feminist writer and cultural critic bell hooks said in an informal talk at the MSU Union last Tuesday. Hooks, whose latest book is "Communion: The Female Search for Love," told an intimate audience of students and faculty that she thinks feminism and love are interconnected. "People change because of love," said hooks. Hooks, whose real name is Gloria Watkins, is a feminist well-known for her analysis of race and gender. She came into prominence in 1981 with her book "Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism," and has published more than twenty books since, including "Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Discovery" and "Feminism is for Everybody." Recently, hooks has written books for children, including "Happy to be Nappy." Hooks said that in order to create change, children need to be educated about race and gender. "It's a constant struggle to get other people to see the world the way you do," said hooks. Many children's books lack diversity, and often focus only on white male children, said hooks. She said children's books need to become more diverse, which was one reason she began writing for this genre. "I'm still amazed that I can create something silly, because I don't see myself as a very silly person," said hooks. Raising children is an issue which feminists have had to deal with, said hooks. She said parents who have a choice between working or full-time parenting are more likely to raise their children in a healthy environment. "Being home for any parents should be a choice," said hooks. Hooks later criticized the way women of all races and black men and women are portrayed in the media. TV and film covertly send a message that things like rape and violence are cool and sexy, said hooks. "None of us are above the power of this tool," said hooks. Violence should never be mistaken for entertainment, hooks said. Hooks said certain sexual acts, including unprotected anal sex, have been popularized by the media, especially among young black women. Hooks said this may have contributed to recent HIV breakouts. "These images are not innocent," said hooks. Media messages also contribute to low self-esteem among girls and women, said hooks. Hooks mentioned efforts to bring these issues into public consciousness, including the play "The Vagina Monologues," which was performed at MSU in February. Hooks said these efforts are a step in the right direction, but haven't done enough. "There are a lot of two-year-old girls who can say the word 'vagina' but will not be sexually liberated," said hooks. Hooks said that while men are the oppressors of women, women also have to work to free themselves from sexist attitudes. "Patriarchal thinking knows no gender," said hooks. Hooks said women often have trouble erasing patriarchal thinking because they were brought up in a patriarchal world. "Its very stressful for black people and for women of any race to talk about things our parents taught us not to talk about," said hooks. Rachel Parsons, a women's studies major and member of the student group, Women Creating Consciousness Collectively, attended hooks' speech. "I liked it, she was all I expected," said Parsons.