Gated communities symbolize economic exclusion and class hierarchy, serving as a physical manifestation of the barriers that divide the rich from the poor. hooks critiques these spaces as fortresses of privilege, where the wealthy can isolate themselves from the struggles of those without class power. The gates do not just keep outsiders out—they reinforce a sense of entitlement and superiority among those inside, perpetuating the illusion that wealth is synonymous with morality, safety, and order. hooks exposes the irony of these communities, as they ultimately reflect a climate of fear rather than security, revealing how capitalism fosters division rather than cohesion.

In the broader context of the book, gated communities function as a metaphor for systemic barriers to economic mobility. They are not just about geography—they reflect exclusive access to resources, education, and power. hooks argues that economic justice requires tearing down these metaphorical and literal gates, fostering interdependence rather than separation.

Religion recurs throughout Where We Stand as both a source of empowerment and an ideological mechanism that justifies economic oppression. Growing up, hooks was taught that the poor were “God’s chosen people” and that poverty was not a reason for shame but for spiritual pride.