Postcolonial feminism

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Postcolonial feminism, often referred to as Third World feminism, is a form of feminist philosophy which centers around the idea that racism, colonialism, and the long lasting effects (economic, political, and cultural) of colonialism in the postcolonial setting, are inextricably bound up with the unique gendered realities of non-white,and non-Western women.[1] Postcolonial feminists criticize Western feminists because they have a history of universalizing women's issues, and their discourses are often misunderstood to represent women globally.

Thus, one of the central ideas in postcolonial feminism is that by using the term 'woman' as a universal group, they are then only defined by their gender and not by social classes and ethnic identities.[2] Also, it is believed by postcolonial feminists that mainstream Western feminists ignored the voices of non-white, non-western women for many years, thus creating resentment from feminists in developing nations.[3]

Postcolonialism can provide an outlet for citizens to discuss various experiences endured during colonialism. These can include: "migration, slavery, suppression, resistance, representation, difference, race, gender, place and responses to the influential discourses of imperial Europe."[4] Postcolonial feminists see the parallels between recently decolonized nations and the state of women within patriarchy - both take the "perspective of a socially marginalized subgroup in their relationship to the dominant culture."[4]

Postcolonial feminists have had strong ties with black feminists because colonialism usually contains themes of racism. Both groups have struggled for recognition, not only by men in their own culture, but also by Western feminists.[1]

Contents

History

Postcolonial feminism emerged from the gendered history of colonialism: colonial powers often imposed Western norms on colonized regions. In the 1940s and 1950s, after the formation of the United Nations, former colonies were monitored by the West for what was considered "social progress". The status of women in the developing world has been monitored by organizations such as the United Nations and as a result traditional practices and roles taken up by women—sometimes seen as distasteful by Western standards—could be considered a form of rebellion against colonial oppression.[5]

Third-world feminism has been described as a group of feminist theories developed by feminists who acquired their views and took part in feminist politics in so-called third-world countries.[6]

Relationship to Western feminisms

Postcolonial feminism is critical of Western forms of feminism, notably radical feminism and liberal feminism and their universalization of women's experiences. Postcolonial feminists argue that cultures impacted by colonialism are often vastly different and should be treated as such. Colonial oppression may result in the glorification of pre-colonial culture, which, in cultures with traditions of power stratification along gender lines, could mean the acceptance of, or refusal to deal with, inherent issues of gender inequality.[7] Postcolonial feminists can be described as feminists who have reacted against both universalizing tendencies in Western feminist thought and a lack of attention to gender issues in mainstream postcolonial thought.[8]

Postcolonial feminist authors

Postcolonial feminist authors include:

Postcolonial feminist quotes

Many feminists have contributed to postcolonial feminism by using written words to express their ideas and opinions - which have been of great importance to the postcolonial feminist movement.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Weedon, C: "Key Issues in Postcolonial Feminism: A Western Perspective," 2002
  2. ^ a b Narayan, Uma. "Essence of Culture and a Sense of History: A Feminist Critique of Cultural Essentialism." Ed. Narayan and Harding. Decentering the Center. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2000. 80-100
  3. ^ McEwan, C: "Postcolonialism, feminism and development: intersections and dilemmas," 2001
  4. ^ a b Kramarae and Spender: Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women, Vol. 3, 2000
  5. ^ Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. "Under Western Eyes". Feminist Review (Autumn, 1988): 27. 
  6. ^ Narayan, Uma (1997). Dislocating cultures: identities, traditions, and Third-World feminism. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-91418-3. 
  7. ^ Greenwald, A: "Postcolonial Feminism in Anthills of the Savannah", 2002.
  8. ^ Mills, S (1998): "Postcolonial Feminist Theory", page 98 in S. Jackson and J. Jones, eds., Contemporary Feminist Theories (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press), pp. 98–112.
  9. ^ Sandoval, Chela. "US Third World Feminism: the Theory and Method of Oppositional Consciousness in the Postmodern World." Genders 10 (1991): 1-24.
  10. ^ Ang, Ien. "I'm a Feminist but..."Other" Women and Postnational Feminism." Ed. Caine and Pringle. Transitions: New Australian Feminisms. London: Allen & Unwin, 1995. 57-73