Skip to main content
Read page text
page 168
Feminism and the Developing World Oppressed women exist in many countries around the world. However, the discourse of Western feminism often relegates them to a marginal position, using universal labels such as "women in the Third World" to denote a rich variety of cultural, racial and class categories. OF THE HISTORY OF FEMINISM INTO 11WAVES 11 WHICH ARE DELINEATED BY AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES DOES NOT APPLY, NOR DOES IT REFLECT OUR CONDITION. Feminist activists in developing countries resist social injustice against them in ways that often do not coincide with the feminist efforts that the West has I witnessed. This sometimes leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation 166 of their struggle, their aims and goals.
page 169
Feminist theorists such as Chandra Talpade Mohanty attack the ways in which so-called "First World" feminists represent women in the "Third World". She notes that Western women are often depicted as strong, assertive individuals who are decisive and in control of their fate and of their bodies. ARE INVARIABLY PORTRA YEO AS VICTIMS OF A PATRIARCHAL ORDER WHICH ROBS THEM OF THEIR VOICE, DICTA TES THEIR FATE, AND FORCES THEM INTO FINANCIAL DEPENDENCE. Mohanty condemns the West's misrepresentation of these women as I sexually constrained, ignorant and helpless. 167

Page Text

View plaintext

Feminism and the Developing World Oppressed women exist in many countries around the world. However, the discourse of Western feminism often relegates them to a marginal position, using universal labels such as "women in the Third World" to denote a rich variety of cultural, racial and class categories.

OF THE HISTORY OF FEMINISM INTO 11WAVES 11 WHICH ARE DELINEATED BY AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES DOES NOT APPLY,

NOR DOES IT REFLECT OUR

CONDITION.

Feminist activists in developing countries resist social injustice against them in ways that often do not coincide with the feminist efforts that the West has

I witnessed. This sometimes leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation 166 of their struggle, their aims and goals.

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content