Postcolonial feminism

Postcolonial feminism is a form of feminist philosophy which criticizes Western forms of feminism, notably radical feminism and liberal feminism and their universalization of female experience. Postcolonial feminists argue that cultures impacted by colonialism are often vastly different and should be treated as such. Colonial oppression may result in glorification of pre-colonial culture, which, in cultures with traditions of stratification of power along lines of gender, could mean the acceptance of, or refusal to deal with, inherent issues of gender inequality. [Greenwald, A: " [http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/post/achebe/greenwald3.html Postcolonial Feminism in Anthills of the Savannah] ", 2002]

Postcolonial feminists do not present a united front on feminist issues, but 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. [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]

Many postcolonial feminists argue that oppressions relating to the colonial experience, particularly racial, class, and ethnic oppressions, have marginalized women in postcolonial societies. They challenge the assumption that gender oppression is the primary force of patriarchy. Moreover, postcolonial feminists object to the perceived portrayal of women of non-Western societies as passive and voiceless victims, as opposed to the portrayal of Western women as modern, educated and empowered. [Mills, S (1998): "Postcolonial Feminist Theory" page 106 in S. Jackson and J. Jones eds., "Contemporary Feminist Theories" (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press) pp.98-112] While challenging gender oppression within their own culture, postcolonial feminists also fight charges of being "Western", as some within their cultures would contend.

History

The field of postcolonial feminism arose from the gendered history of colonialism. Colonial powers often imposed Westernized norms on colonized regions. In the 1940s and 1950s, after the formation of the United Nations, former colonies were monitored for what was deemed "social progress" by Western standards. The advancement of women, among other variables, has been monitored by arguably Western organizations such as the United Nations. As a result, traditional practices and roles taken up by women -- sometimes seen as distateful by Western standards -- could be considered a form of rebellion against colonial oppression. Postcolonial feminists today struggle to fight gender oppression within their own cultural models of society rather than through those of the West. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade, 'Under Western Eyes' in "Feminist Review", No. 30 (Autumn, 1988), pp. 61-88]

An underlying theoretical premise of postcolonial feminism is that the concepts of freedom, equality, and rights stem from the Enlightenment and privilege Western and European norms, rather than representing a universal values system. Yegenoglu, Meyda "Colonial Fantasies: Towards a Feminist Reading of Orientalism" (Cambridge University Press, 1998) ISBN 9780521626583]

Related movements

Much postcolonial feminist writing overlaps with transnational feminism and third-world feminism. Postcolonial feminism is also closely related to postcolonialism. Finally, there is a long-standing and important alliance between postcolonial feminists and black feminists. Both have struggled for recognition, not only by men in their own culture, but also by Western feminists. [Weedon, C: " [http://www.genderforum.uni-koeln.de/genderealisations/weedon.html Key Issues in Postcolonial Feminism: A Western Perspective] ", 2002]

Postcolonial feminist authors

Postcolonial feminist authors include:
*Gayatri Spivak, with her important "Can the Subaltern Speak?" (1988)
*Trinh T. Minh-ha, with her essay "Infinite Layers/Third World?" (1989), and her book "Woman, Native, Other: Writing Postcoloniality and Feminism" (1989)
*Chandra Talpade Mohanty, with her influential essay "Under Western Eyes" (1991)
*Uma Narayan, with her book Dislocating Cultures (1997) and her essay "Contesting Cultures" (1997)
*Kwok Pui-lan, with her book Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology (2005)
*Sara Suleri, "Boys Will Be Boys: A Daughter's Elegy" (2003)
*Lata Mani
*Kumkum Sangari
*Anne McClintock
*Gloria Anzaldúa, "Borderlands/La frontera: The new mestiza" (1987) And the recopilations: "This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color"(1981) "Making Face, Making Soul/Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Feminists of Color"(1990)

See also

*Black feminism
*History of feminism
*Postcolonialism
*Third-world feminism
*Transnational feminism

References