Everything about Postcolonial Feminism totally explained
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.
Postcolonial feminists don't 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.
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. 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.
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.
Related movements
Much postcolonial feminist writing overlaps with
transnational feminism and
third-world feminism. Postcolonial feminism is also closely related to
postcolonialism. Finally, there's 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.
Postcolonial feminist authors
Postcolonial feminist authors include:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Postcolonial Feminism'.
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