Naples & Desai 1-44:
Looking at feminism in a transnational light is to look at the entirety of the interweaving, constellation-assortment of a movement that’s come to represent so much. Looking at the inequalities in the broadest of perspectives is the only foundation that a feminist movement that truly represents (all of) us can spawn from. As feminist scholars we’re very well aware of the divisions caused by race, class, ethnicity, etc.etc. historically within the movement. As we move into a transnational space we can meet feminists of different backgrounds and values and continue to redefine and expound on our overall mission statement of the kind of equality we’re reaching for (one which continues to strive to be inclusive of all women). Queries
Of course, a transnational & globalized world isn’t one that consists only of world conferences and new overarching policies set to expand equality; there are a lot of unjust and criminal aspects to a world that is starting to bridge toward the unruly, murky wilderness of global economics. Naples & Desai speak candidly about these unscrupulous goings-on, making examples of informal sub-contracts, the decline of social provisions offered by the state, and more specifically the detestable circumstances within which a Walmart CEO makes his 40 million a year— which would be on the backs of women who hand-weave their merchandise for 20 cents an hour (Naples 11). Transnational knowledge however, lets us keep our eyes (as combatants of inequality) on these worldwide political issues. After all, how is politics not going to shape the inner working of any political movement?
Ferree & Tripp 1-77
The knowledge offered with these readings were a good supplement for what I learned from Naples & Desai. Globalization is, of course, a huge impetus for political mobilization & for a more cohesive movement that looks closer to a quick-footed caterpillar than a snake that’s coiled into itself. After all, feminism is a huge tent, housing a bunch of smaller tents, and it’s very easy to lose your understanding of it. Attempt to make an overarching definition and it will get contested. The fact of the matter remains that women are over half of the world populous and each of us has a herstory of myriad circumstances, some of which will contradict with the perceived connotations of the word feminism. That’s a dirty word to many an ear, so we have to be clear and careful when we attempt to speak to it, so that it’s not confused for something else.
Ferree & Tripp make this assessment of the issue at hand, “No woman has a gender but not a race, a nationality but not a gender, an education but not an age” that is a very eloquent summation of the colossal diversity that one term is seeking to be applicable to; we’re talking innumerable variables (Ferre & Tripp 10). So the term has to be flexible, it has to be able to accommodate the individual and assemble the community if it is to garner equality for every woman.
Questions:
1) How would you define feminism for a woman who perceives it to be a tool of Westernization & a threat to their culture?
2) Can anyone explain Transnationalism from Above VS Below for someone who is slow to understand things.
For your first question, I would define feminism the same way I define it for people who think it's a threat to American culture. I'd probably say something along the lines of it being a goal, and a way for all people to be treated equally and have the freedom to make choices.
ReplyDeleteThat was Bianca by the way!
ReplyDeleteI would think that transnational feminism from above would be a very hierarchal movement with individuals at the top holding the most power and making decisions for those who occupy the bottom. I mostly relate this to the way that a government is run- a small group of people make the rules for everyone else. Whereas a transnational feminist movement from below would focus on grassroots organizing where the women who make up each individual community share power amongst each other.
ReplyDeleteOn your first question, I also had that same thought. It seems very difficult to breakdown and explain, because you can't say that we all have these common goals that need to be obtained, because every womyn has her own goals that she would like to see. I like what Bianca said, because I know that's what I always say when people are clueless about Feminism, I tell them that it is working for human equality and freedom across the board. Hopefully, we will learn more on this issue, because I also have many questions that I want answered.
ReplyDelete