Jayna's journal wins the prize this week. *->
This week's journal entries seemed to focus on uncovering the lost voices of other's while at the learning to keep our voices to ourselves. The articles of Shohat, Heng, and Hammond were most discussed. All of us realized how Western our ways of thinking were and began to question for whom we are able to speak. While it is important to understand where our views come from, it is just as important to consider where other women get their perspectives. I can't remember who it was who pointed out the fact that "we live our lives the way we do because other women live their lives the way that they do," but she had the right idea.
Deanna pointed out that even work of the best intentions has a colonizing effect and can inadvertantly create a backlash against western feminism. Shoat pointed out that Western influence is resented by so-called Third-world nations who have different needs and are forced into different methods of action. Western aid organizations seems to feed this problem, offering money and support if the country abides by rigid, captitalistic ideals that are almost impossible to adopt. The veil and FGM are examples of this problem. Western domination is resented and ultimately fails to help these women. They thus revert to their older ways in an attempt to claim independence on their own terms. In her article, Heng pointed out the double bind that Third-world women are in post-colonial societies. They are seen almost as traitors and anti-nationalist for embracing Western-feminism, yet are looked down upon by their (supposed) First-world contemporaries. Karen pointed out the difficulty of speaking for others, but this is vital if we are to, in any way, help Third-world women claim their independence and become recognized for their work.
In her article, Hammond discussed how myths are perpetuated and thus end up shaping lives. She discusses black women's sexual oppression in terms of the Old South. Black women were depicted as overly sexually aggressive and lacking in morals in order for their slave masters to justify their rape and exploitation. This image of black women has been perpetuated for years and has ended up in a very negative stereotype. Jenn pointed out the need for a heightened awareness of the roots of this problem. Renee raised an interesting point with her examples of Lauren Hill and Lil' Kim. Her discussion reminded me of the essays on reclaiming language in order to take power from it. Lil' Kim acting out this sexual image can, for me, be likened to using the word "bitch" as a source of power. Again, this is brought back to the original point: we all have different histories that influence who we are and what we speak. This must be qualified before we attempt to speak for others and we must speak carefully, knowing that we are leaving out all sorts of possibilities.
--Lisa K. Kelly
*journal of the week= Jayna's
The journals from this week focus on the Hammond, Heng, and Shohat articles. The general consensus seems to be that everyone received a little wakeup call. I think that alot of us are aware of the issues discussed in the readings, but it is not our everyday world so we tend to forget or overlook. Most of us have distinctly western views. I think that that is a resounding point of the articles. It is extremely hard if not impossible not to have a consciousness that is founded and moulded by the experiences of our own culture, situation, and position. That our main idealogy is western is not the main point. It is that we take this for granted and expect everyone else's idealogy to be western too that is the problem.
That the west tends to impose its own consciousness on other, particularly Third World, nations is no surprise. However, one tends to think that feminism, emancipitory in spirit, would not follow this colonizing path. That, as several journals point out, is naive. Deanna points out in her journal that missionary work, though in its intentions (we hope) innocent, is a form of colonization in itself. The missionaries do not only feed and care for, they teach predominant western idealogy and push Christianity. Jayna notes that the massive exportation of western views in many ways only keeps the invisible woman worker invisible. A western explanation of a particular society's subordination of women is definitely lacking. It is essential to understand the culture of that society in order to bring about change. Also, that change cannot be forced upon a populaton. Several journals point out the derogatory results of this forced attempt to alter another culture. If anything these attempts are seen as more encroaching westernization and resisted stridently. The issue of the veil is mentioned in many journals. The west has not really understood the veil (or Female Gender Mutalation) . That the veil( and definately female gender mutilation) is a derogatory practice I cannot argue with. But I am a westerner. The way I look at things is formulated by my experience and culture. THird World countries, especially considering the history of colonization, resent western interference. I think that is totally viable considering that the interference is usually arrogant and belittling. Also, specifically relating to feminism, many journals emphasize the white woman's contribution to colonialization. THis is definately not something that I really grasped before. Of course some countries would be resentful of western feminists charging in and trying to take over. Jennifer pointed out that she agrees with Shohat's claim that Third World women need to develop their own feminism independent of western pressure.
Another point of the readings that seems to strike alot of people is the image of the over-sexed African American woman. Hammond's article spells out the dominant cultural image of the white Madonna versus the black jezebel. I think the absurdity of this diachotomy, a left-over legacy of antebellum South and slavery, makes an impact on all of us. The white overseer and the black female slave image only perpetuates the glorified image of rape as a weapon of control that satisfies both both parties when the act is done. I can think of two examples of rape satisfying the woman in popular culture today off the top of my head: Gone With The Wind and THe Fountainhead. THough both these examples are of white women, both are punished because they devulge from the path of "the white Madonna." THe African American woman's need to define and glorify her own sexuality came through in various journals. Renee points out the prevalence, even today, of the jezebel image and the modern atrocity of "the welfare queen" image. Rochelle goes further into the problematic image that the black "savage" sexuality versus the white "delicate" sexuality presents. The general consensus is that this is one of the most sickening aspects of our readings. As Rochelle points out it is a travesty to use the supposed hypersexuality of African American women to imply that they deserve misfortunes (AIDs for example).
In conclusion the journals from this week universality express a basic horror at some of the cruelty of society (the Hottentot Vensus for example) and an elementary naivete about some of the issues the readings brought to the forefront. Mohanty's article underlines the importance of understanding the historical makeup of women's work which in turn defines their role in society. This is something that the feminist movement, in some cases forgets. The western white woman's history of work will not be the same across different cultures, economic classes, or races. It is important to open your eyes and transcend your own experince. Only then will true desubordination come. For instance, African American female sexuality cannot be lumped together with white female sexuality. Only when all forms are validated in their own right can true progress be made.
--Nancy M. Brannon