WE ARE WOMEN, NOT MEN
My manifesto calls for the individual to be cognisant of their construction of difference and the effect that it has on the identity of others. The western construct of third world women’s identity should be the responsibility of that individual not social constructs that surround them. I believe in a world where there are no pre-supposed frameworks of difference that construct identity. All should work together. My feminism challenges the western social construction of identity and the paradox between first and third world feminisms. While feminism attempts to provide a collection of voices, it tends to be the voices of white middle class affluent women as the ones being heard. My feminist manifesto is comprised of a postmodernist and feminist lens, which is inspired by the work of Chandra Mohanty and Lila Abu Lughod.
ManifestO
I will not construct an identity that is not my own. I will not fail to properly and critically theorize ‘other’ women. I will not construct ‘other’ women as a monolithic subject or object of knowledge. I will be inclusive and ignore my white privilege. Instead of reinforcing and perpetuating oppressive western dynamics suggesting that third world women are in need of immediate assistance, I will listen to these women’s experiences and proceed.
I recognize that as a western feminist I took for granted my position of hierarchy and privilege that permitted me to distinguish non western women in a victimized position. I understand that being a white woman, constructing difference results in discursive homogenization and systemic oppression of these women. I do not believe that I have the right to define and name other women.
I will not attempt to save rather support these women. I will not filter the western woman’s fixation with constructing and reiterating difference through the process of labelling these women as victims in need of saving from either male violence as well as colonial processes which in turn freezes these women in time, space and history.
Western feminists need to recognize that there is a difference between the self and ‘other’, and we should work together to overcome oppression rather than letting western feminists assume dictatorship. Westerners need to ignore their preconceived stereotypical notions of how they view non western women and should instead work as a collective to deter away from this universal inequality.
I want to promote third world feminism with their accusation of western scholars creation of a colonial discourse which represents them as an undifferentiated ‘other’ oppressed by both gender and third world underdevelopment. I intend to allow all women to be active participants in alleviating all oppressions in order to create a safe space and that we have the responsibility to act and advocate on behalf of human rights. I want to find strategies to restructure and dismantle the notion that non western women need to be saved from themselves as well as their communities.
My feminism revolves around challenging traditional feminist practices by working collectively with non western women to support their experiences and choices.
Ashley, first and foremost, thank you for giving all of us the opportunity to read your manifesto.
ReplyDeleteAs a woman of colour from a third world country, I found it very refreshing and powerful that you choose to create your feminism in a way that constructs an ideal formation of realizing one's own views and oppression before constructing a false image of women's oppression from third world countries. While I was reading your post, I felt that it was a topic that spoke to me as a Women's Studies student because there is a misconception that is discussed in our classes that places the power in only a our hands, "western women' to try to assist these women. We often to do hear that western women should look at their own oppressions, rather, we hide that we are oppressed by looking at third world women, as the other. A piece of your manifesto that I found inspirational is
"I will not attempt to save rather support these women. I will not filter the western woman’s fixation with constructing and reiterating difference through the process of labelling these women as victims in need of saving from either male violence as well as colonial processes which in turn freezes these women in time, space and history."
I agree with you when you state that you will not attempt to save, but support these women. As a woman of colour who grew up in Canada, I often find myself constructing a negative view across my own family who live in Iraq, which usually results in a large argument or how I really do not understand where these other women are coming from.
Your manifesto attempts to look at these women as similar to us. By using Abu Lughod's conception of "women as other," we are not progressing in the fight for equality amongst all women if a divide such as this is placed.
I also found your manifesto inspirational because it provides women with another lens to view themselves, and how they look at women who are different from them.
Furthermore, I feel that your manifesto shows that there are different solutions to assisting third world women without judgment and negative misconceptions.