It's finally here, the day you've all been waiting for,
My first instinct, which I promptly acted upon, was to overwhelm my social media networks with information about the holiday: pictures, videos, articles, songs, the whole shebang. I wanted to make sure that no one could miss this day. That no one I knew would go through March 8th, 2013 without recognizing the value and validity of women in their lives and society.
My second impulse was to critically analyze the holiday - it's origins, events, and intentions. International Women's Day began in 1911, and it was "International" because women in four different European countries participated. Over time, the phenomenon grew to include women in countries literally all over the globe. Women, and those who love women, celebrate this holiday on every continent in the world.
However, this international participation is likely to paint an over-utopic picture of the day. As I have been looking at news articles, blogs, and even social network posts, the Eurocentrism of 'International' Women's Day is evident. One example, is an article on CNN by Melinda Gates. Her opening is powerful, but as one reads on, it is clear that her lens is extremely hierarchical. She sees Europe and the USA as the top promoters of gender equality, and consistently and exclusively uses the "developing world" for examples of "social norms that prevent women from realizing their full potential."
This is not to say that there are not issues in countries other than the US and Europe. However, she, and most other writers on this subject, are European or from the US and forget to look at their own societies' injustices, inequalities, and violence (physical, psychological, and symbolic) against women. Few mention that, although the Violence Against Women Act was passed, several influential Bishops opposed the bill because of its inclusion of LGBTQ women.
One source that I thought was doing it right was the MSN Causes page and their slideshow of top images of women this year. The photos range from Malala Yousafzai and protesters in India to Sandra Fluke and Licia Ronzulli. They include devastation and optimism, activism and daily life. These are the women of the world. Diverse, capable, and taking action.
I agree that we have to temper celebration with caution. But I see Gates' feature a bit differently. She aligns the quote about social norms with Malala Yousafzai's resistance. I'd argue that we need to acknowledge the debilitating social norms that the Taliban imposes. Are there times when we can admit material conditions without falling into ideological hierarchy?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the fact that she pointed out the Taliban's restrictive practices was the issue. It isn't the inclusion of other cultures that created the Eurocentric hierarchy, but the exclusion of our own shortcomings and utter failures.
DeleteI very much agree with your assessment on the hierarchal nature of the feminism that Gates describes.
ReplyDeleteThe article implies that feminism originates from the West, and that it spreads from West to the rest of the world when in reality, feminism is originally born/springs from every place. I found her following statement,"Now, International Women's Day represents a movement that is for every woman and girl, no matter where they live" to be very disconcerting.
Erm, excuse me? I'm pretty certain that my ancestors also had amazing women (and men) who struggled for equal rights and access a long time ago--think Qasim Amin, May Ziyade, Huda Shaarawi, Laila of Shaiban-Bakr, Halide Edib, and so many more…
They have always existed, but we have never been made aware of them because the history we learn is Eurocentric, and there's also this little thing called 'Orientalism'. See Edward Said.
It's interesting how she mentions a foreign account of a oppression/feminist struggle, like "the poorest parts of North India," and I agree it seems to hide the struggles we have here in the States. The article makes me feel that the fight for equality and justice and the occurrence of oppression exists aaaaaall the way over there, and not close to home, making us feel comfortable and superior.
Found this interesting article on what you're talking aboutL http://feminspire.com/why-does-america-pretend-it-doesnt-hate-women/
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