Overview

Mohanty continued

Spivak

Narayan

Gayatri Spivak-Terms

Strategic essentialism- no essence based on biology or culture, but can be employed for political action– Example- third world woman- a mobilizing

slogan for women in developing nations even understanding the differences in culture, language, class, history

Subaltern- everything that has no access to cultural imperialism and hegemonic discourse– The subaltern cries out, but cannot speak

Gayatri Spivak Areas of study: North/south relations,

Subaltern studies, Feminism

Knowledge creation involved with colonialist and imperialist context– Anthropology, comparative literature, comparative

religion, history

Euro-American imperialism is imposed on 3rd world through representation and knowledge

and creates essentialist categories

Narayan Feminisms- are possible that are specific to

the cultures from which they emerge– Heterogeneous and historically created

Rejection of essentialist notions of women and culture– Third world feminism is not a mindless

mimickery of Western agendas Need to focus on larger issue such as the

connection of violence and marriage– Western context- battery, domestic

violence– Indian context- dowry deaths and arranged

marriage

Narayan Feminism in a postcolonial context

– Stuck between imperial feminism and sexist nationalism/culturalism

Valorization of indigenous values and practices and rejection of western values– If feminists critique these values, they are

seen as westernized, sell-outs, etc.