Western Feminism is the concept of feminism that surfaced in the United States. The Western perspective often compares the advances of women in the U.S. to the lack thereof in other countries. Western feminists are primarily white and often fail to address issues that apply to women of color and women in third world countries. They perceive global issues from their own perspective, failing to consider the culture and traditions of other women. The oppression of women is due to a global patriarchy. However, western feminists often claim that other cultures are flawed. This nationalist attitude prevents the feminist movement from being globally progressive.
Intersectionality is an important concept in understanding the issues of all women. Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term Intersectionality in 1998, describing it as “the interconnected nature of social categorizations.” Race, class, gender, and many other factors are all overlapping systems that define an individual. Understanding the experiences and disadvantages of others, allows for productive solutions to be made. Black women often struggle to identify with the western feminist movement, as it applies primarily to white women. In Kimberle Crenshaw’s Mapping the Margins Crenshaw states “Because women of color experience racism in ways not always the same as those experienced by men of color and sexism in ways not always parallel to experiences of white women, antiracism and feminism are limited, even on their own terms” (Crenshaw, 202). Understanding intersectionality and privilege will allow for a more progressive feminist movement that addresses all women.
Chandra Mohanty’s Under Western Eyes addresses the western perspective of women in third world countries. Women living in Africa and Southeast Asia are often grouped together into one identity. Western feminists ignore the great diversity among this group. Mohanty states “This results in an assumption of women as an always-already constituted group, one which has been labeled as ‘powerless’, ‘exploited’, and ‘sexually harassed’, etc.” (Mohanty, 66). Western Feminists assume that women living in third world countries are uneducated and have no control over their own life. Grouping all women together based on their oppression, presents them as victims. Western women imply that there are two separate groups of women; the victims and the heroes. They assume that non-western women are restricted by their culture and need saving.
A number of religions have misogynistic practices, though western feminism often focuses primarily on Islam. They misinterpret culture and perceive it as a form of oppression. A majority of women living in the Middle East practice Islam. An aspect of their religion is modesty and wearing a hijab. Western feminist may view this as oppression. Many Islamic women feel comfortable wearing a hijab, as it is their religion. Western Feminists tend to interpret other cultures from their own perspective, picking and choosing issues. This mindset silences women living in third world countries, preventing the global spread of feminism.
In Lila Abu Lughhad’s Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? She states, “In other words, the question is why knowing about the ‘culture’ of the region, and particularly its religious beliefs and treatment of women, was more urgent than exploring the history of the development or repressive regimes in the region and the U.S. role in this history.” (Lughhad, 598). There are historical explanations to the treatment of women, however western feminists target the culture and traditions of specific regions.
Colonization is the concept of a group taking political control over an area and the indigenous people of that area. When western feminists target Islam women specifically, they are promoting the idea of colonization. This idea idealizes Western culture, and views religion in third world countries as the culprit of the oppression of women. These ideas have sparked since
the events of 9/11, as there has been a rise in “Islamophobia” throughout the western world.
In Lila Abu Lughhad’s Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Lughhad quotes a speech given by Laura Bush that addresses “The War on Terrorism.” In that speech, Bush claims “Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes. They can listen to music and teach their daughters without fear of punishment…” (Lughhad, 598). The treatment of women is used as an explanation for colonization. However, the needs of these women are never actually met. Lughhad recalls a moment of selective concern when “…the plight of Egyptian women that focused on the veil as a sign of oppression but gave no support to women’s education…” (Lughhad, 599).
United States Citizens have control over their leadership, and who they choose to support. Supporting leaders with less militaristic values is a productive way of protecting women living in the Middle East. The escalation of military involvement in the Middle East only puts women and children in more danger. There are also a number of organizations, including the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), that take donations. Donating to these organizations allows for a group of women to find their voice.
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