Bifurcation: Personal Identity and Larger Feminisms

Abstract

As [Mohanty] points out the image of the average third world woman stands in opposition to the implicit self representation of most `Western women as educated modern as having control over their bodies and sexuality.” This distinction between some western womens representation of women and their self-presentation problematizes the growing connection between these two groups. Unfortunately by reproducing such generalizations about world women Western feminists unknowingly short shrift their own agendas. As Hoodfar points out in her discussion of the veil negative images of Muslim women are continually presented as a reminder to European and North American women of their relative good fortune and as an implied warning to curb their excessive demands for social and legal equality. More often than not many western feminists participate in this approach uncritically and thus serve the function of patriarchy. In ignoring this tendency of self versus other representation western feminists reproduce imperialist notions of non-western women which in turn produces a bifurcation between Third World and First World women. (authors)