Counter-Narratives: The Construction of Social Critiques of Women Activists

Abstract

Reconceptualizing the meanings of politics is central to the works of many feminist theorists. By examining the personal narratives of grassroots women activists, this paper1 asserts that as a result of their radicalization, the women hold standpoints that indicate their position as agents of social change with a particular understanding and critique of culture at large. Their counter narratives serve to unmask and reconstruct claims that form the basis of domination. The paper further asserts that the women used the interview encounters as sites for the production of their views, contesting those of the dominant culture, revealing their critical readings of race and gender politics in the American social landscape2. The paper consists of two parts. The first outlines the major theoretical framework which is quintessential to the analyses and interpretation of the narratives. The second focuses on the women’s critical readings and interpretations of the social world.