Social Criticism as an Approach: Gender Empowerment in the Third World

Abstract

The paper unpacks the role of social criticism as an active method of change. The paper borrows the concept of third world feminist social criticism and combines it with Habermasian discourse ethics to establish the proposed connection that social criticism from the inside has an important role to play towards empowering women. The role of third world feminist social criticism highlights collective action for social criticism. It provides a platform for informed and uncoerced social decision making where inequalities are perpetuated by social values, practices, and norms. By focussing on the day-to-day problems faced by women and providing them space to present their opinion, the paper argues that the most important aspect is giving voice to the unheard voices. In this regard, the importance of discourse ethics is paramount. Another important aspect that the paper emphasizes is that a passive revolution of women should not occur – as Gramsci points out in other contexts – and the hegemonic tendencies remain checked.