 Post-modern Feminism - A New Thought
Added: 11/22/2007 |
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Throughout the international spectrum there is indeed a negative publicity against feminism, and also at several times the proponents of this ideology has to fight against a hostile press. Why? At best, feminism is looked upon as the ideal representation of a homogenous group where the radical is viewed as the norm and they are viewed to stage protest against the slightest deviation on the part of any governmental framework! However, this is not the real picture. Indeed, there is the presence of several types of feminism, of which the most prominent in the present age is the post modern feminism.
What is feminism? Indeed, it is quite difficult to answer, since there have different theories throughout the globe, and in the preceding years there have also been several tributaries. But it must be said at the same time, in spite of several differences the feminist groups argue against patriarchy, subordination, oppression and eccentricity. But also there are different ways of using the terminology. In this respect the rise of the post-modern feminism in the years has led to the growth of the central ideology of feminism in a new dimension. It has been found that the post-modern feminism, in short, rejects the idea that there is one singular true view of the world and in this way it may be seen to be a micro theory. Have you understood? Well, in short the post modern feminism happens to be an approach to the feminist theory that is proficient in incorporating postmodern and also the post structuralism theories. In addition, till now, the post-modern feminism is looked upon as the largest departure from the conventional thought where the argument is that sex is itself constructed by means of language. In this respect, the contribution of Judith Butler, who has been the most able proponent of this argument, is noteworthy. Judith in her book, Gender Trouble, published in 1990 is found to draw on and also criticize the work of Smone de Beauvoir, Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan. What has been the view that has been expressd in this ragard? As a leading proponent of post-modern feminism Butler criticizes vociferously the distinction drawn by previous feminisms between (biological) sex and (socially constructed) gender. Again, Butler opines that this is in no way allows for a sufficient criticismof essentialism. Nevertheless, in the recent years it has also come to us that the feminists have recognized a very significant aspect, gender is not naturally given but socially constructed. But thehave admitted, and perhaps in the proces of admitting that gender is always constructed in the same way. Keep it in mind, that this very arguement in an aeffective manner leads to the conclusion that the agony of women or the saga of subordination of women do not come from a single cause, at the same time there is nosingle approach toewards delaing with the issue. There is no doubt in it, that this has led to the criticism of postmodern feminism among the intellectuals, and more for offering no clear path to action. In this reagard, it is to be taken into consideration, that Butler herself rejects the term "postmodernism" as too vague to be meaningful.
There is also another view. It is true that post modernism plays an important role in resisting characterization, there is a possibility regarding the identification of certain themes or orientations that postmodern feminists share. According to Mary Joe Frug, there is one principle of postmodernism that relates to the decision, postmodernism is that human experience is located "inescapably within language." Power is exercised not only through direct coercion, but also through the way in which language shapes and restricts our reality. However, because language is always open to re-interpretation, it can also be used to resist this shaping and restriction, and so is a potentially fruitful site of political struggle.
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