Much of the academic discourse about sexuality is derived from the European male point of view. Standards of measurement for an acceptable “true theory” are upheld by the assimilation of the “normative body” created by the West. The “normative body” concludes that the practices of cultures outside of the United States and Europe are “primitive.” It suggests that the freedom to express a “non-oppressive” sexuality can only be accomplished in or influenced by the power cultures of the West. Grewal and Kaplan introduce how the “normative body” of the Western nations limits the transnational approach to the study of sexuality.
I understand the transnational approach as a way to address the issue of inequality and cultural changes promoted by the introduction of globalization. An issue discussed by the authors was how the transnational approach intersects sexuality with globalization. They state that “ignoring transnational formations has left the studies of sexuality without a tool to address questions of globalization, race, political economy, immigration, migration, and geopolitics.” For instance, the transnational approach would address the affects of Micro-loans on the social economic status of impoverished Bangladesh women as influential in creating a positive change to gender and class relationships. The conventional disciplinary approach would suggest that due to primitive cultural practices of the Bangladesh people, the only way that Bangladesh women would experience the freedom of equality would be to migrate to a more accepting Western culture.
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Yes. I do think that discourse is derived from the European male point of view, but I would have to say specifically the American male's point of view. Just think of the dichotomies created that are juxtaposed with other countries. Once juxtaposed, these other cultures are often labeled as something that is inferior, "other," "deviant," "out of the norm." These labels function for the purpose to uphold Western male ownership and power. Actually, I just thought of something. Isn't it quite amazing how the Western male assumes a position of power on a transnational level. It is not just the Western hemisphere that is controlled; rather, Western power penetrates almost every society and once penetrated, the culture or society is critiqued. So, this article made me think, is there actually a defintion of sexuality specific to each culture/society? Or does Western thought prevail transnationally?
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