Mohanty describes in “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses” the problem with the dominant Western feminism and the lesser developed “third world” feminisms. Mohanty explains that Western feminism comprises of colonialism, class, race, and political differences that “limit the possibility of coalitions among (usually white) Western feminists and working-class feminists of color around the world” (345). She exhibits a criticism of Western feminist scholarship on women in the third world. Mohanty discusses the importance of the acknowledgement of difference according to class, race, and ethnic location, and model of power.
I had a discussion in my seminar class last semester about whether there should be a universal feminism. We had a debate for and against universal feminism and the group against universal feminism won. Universal feminism marginalizes some women’s specific concerns of oppression. Women from different countries have different issues according to their culture. For example, women in the United States may be exploiting women in Colombia who work long hours on cotton plantations. Therefore, it is difficult for these women to unite on labor issues. I am also reminded of the NOW movement and how black women's concerns and other women of color were not represented by white women who started this movement. I believe that it is important for women from different countries, ethnicities, and class to express their own concerns regarding oppression. How would you like it if someone who doesn't understand your situation or circumstance speak for you?
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Your ending question was very direct and true. Many times people don't stand up for their own personal experiences and instead have other representatives speaking for them. This reminds me of how some rappers talk about being poor or "broke" without any lights on, when they were really middle class. Their motive to do this is to relate to people buying the music when in all actuality they are selling out because they are not being true to themselves. Similarly when people don't vote for elections but continue to complain about the policies being implemented, they are letting someone speak for them who they never cast a vote for. As much as we may not want white women to speak for us, it is our duty to stop them in order to have our true voice heard.
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