international feminism & anthropology

In a paper pertaining to international feminism, I'd want to focus in on a quote from Nnaemeka's article: "Using the 'weird regimes' as justification for demoting the practitioners of the cultures below human level, the West argues that to exorcise these subhumans of their 'weird regimes' will rehumanize them and lead them to the gates of civilization. Arrogating to themselves the moral responsibility to intervene to rescue women victims from the 'weird regimes,' Western fiminists have brought to the fore intense debates about the conception of good, social justice, and moral responsibility from which, unfortunately, the humanity of those to be rescued is relegated to the background" (371). Specifically, I would examine her thoughts in relation to anthropology and its history. I'm not sure if anthropology is the root of the "weird regime" or just put theory to judgment, but it has historically been centered around the othering of non-Western cultures and been used to justify colonialism as a way to re-humanize the practitioners of those cultures. I think this has been one of my biggest takeaways from looking at international feminism.

Unlike many others in our group, our 360 hasn't frequently pertained to my major. But international feminism brought in more of a cross-cultural perspective in examining how feminism is perceived, felt, and expressed in non-Western, non-American cultures. It's definitely opened me up to a new lens through which to view anthropology, to looking not merely at how it was used in the past to justify colonialism but also how that legacy of viewing Western culture as a normative, superior ideal impacts feminism today. Though it is meant to be a progressive movement, feminism often lacks international roots such that, from a cross-cultural perspective, there is little difference between feminist ideology and greater Western ideology in relation to other countries and cultures. This area is one I do want to explore further, as I feel that it is both interesting and necessary to use international feminism to critique anthropology, Western feminism, and the intersection of the two. Looking forward, I hope to be able to approach it should I take a relevant anthro class; I know I was considering one relating to marriage and the family, so a critique of Western critiques of non-Western women's familial roles would certainly be interesting. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Regardless, I'm glad that at last anthro ties in through intersectionality to a major interest of mine (feminism) as well as to our 360.