Post-Structuralist and Postmodernist Approaches to Gender Theory Chapter 2 (p38-47)

Feminist Post-structuralism and Postmodernism (1990 plus) -highlight the role of language, discourse, and representation to understand gender, sex and sexuality (p39) -offers opportunities for deconstructing and challenging all power regimes that support patriarchy, colonialism, heterosexism, and ableism (p39). - All identities arise through language and our sense of SELF is inseparable from the way we represent ourselves, our manner of speaking , and our way of interacting with others and with the world around us (p39).

Early Feminist theory characterized: -gender and identity as fixed and adopted social constructionist perspective highlighting the role of capitalist and patriarchal ideologies in shaping who we are. -power is fixed and hierarchical reinforced through patriarchal hegemonic processes(p39).

Feminist Post-structuralism (p39-40) -Draws heavily on the work of Foucault, Saussure, Lacan, Derrida and Delueze -Analyzes and deconstructs gender and sex as unitary, fixed identities -Provides influential theories into identity and the SELF -Highlights the power relationship between identity and discourse, language signs, symbolism, narrative, embodiment, culture and sexuality. - introduces the concept of performativity - highlights the fluid, contingent and multiple aspects of identity - there is NO SOVEREIGN SELF but all meaning arises through the discursive subject’s immersion and response to the social arena -denies the possibility of defining woman and man -questions the notion of unique and essential self outside of discourse (language and action)

Note: Male theorists including Foucault, Saussure, Lacan, Derrida and Delueze have not written from pro-feminist standpoint. Criticism: If there is no unified and cohesive subject (individual), then how can there be a unified and cohesive resistance (to male oppression) by multiple and diverse subjects (women)? (p44)

Feminist thinkers including Judith Butler, Julia Kristeva, Lucy Irigaray, Gayatri Spivak, Helene Cixous, and Rose Braidotti have facilitated understanding of the complex ways in which symbolism, language, subjectivity, and desire correspond to representative expressions of existing gendered beings (p 44).

Postmodern Feminism (p40) - Uses Feminist Post-structuralism and narrative theory - Moves feminism into a global, multicultural context - Highlights the diverse subjectivities, realities, conditions, and experiences of women globally -Challenges feminist theories that are partial and universalizing -Recognizes the multiplicity of meaning and epistemology -Provides a theoretical place for diverse women ‘s voices -Avoids totalization, suspect generalizations, and essentialist thinking

Post-Colonial, Third World and Black Feminism Stresses African, Arab, Asian, Indigenous American, Indigenous Australian and other Women of Colour as identities and sites of political difference both within and outside feminism (p39) Power expressed in process and consequences of post-colonial “othering” Operates along the modernist-post modernist continuum Seeks to avoid categorizations that reinforce imperialist and male-centered sterotyping Highlights previously excluded women’s voices from around the world and from multiple culture and religious arenas Refuses overarching essentialist categories ethnic minority Third World Women Challenges homogenizing tendencies of many European perspectives. Feminist thinkers include bell hooks, Gayatri Spivak, Chela Sandoval, Uma Narayan, Ien Ang, Chandra Mohanty, Heida Mirza, Patricia Hill Collins, Anne McClintock

2018 US Tennis Open final women’s game between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka Democracy Now journalist Amy Goodman interviews Amira Rose Davis, Assistant Professor of History and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Penn University about the umpire’s judgement and penalty on Serena Williams (September 11th, 2018). https://www.democracynow.org/2018/9/11/sexism_at_us_open_serena_williams https://www.democracynow.org/2018/9/12/naomi_osaka_s_win_at_us https://www.facebook.com/BetweenTheScenes/videos/247158759277476/

Question for the Class How would you characterize Umpire Ramos from the perspective of Liberal feminism Post-structuralism Postmodernism Post-Colonial, Third World and Black Feminism?