Feminism/Postmodernism/Development

9780415105248

0415105242

Feminism/Postmodernism/Development takes current postmodernist critiques of modernity, postmodern feminist concerns with representation of Third World women and the possibilities for postmodern feminist political action one step further by emphasizing their intersections and exploring new directions and themes. This collection challenges the ongoing reliance on dualities and explores the experiences of 'women of colour', arguing against the silencing of local women's development expertise in favour of the Western development specialist, the questionable font of development knowledge. Using case studies of indigenous women of Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as Asian women in Britain and indigenous Inians in Canada, the book suggests the gap between local development knowledge and Westen development expertise can be (and is) bridged in practice. The concern is to explore the representation of women and the value of Western theories of both postmodernity and feminism, as they are applied by Westerners in development research and practice. Feminism/Postmodernism/Development brings postmodern questions to the field of gender and development, and not only acknowledges the importance of Third World women's experiences in development issues, but attempts a workable communication between Western theory and Third World practice.