I suggest you read some of the critiques of Alice Walker (who is a
Western feminist by the way). She is considered to exemplify Western
neocolonial feminism in the worst way, e.g. see the work of Joyce
Russell-Robinson - it is a good starting point. See also
Nawal el Sadaawi ("The Hidden Face of Eve") - she does not mention Walker
specifically, but does address the neocolonial tendencies to which I am
referring, as does Obiora and others.
There are many levels to this debate, Walker's work is but one
interpretation, and one which has been problematized a great deal. I
would also
suggest Fauziya Kassindja's book and the work of Soraya Mire (in addition
to that of Dorkenoo, which you mentioned) as other starting points and
examples of other levels to this debate.
To quote El Sadawwi:
"I am against female circumcision and other similar...cruel
practices...But I disagree with those women in America and Europe who
concentrate on issues such as female circumcision and depict them as proof
of the unusual and barbaric oppression to which women are exposed only in
African and Arab countries. I oppose all attempts to deal with such
problems in isolation, or to sever thier links with the general social and
economic pressures to which women everywhere are exposed, and with the
oppression that is the daily bread fed to the female sex in developed and
developing countries, in both of which a patriarchal class system still
prevails" (El Sadawwi, 1980:xiv).
Jessica
On Sat, 13 Mar 1999, joe dees wrote:
> For those of you interested in learning more about this issue from an African
>perspective, may I humbly suggest perusal of the book
>
> Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Binding of Women
>
> by Alice Walker (yes, THE Alice Walker).
>
> For another perspective, see
>
> Cutting the Rose: Female Genital Mutilation: The Practice & Its Prevention
>
> by Efua Dorkenoo
> Joe E. Dees
> Poet, Pagan, Philosopher
>
>
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