Producing Inclusive Feminist Knowledge: Positionalities and Discourses in the Global South

Description

In the global South there is growing concern about the dynamics of global politics that have the potential to marginalize the diverse voices and perspectives of subaltern communities. Exploring ongoing and new feminist dialogues in the global South, this book examines the ways in which dominant epistemologies are challenged, unique identities formed, and the implications for the global feminist agenda.  With chapters addressing feminist issues in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the authors explore how feminist scholars and activists consciously challenge dominant hegemonic discourses and methodologies. The volume raises several critical questions: How do Southern feminist scholars and activists conceptualize and interpret the multiple facets of women’s lived experiences in their societies? What factors shape their positionality and identity as feminist scholars and activists? How do Southern feminist discourses offer possibilities of new insights that reflect the multiple and shifting conditions in their societies? What might their perspectives bring to global feminist agendas?  This volume offers a space within which feminist voices from multiple locations in and on the global South can find expression in conversations that redefine, reconfigure, and envision knowledge production from their standpoints and in ways that positively impact the lives of women in the global South. Half Title Page Series Editors Editorial Advisory Board Title Page Copyright Page Contents About the Contributors List of Contributors Series Editors’ Preface Reference Editor Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Positioning Feminist Voices in theGlobal South The Politics of Knowledge Production Challenging Hegemonic Discoursesand Epistemologies Dilemmas and Contestations in Bringing Southern Voices to the Table Feminist Discourses in Global South Contexts Methodological Approaches The Chapters Conclusions References Part 1: Perspectives on Feminisms and Knowledge Production Chapter 1:Knowledge Hierarchies and Feminist Dilemmas: Contexts, Assemblages, Voices, and Silences Reflections on knowledge hierarchies,its structures, and practices Ideas and Practices within Scholarly Spaces Transnational Assemblages Beyond Academia Indigeneity and the Challenges of Creating Inclusive Knowledge The Knowledge World Out There and the Challenge for Feminists Feminist Interventions Methodological Dilemmas Heterogeneity of Indigeneity Structures of Silence and Silencing Concluding thoughts References Appendix Examples From Pages and Descriptors Retrieved on June 30, 2016 Examples retrieved on May 1, 2019 Chapter 2:African Feminist and Gender Scholarship: Contemporary Standpoints and Sites of Activism Introduction Contextualizing African Feminist Standpoints Situating African Women’s and GenderStudies Programs African Feminist Journals Continental and Transnational Collaborations Collaborative Intellectual Work Selected Themes in Current African Feminist and Gender Studies Research Land Digital Activism Young Feminist Activism Conclusions References Chapter 3:Dalit and Autonomous Feminisms in India Troubling the Global South The Dalit Feminism Debate Contemporary Dalit Feminisms #MeToo, #HimToo, and Failed Conversations Moving Forward Together References Chapter 4:What does feminism mean to you? Are you a feminist? Brazilian activists’ definitions and praxis of emancipatory intersectional feminism The emergence and convergence of participatory state feminism and intersectional emancipatory feminismin Brazil Researching participatory state feminism activists: Research questions and methodology Reframing the main research question: Feminism from an intersectional and emancipatory perspective? Who considers themselves to be afeminist, and how is feminism defined by the women of NCPW? What are the attitudes (beliefs and opinions) of women in Brazilian participatory state feminism? What is the praxis of women in Brazilian participatory state feminism? Final considerations: contextualizingour surveys data and situating the feminism of NCPW women activists in the trajectory of feminists in Brazil and in transnational feminism References Chapter 5:Recent Changes in Indigenous Feminist Agenda in Latin America Indigenous peoples in Latin America:The leadership of indigenous women Meanings and understandings of theoretical and conceptual formulations of indigenous feminist knowledge production “Hacemos teorías desde nuestros cuerpos”/“We do theory from our bodies” (Paredes, 2013): Some feminist bridges and epistemic possibilities The Buen Vivir “Territorio Cuerpo‐tierra” – “Territory Body‐land” Tik and Chachawarmi: The Indigenous Dualism (Not Binary) Solidarity Political Experiences: Wiphala and More The “Community of Communities” Final Considerations References Part 2: Young Feminists and Digital Approaches to Scholarship and Activism Chapter 6:Beh Tou Cheh? (What’s It to You?): Feminist Challenges in Iranian Social Media Expressing dissent through socialmedia, in seconds Cyberactivity in Iran Out of exile, entering the cyberworld Online Expression Meets Offline Consequences Celebrity and Social Media Activism: Masih Alinejad and My Stealthy Freedom Campaign Iranian Women’s Activists Chime In Toward an Uncertain Future: IranianFeminism Sheds Its Skin References Chapter 7:Digital Activism Ghanaian Feminist Style Introduction On African women and the digital divide Who Are these Ghanaian Digital Feminist Activists? What are the Feminist Social MediaActivists Saying? The open sites: GhanaFeminism and Adventures GhanaFeminism, the Academic Approach Adventures, Sexuality Unscripted The closed sites: MindofMalaka and Pepper Dem Ministries MindofMalaka, Flipping the Script on All Things Pepper Dem Ministries, Flipping the Script on Patriarchal Narratives And are we listening? Conclusions References Chapter 8:Are We There Yet? Contemporary Struggles for Gender Justice and the Legacy of Caribbean Feminisms Introduction Caribbean Feminist Legacy: Heterogeneous Women’s Movements and Feminist Scholarship Caribbean Feminisms: Contemporary Reflections and Evaluations Feminist Theory Students Contemporary Online Feminist Activists Conclusion: Are We There Yet? References Part 3: Feminist Knowledge Production in Applied Contexts Chapter 9:“I Can Weep But Not Wail”: Contemporary Young African Masculinities Introduction Discussing African Masculinities Men, Work, and Provisioning Examining “African Masculinities”:A Decolonial Approach Explaining Manhood and the Provider Role Strong, Assertive, Protector, and Head of Household Being a Provider The Provider: Struggles, Resistances, and Opportunities for Reconsideration The Male Provider and the Subordinationof Women References Chapter 10:Working Toward Global Feminist Knowledges and Practices Positionality Southern Perspectives Academic approaches to hearingsubaltern voices Practitioner approaches to hearing subaltern voices Pedagogy and scholarship Sharing understandings and objectives Conclusion References Chapter 11:Exploring the Quagmire of Violence Against Women: Feminist Scholarship and Activism in Southern Africa Defining Violence Against Women:The Work of African Gender Scholars, Activists and the State The Historical Backdrop: Oppression, Violence, Patriarchy and Women’sResistance in Southern Africa The Contemporary Period: Gender‐based Violence – Why Does It Persist? The Efforts of NGOs and Feminist Activiststo Address Gender‐based Violence Conclusion References Index