In the article “Transgression into ‘Hidden’ Feminism: Immigrant Muslim Woman from India”, Shweta Singh discusses her argument on “hidden” feminism. According to Singh (2012), “transition into immigrant hood has the potential to be a space for transgression into ‘hidden’ feminism for women” (p. 123). Singh argues that immigration of Indians into western countries such as the United States allows women to have the ability to discover themselves and establish their identity. Singh also believes that internal forces such as family and external forces such as school influence a woman’s identity. An immigrant woman’s views on religion and culture are likely to change when she enters into a modern society. Immigrant women from middle class are more …show more content…
An example of this is Islamic feminism, women use the teachings of the Quran as the source of their rights. Feminism is not only limited to western countries; it is regarded as a mission for women’s rights all over the world. This concept of Islamic feminism, is beneficial for women because it allows them to believe in their religious beliefs but also being able to have more freedom to identify themselves as an individual. According to Singh (2012), “hidden feminism is an individualistic paradigm. Hidden feminism draws from the realm of postcolonial, Islamic, cultural and global feminisms as it deconstructs modernity and ethics of modern structures” (p.128). In other words, hidden feminism is formed by from different feminisms and that concentrates on individuals that want to maintain their cultural/religious beliefs but also move forward and make changes to improve gender …show more content…
Singh uses Nimmi narrative because she came to the United States with her family and faced challenges between her traditional culture and western culture. Nimmi mentions her mother as someone she does not want to be like. Nimmi’s mother is portrayed as being someone who does not want to be westernized, she does not want to learn English or learn how to drive. Nimmi on the other hand wants to belong in the host culture. Nimmi grew up just interacting with her extended family or her ethnic
Anna Julia Cooper’s, Womanhood a Vital Element in the Regeneration and Progress, an excerpt from A Voice from the South, discusses the state of race and gender in America with an emphasis on African American women of the south. She contributes a number of things to the destitute state African American woman became accustom to and believe education and elevation of the black woman would change not only the state of the African American community but the nation as well. Cooper’s analysis is based around three concepts, the merging of the Barbaric with Christianity, the Feudal system, and the regeneration of the black woman.
Feminists are accused of taking the perspective of a woman who is a product of Western ideology. Which is to say that feminists ‘assume that all women have similar attributes and experiences and ignore the impact of other variables such as race, class, wealth, and sexual preferences on the position of women’(Chalesworth in Nayak 2013, 86). That in doing so, they have effectively excluded other women of different culture, class, and religion. What I would like to emphasize here is that in pursuing equality, feminists have become the very ‘”elite” they criticizes. Feminists’ claims for human rights are Western based, as simultaneously feminists are claiming that human rights are
The beauty of the United States of America is its melting pot of culture and religion. It is a hybrid of being an American citizen but also being identified as an ethnic group. It is a capital of immigrants and along with it; the bringing of many new cultural trades. Kingston, is a Chinese-American but born to immigrant parents. Many immigrant parents try to up bring their children into their cultural backgrounds in a new country where those backgrounds aren’t the norms. This conflict leaves the child being in limbo between their ethnic backgrounds and their American present. Genders also play an immense role for immigrant ethnic cultures. In The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston, the author goes on to explain the struggles between cultural differences and
In the Cult of True Womanhood, Welter expressed that women are judged in piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. Welter explained that women are not individuals, but always attached to a man as a mother, daughter, sister, and wife (Welter, pg. 1). Welter describes society as viewing women who have had pre-martial sexual relations as “impure” (Ibid, pg. 1). Since virginities are a gift to a girl’s future husband, and the hymen’s intactness is a sign of intelligence, women who lose their virginities prior to marriage are considered brainless (Ibid, pg. 1). Women are responsible to push men away; if they do not, then they must pay the price of “madness or death” (Ibid, pg. 1). Mag Smith, Frado’s mother, had to fend for herself when she
Green Lantern is a science Fiction movie directed by Martin Campbell. This movie is about a police force called Green Lantern Intergalactic Corps that uses green rings which feeds on their willpower and has a mission to protect the universe from evil. The main Character, Hal Jordan played by Ryan Reynolds is chosen by the ring and protects his planet from Parallax. His childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris played by Blake Lively supports him throughout the movie. Dr. Amanda Waller played by Angela Bassett appears a few times and brings Hector Hammond played by Peter Sarsgaard to perform an autopsy on Abin Sur’s body played by Temuera Morrison.
This broader vision of feminism is present all over the world, like amongst the women of areas like Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, whose oppression is constantly evoked by Western political leaders to justify war and occupation. For example, Malala Yousafzai stated her support for socialism and criticized U.S. orchestrated drone attacks for killing civilians, displacing
The word “feminist” has caused turmoil wherever it is uttered. It has gained a negative connotation, and is often mistaken with misandry. While these claims may be true for a minimal number of feminists, the truth is that in order to get an accurate representation on what feminists actually believe one would have to go to the source. The two main problems with that, are that first of all, it is “not rigidly structured or led by a single figure or group”, and most importantly there is not just one kind of feminism, there are hundreds in each aspect of our life (Tavaana, 2014). The most under represented group within feminism is the kind that is in the government. Not all have the same theories, and therefore, do not have the same beliefs. However what we do know is that, whatever theory they have, or agenda they follow, they are all fierce promoters of gender equality.
“When I was young I never needed anyone/ And making love was just for fun/ Those days are gone/ Living alone/ I think of all the friends I’ve known/ When I dial the telephone/ Nobody’s home/ All by myself/ Don’t wanna be/ All by myself/ Anymore.” As Eric Carmen spoke out the monologue of the Bridget Jones in the film Bridget Jones’s Dairy, unmarried 30s women, no matter how good they perform in their jobs, how successful they are, how comfortable and enjoyable their life are, feel insecure and obscure as they don’t have male spouses to rely on. In addition, Japanese writer Sakai Junko’s novel The Lost Lady, television series My Queen in Taiwan, and Women Should Get Married on Coming of Age in China, all focus on the unmarried 30s women’s life situation and dilemma, attracting concerns as well as attentions from society; moreover, mainstream media overreact and keep emphasizing the negative consequence of being single. However, I am in favor of the hot television series in America Sexy and City which motivates the women around the world never give in and limit personal choices due to age and surroundings but seek for true love and independence by showing the life adventure of heroines in their 40s in New York city. Even though this series also had a cliché ending that all characters harbor a warm family life, neither getting married or stay in stable relationship, which bring deep thoughts. How could the classic pop culture masterpiece final give in to the mainstream social values? I am arguing this kind of ideology that use “lost lady” or “leftover women” to describe educated unmarried females over 30 years old presenting on the media is narrow and stand for the masculine-dominated ideas. More or less, however, this phenomenon ref...
Feminists are accused of taking the perspective of a woman who is a product of Western ideology. Which is to say that feminists ‘assume that all women have similar attributes and experiences and ignore the impact of other variables such as race, class, wealth, and sexual preferences on the position of women’(Chalesworth in Nayak 2013, 86). That in doing so, they have effectively excluded other women of different culture, class, and religion. What I would like to emphasize here is that in pursuing equality, feminists have become the very ‘”elite” they criticizes. Feminists’ claims for human rights are Western based, as simultaneously feminists are claiming that human rights are
Shabana Mir authored the book “Muslim American Women on Campus: Undergraduate Social Life and Identity” in The University of North Carolina Press in the year 2014. In her book, Shabana explains how Muslim American college students face difficulties in there colligate career. She provides examples of what actions she had to do when she was in college and what other Muslim Americans are doing right now in college. She claims that Muslim Americans that live on college campuses have to hide their culture and true identities to fit in with the “regular” Americans. Also, she says that Muslim Americans have some “Painful” maturing to do as they live and interact with a diverse group of people in college. And lastly, she explains how Muslim Americans
Transnational solidarity among feminists has often been a difficult goal to achieve because of the continued dominance of Western feminism, the lack of self-reflexivity on the part of feminists, and the lack of an approach that addresses both the complexities and nuances of lived gender experiences as well as the ways in which imperialism continues to structure the lives of millions around the world. In this article I want to address the points of convergence between intersectionality and decolonial theory and suggest that combining these two approaches can help in developing a non-exclusionary transnational solidarity.
The Scarlet Letter can easily be seen as an early feminist piece of work. Nathaniel Hawthorne created a story that exemplifies Hester as a strong female character living with her choices, whether they were good or bad, and also as the protagonist. He also presents the daughter of Hester, Pearl, as an intelligent female, especially for her age. He goes on to prove man as imperfect through both the characters of Dimmesdale and of Chillingworth. With the situation that all the characters face, Hawthorne establishes the female as the triumphant one, accomplishing something that, during Nathaniel Hawthorne’s time, authors did not attempt.
In “My Two Lives”, Jhumpa Lahiri tells of her complicated upbringing in Rhode Island with her Calcutta born-and-raised parents, in which she continually sought a balance between both her Indian and American sides. She explains how she differs from her parents due to immigration, the existent connections to India, and her development as a writer of Indian-American stories. “The Freedom of the Inbetween” written by Sally Dalton-Brown explores the state of limbo, or “being between cultures”, which can make second-generation immigrants feel liberated, or vice versa, trapped within the two (333). This work also discusses how Lahiri writes about her life experiences through her own characters in her books. Charles Hirschman’s “Immigration and the American Century” states that immigrants are shaped by the combination of an adaptation to American...
Bharati Mukherjee’s story, “Two Ways to Belong in America”, is about two sisters from India who later came to America in search of different ambitions. Growing up they were very similar in their looks and their beliefs, but they have contrasting views on immigration and citizenship. Both girls had been living in the United States for 35 years and only one sister had her citizenship. Bharati decided not to follow Indian traditional values and she married outside of her culture. She had no desire to continue worshipping her culture from her childhood, so she became a United States citizen. Her ideal life goal was to stay in America and transform her life. Mira, on the other hand, married an Indian student and they both earned labor certifications that was crucial for a green card. She wanted to move back to India after retirement because that is where her heart belonged. The author’s tone fluctuates throughout the story. At the beginning of the story her tone is pitiful but then it becomes sympathizing and understanding. She makes it known that she highly disagrees with her sister’s viewpoints but she is still considerate and explains her sister’s thought process. While comparing the two perspectives, the author uses many
The traditions of Islam revolve around the blessed words of Muhammad revealed to him through Allah. These revelations guide Muslims through not only the act of worship, but also through a lifestyle strictly designated in the words of the Qur'an. Those who criticize Islamic customs often accuse the Qur’an of attempting to govern society under prehistoric law. This holy book dates back to the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad in the 7th centuries Clearly times have changed; yet many Islamic customs have not evolved through time. One of the most controversial topics in Islam today addresses women’s issues. Popular American culture portrays Islamic women as veiled and silenced figures living in a world of submission. Feminist groups in the United States focus on Muslim women and attempt to liberate the strong hold of Islamic tradition on women’s freedom. Over 900 million Muslims continue to worship Allah worldwide. Islam continues to thrive as one of the major monotheistic religions across cultures and the followers of Islam respect and defend the words and customs laid out in the Qur’an.