Food For Thought........Bringing It All Together

... While each story seems to pertain to a particular issue, it is important to notice that they all address the same problem. They all show that Orientalists always believe that they are superior even though they may be of the same race (African American missionaries) and/or gender (White British Feminists) as their "subordinates". Orientalists always feel responsible for the 'education' and 'civilization' of others that do not share their ideals on life. 

Each story demostrates how impossible it is for one to live in the Western World and not harbor orientalist ideas about the Orient (anywhere that isn't considered a Western Industrialized Nation). These beliefs are passed on from one generation to another through academic works learned in school and academic works created by other orientalists before them. So the problem is perpetuated through education and through every day life.

It is only through experience and true appreciation of and respect for another's culture can one even begin to "challenge" the Orientalist views embedded in him/her. With the challenge of those beliefs will come a broadened perspective that will allow an "Orientalist" to see more than just their notion of superiority.

ANY THOUGHTS BLOGGERS???

“Give a Thought to Africa” by Sylvia M. Jacobs

"Give a Thought to Africa" is a story about middle class African-Americans believing that Africans needed to be “civilized and Christianized” and that it was there duty to help them do so. African-American missionaries looked down upon Africans for many reasons. First, they did not understand why African women did agricultural work when that was deemed as a “man’s job" and second, they felt that their sexuality and nudity could be toned down. It is obvious to see that African-Americans have this view of what Africans should look like according to white America; so they go and look down upon—even though they look like them, but they (the Americans) feel that they are better and civilized; but whose definition of civilized is it, we do not know?

It can be understood why European imperialists feared the presence of educated Americans in Africa because they thought the Africans would look up to the Americans as a position that they can attain. We believe that they wanted to keep the Africans inferior and the presence of educated black Americans could stand as a symbol of hope and advancement. 

This story reminds me a little about Barack Obama and his attempt to become the 1st black president. The racial and gender hierarchy that exists in America is 1. White Men, 2. White Women, 3. Black Men, and 4. Black Women. Many people view black men as only being capable of being jailed, but Barack Obama is a person that young black men--well all black men can look up to. They can begin to see that they are not destined to be criminals but they can TOO can be educated and successful.

It is very empowering to see other black, educated, women (such as ourselves) in a position of power. It gives us a model to look up to and to follow after. What that does for us is tell us that "WE CAN DO IT TOO".  It forces us to recognize that even though we are doubly disadvantaged (being black and being a woman), we will not let it hinder us from achieving whatever goals it is that we set for ourselves. We are strong and determined and will not allow anything to stand in our way.

Who's with US???

The "White Woman's Burden" in the "White Man's Grave" by Dea Birkett

This story is about the British’s nurses’ responsibility to better the physical health of white men on the Coast of West Africa. This task becomes a burden because the British officials of the CNA (Colonial Nursing Association) began to monitor the daily lives of the nurses and placed strict codes of conducts upon them; the nurses could only consult with one another.

Ok...........We clearly see from this story that women (all over the world might we add) are not presenting a united front. We're not saying that this is a bad thing all the time, but when the ideas presented are as proposterous as they are in this story one must shake her head and question how deeply embedded is patriarchy in women. Sometimes men don't even need to oppress women, they have other women doing their dirty work for them now.

For instance, the CNA was run by women, therefore, they helped reinforce the stereotypes of what constituted a lady when setting the requirements for what constituted a nurse. It is ridiculous that being a lady was considered more important when being hired for a nursing position than how much skill and experience a woman had.

I know that when I go to a doctor, I am not really concerned if she is feminine or not; my only thought is if she can make me feel better. I can kind of understand where the CNA was coming from about nurses being nurturing because that does help in the healing process, but I would pick skill and education in medicine over feminine traits any day...looking cute and being nice will not help conduct surgery but knowing the procedures and what supplies to use will.

We believe that race, class, and social economic status, among other social factors are aspects that cause divisions in various women’s movements. Patriarchy is aware of these aspects and it uses them to perpetuate the oppression of women.

Where is the sisterhood?

“The White Woman’s Burden”- British Feminists and “The Indian Woman,” 1865-1915 By: Antoinette M. Burton

The “White Woman’s Burden” was the British feminists’ belief that it was their special responsibility to stand up for the Indian women or as they were called “the Indian subjects.” This idea is also perpetuated in that India was important to British imperial confidence. Both Victorian and British women were grounded in the idea of superiority. The British feminists had a preoccupation with race preservation, racial purity, and racial motherhood. Feminism and imperialism was structured around the idea of moral responsibility. The women believed that they were the “guarantor of social progress, the agent of civilization.”

The P.C. way to address this story goes as followed:

In " The Indian Woman", we do not think it is possible to help someone effectively without actually understanding and/or experiencing their lifestyle. Orientalists have Orientalist opinions and beliefs embedded within them. However, through research and experience, one slowly gains a second point of view and this broadens their views about the group they are trying to help. Two points of view allow for a better interpretation of the issue or problem at hand.

Being that we aren't concerned with being P.C. we'll address the story as followed:

One can understand why we would sympathize more with the Indian women than we would the British women. As "black" "women" we are already doubly disadvantaged. Unless we are willing to speak up for ourselves (Which We Have No Trouble Doing) no one else will understand what it is like to be a minority on both ends: gender and race. The feminist movement only addresses the gender issues of our lives and racial organizations and the NAACP for example only touch the racial issues. Finding a group that can represent us and voice our thoughts is nearly impossible because only we can understand life as "black women".

Everytime I am going through a difficult situation and try to talk to someone about it, i hate it when people say "I understand what you're going through." Being the nice person that I am and understanding that they are only trying to help, I say thanks for being there for me and stuff like that...but in the back of my mind or later in the day I realize that they do not truly understand how I feel; they have never been through what I've been through, they did not have the same background I have, they are not black or a woman. But the same goes for this story, the British Feminists have good intentions but they were basing their advice/help on the observations of others...they were not there and they do not understand life as an Indian woman.

So forgive us for not believing that "feminists" (majority white middle class women) have our best interest at heart. How can you truly understand an issue if you don't take the time out to experience it as close as you possibly can? No matter how much experience a "white woman" gets she'll never become a "black woman". That doesn't mean that she can't help black women it just means that by experience will make her acknowledge that black women are more disadvantage than others. Knowing that will allow her to take black women into consideration when proposing a solution to a problem.

Thoughts??????????