Wow, this looks great really informative and if it wasn't being held in a space that I have an ethical problem with, with people who have previously made my life hell and well wasn't on the other side of the planet I'd go! (I think this is my subtle way of saying can you please post about how it was received as I would find it interesting)
Having discussed some of these issues with my friend S (who I've mentioned in my lj before and is Bangladeshi-Australian) I know that many people choose not to identify as "feminists" because of the apparent white dominance to the movement. Our parents generation in particular have issues with it moreso I think, perhaps because non-anglo gender equality is gaining more acceptance in the wider community. Some issues concerning immigration (not that I'm sure that this is what you were thinking of) may be: * Restrictions on work etc for "dependent" partners of migrants (often women) * Limits in the type of work they are expected to do when they migrate because of both gender and race (often "low skill" jobs) * Being seen as being oppressed by their home culture/traditions my mainstream society * Reassignment of gender roles in a different culture. I think there is a view that "if women do the housework and the men do something else this is by default sexist" by white feminists whislt in other cultural settings it is seen as a fair division of household labour. * Pressure to abandon cultural values/preferences because they are deemed "sexist" in the eyes of white feminists.
I also remember reading an article about refugees from Sudan where the men felt disempowered because in Australia parenting support is given to the *mother* not the *father* so men, who had traditionally been the heads of their household and held the financial responsibility now felt lost. Not specifically about women, but about how cultural assumptions on gender roles can affect people.
Oh and I really liked your paragraph on how white feminists should be aware of their privillege status. When you have to time may I suggest "The Dreaded Comparison", "The Sexual Politics of Meat" and http://www.vegatopia.org/resources.html#ivu which was a really interesting academic presentation on racism/sexism/specism that look at interlocking oppressions.
no subject
Having discussed some of these issues with my friend S (who I've mentioned in my lj before and is Bangladeshi-Australian) I know that many people choose not to identify as "feminists" because of the apparent white dominance to the movement. Our parents generation in particular have issues with it moreso I think, perhaps because non-anglo gender equality is gaining more acceptance in the wider community. Some issues concerning immigration (not that I'm sure that this is what you were thinking of) may be:
* Restrictions on work etc for "dependent" partners of migrants (often women)
* Limits in the type of work they are expected to do when they migrate because of both gender and race (often "low skill" jobs)
* Being seen as being oppressed by their home culture/traditions my mainstream society
* Reassignment of gender roles in a different culture. I think there is a view that "if women do the housework and the men do something else this is by default sexist" by white feminists whislt in other cultural settings it is seen as a fair division of household labour.
* Pressure to abandon cultural values/preferences because they are deemed "sexist" in the eyes of white feminists.
I also remember reading an article about refugees from Sudan where the men felt disempowered because in Australia parenting support is given to the *mother* not the *father* so men, who had traditionally been the heads of their household and held the financial responsibility now felt lost. Not specifically about women, but about how cultural assumptions on gender roles can affect people.
Oh and I really liked your paragraph on how white feminists should be aware of their privillege status. When you have to time may I suggest "The Dreaded Comparison", "The Sexual Politics of Meat" and http://www.vegatopia.org/resources.html#ivu which was a really interesting academic presentation on racism/sexism/specism that look at interlocking oppressions.