Gwss 200 Sangtin Reading
GWSS 200 (UW)
Reading Reflection
Critical Transnational Feminist Praxis, a book by Amanda Lock Swarr and Richa Nagar, investigates the theory and practice of transnational feminist approaches to scholarship and activism. In chapter 6, Still Playing With Fire, Sangtin Writers collectively discuss about the struggles that Sangtin Kisaan Mazdoor Sangathan (Sangtin Peasants and Workers Organization also known as SKMS) face in India and, at the same time, revealing larger themes concerning feminist activism. While focusing on intersectionality, activism, and NGOized feminism, Sangtin Writers believe that although change in a society or community may cause tension, but over time, the tension from change will settle down. However, if the change disturbs “the economic equations that exist between those in power and the ordinary people,” then in turn there will be no end to that tension (Sangtin Writers, 125). This brings our attention to the two larger themes in this chapter: (1) shifting feminist activism’s focus from solely about women’s problem to the marginalized group of people in the community including men and (2) approaching feminist activism with a bottom-up approach instead of following the donor-driven model.
As we progress into the future and learning more about various issues, it is fair to say that societal issues are always more complex than what meets the eyes, which is the same for feminism. The Sangtin Writers describe the journey of SKMS and how the organization’s focus has shifted from solely focusing on women’s problem to the community as a whole, especially the people who are marginalized by structure of a categorization-based society. The authors stated that it has become abundantly clear that “women’s issues could not be limited to the physical and emotional violence that is inflicted on female bodies” (Sangtin Writers, 125). It is rather a complex issue of intersecting sociopolitical aspects of one’s life. An example that they gave
Reading Reflection
Critical Transnational Feminist Praxis, a book by Amanda Lock Swarr and Richa Nagar, investigates the theory and practice of transnational feminist approaches to scholarship and activism. In chapter 6, Still Playing With Fire, Sangtin Writers collectively discuss about the struggles that Sangtin Kisaan Mazdoor Sangathan (Sangtin Peasants and Workers Organization also known as SKMS) face in India and, at the same time, revealing larger themes concerning feminist activism. While focusing on intersectionality, activism, and NGOized feminism, Sangtin Writers believe that although change in a society or community may cause tension, but over time, the tension from change will settle down. However, if the change disturbs “the economic equations that exist between those in power and the ordinary people,” then in turn there will be no end to that tension (Sangtin Writers, 125). This brings our attention to the two larger themes in this chapter: (1) shifting feminist activism’s focus from solely about women’s problem to the marginalized group of people in the community including men and (2) approaching feminist activism with a bottom-up approach instead of following the donor-driven model.
As we progress into the future and learning more about various issues, it is fair to say that societal issues are always more complex than what meets the eyes, which is the same for feminism. The Sangtin Writers describe the journey of SKMS and how the organization’s focus has shifted from solely focusing on women’s problem to the community as a whole, especially the people who are marginalized by structure of a categorization-based society. The authors stated that it has become abundantly clear that “women’s issues could not be limited to the physical and emotional violence that is inflicted on female bodies” (Sangtin Writers, 125). It is rather a complex issue of intersecting sociopolitical aspects of one’s life. An example that they gave