Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 16:51:10 -0700 (MST)
From: Rinita Mazumdar <rinita-AT-nmt.edu>
Subject: Re: Dowry Conference: Feminism/Leftism --  or whatever



Partha is right. I really should have said it otherwise. SAFE? probably.
For trying to weave together the rise of private property, civil
society, dialectics of power and liberal bourgeois feminism and
talking about it is a ``dangerous '' thing and if the periphery
outside this danger is ``safe'' then it is.


After all, liberalism has given ``us'' a voice. Sadly, by doing so
we re-write the structure of patriarchy (as when we say everyone
living in India are Indian citizens).

For me to re-write phallologocentrism is to re-write the entire ``civil''
society and reveal the dynamics of power in ``normal'' discourse.
Nowadys that itself seems dangerous or at best trivial.
Yes, for me there are lesser places to speak from in public. of course,
thanks to close friends, who do understand the pain of those who
still think of a total revolution.




Rinita


>From owner-third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu  Tue Nov 24 07:46:24 1998
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 >To: third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
 >Subject: Re: Dowry Conference: Feminism/Leftism --  or whatever
 >Sender: owner-third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
 >Reply-To: third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
 >
 >
 >>I don't see why you feel you and Partha have no platform from which to
 >>speak.  Do you mean that you are both looking for a "safe" place for
 >>such discourse and dissent?
 >
 >________
 >
 >I don't think I have no platform. Internet platforms are just
 >also-platforms for me. However, I think what Rinita says is that our space
 >is severly restricted, not only by the capitalist-patriarchy but also by
 >the capitalist/status quo/ivory tower pseudo-radicals (both male and
 >female, the former more expectedly and the latter disappointingly, at least
 >for me).
 >
 >I understand the wrath of the right-wing against us, the "progressive left"
 >whatever that means.  What I don't understand is the rejection/undermining
 >of us by ivory tower people who call themselves progressive yet show signs
 >of being a part of the market-driven conservative hegemony. Much
 >individualism (and self-gratification out of a false consciousness),
 >sporadic liberalism, little or no mass-activism. The "right" is in fact
 >sustained and nourished on this social apathy of the bourgeoise elite.
 >
 >As far as looking for a "safe" place, what could be a safer place than the
 >virtual media like an internet newsgroup? And many of us think (with due
 >regard for their intelligence and knowledge) that we are doing a
 >revolution. *Nothing personal against any individual*.
 >
 >I would rather quit all my writing (and things that I do for living) and
 >help one or two poor women and their children to earn some education and
 >self-esteem. I have seen extreme poverty in my own life (unlike the new
 >liberal the Clinton/Blair kind). And I have seen the apathy of the elite
 >left.
 >
 >My two dinky cents.
 >
 >
 >
 >