New Direction for Women’s History

Within the last thirty years, feminist researchers and historians have attempted to recover the histories and experiences of marginalized and silenced women. Many of these scholars have attempted to challenge dominant stereotypes of woman as passive and docile, and have focused on redefining women as active actors in history. Numerous studies have underscored the point that although women were forced to contend with patriarchal dictates that limited their power as individuals, these women have also contributed significantly to the survival of their families and to the strength of their communities. Of course, a major problem of this research was its emphasis on ‘sisterhood.’ Feminist historians tended to focus on women’s subjugation under patriarchy, assuming that women shared a common oppression that transcended class, ethnic and racial differences. But by focusing on women’s commonality, these researchers homogenized women, ignoring the reality that race and class create unequal relationships of power. Indeed, by celebrating sisterhood, we obscure the social processes that operate to privilege some women while racializing others. Rather than simply recognizing racial diversity or celebrating multiculturalism, we need to also critically examine how difference operates to mediate women’s experiences and their interactions with others. Instead of simply locating women’s agency, new research needs to examine the ways in which discourses of race and class have constructed some groups of ‘white’ middle-class women as legitimately belonging to the Canadian collective, while excluding and demonizing others. Any discussion of women – even white, middle-class women – needs to critically examine not only gender oppression, but issues of race and class as well.

September 7, 2007 | Filed Under "Sisterhood" vs. Difference, Class, Gender, Race, Women's History 

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