Caribbean Women

A review of "The Indentureship Experience" and "Feminism, Nationalism, and the Early Women's movement in the English-Speaking Caribbean" by Rhoda Reddock.

724 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses themes related to Caribbean women through a discussion of "The Indentureship Experience" and "Feminism, Nationalism, and the Early Women's movement in the English-Speaking Caribbean" by Rhoda Reddock. The paper argues that although these readings focus on different aspects of Caribbean women's studies there are a number of similar themes.

From the Paper:

"Reddock argues that many of the early feminist movements in the Caribbean developed out of projects to develop economic capacity. In particular she notes that the self-help society of Jamaica and the home industries in Trinidad and Tobago developed as small operations to create jobs and allow people to earn livelihoods(Reddock 63-64)."
"The fact that feminism was linked to charitable organizations was a direct attempt to keep women out of public life. Reddock argues that these women were allowed to participate in these charities because it was not seen as a threat to patriarchal power. In fact women's participation in these organizations actually strengthened men's domination in society. This was done by linking women's public activities to activities conducted in the private sphere(Reddock 65-67)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Reddock, Rhoda, "Feminism, Nationalism, and the Early Women's movement in the English-Speaking Caribbean" in Caribbean Women Writers, Selwyn R. Cudjoe(ed), Calalous Publications, Wellesley, 1990: 61-81.
Reddock, Rhoda, "The Indentureship Experience" in Women Plantation Workers, Shobhita Jain and Rhoda Reddock(eds), Berg, Oxford, 1998: 29-48.