Contemporary Feminism

Term Paper # 100159

Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Film
Literature

An analysis of "Others in their Own Land: Second Generation South Asian Canadian Women, Racism and the Persistence of Colonial Discourse" by Angela Aujla, "Why I'm a Feminist" by Lauren Anderson, and the film "Iron Jawed Angels" by Katja Von Garnier.

1,507 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper examines two articles and a film: Angela Augla's article, "Others in their Own Land: Second Generation South Asian Canadian Women, Racism and the Persistence of Colonial Discourse", Lauren Anderson's article, "Why I'm a Feminist", and the film "Iron Jawed Angels" directed by Katja Von Garnier. The paper focuses on key concepts in these texts and explains how they are significant for contemporary feminism. The paper discusses Aujla's concept of "othering", Anderson's talk of solidarity, and the film's portrayal of the many enormous challenges to solidarity among women.

From the Paper:

"In her article, Aujla focuses on how racist and colonial discourses inherited from the past continue to influence dominant discourses today, and on the way in which South Asian Canadian women are still perceived by the dominant culture. These discourses function to keep South Asian Canadian women marginalized within Canadian society, and ensure that no matter how many generations of their family have lived here, they are still never truly Canadian enough, or white enough, to be part of the dominant culture and dominant discourse. They are thus permanent "others" in their own countries."

Sample of Sources Used:

Anderson, Lauren. "Why I'm a Feminist."
Aujla, Angela. "Others in their Own Land: Second Generation South Asian Canadian Women, Racism and the Persistence of Colonial Discourse." In Crow, Barbara A. and Lise Gotell. Canadian Woman Studies: An Introductory Reader, 2nd Edition.
Eisenstein, Zillah R. "A Black Feminist Statement: The Combahee River Collective."
Von Garnier, Katja. (Director). Iron Jawed Angels. Home Box Office, 2004.