Doezema, Long et al, and Pease on Helping Others Article Review by scribbler

Doezema, Long et al, and Pease on Helping Others
A review of the articles by Doezema, Long et al, and Pease on the potential problems inherent in assuming the position of "helping" others.
# 153145 | 915 words | 3 sources | APA | 2013 | US
Published on May 03, 2013 in Women Studies (Feminism) , Sociology (General)


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Description:

The paper reviews "Western Feminists' Wounded Attachment to the Third World Prostitute" where Doezema argues that postmodern feminists who claim to be fighting for the rights of oppressed third world prostitutes may be practicing their own form of oppression. The paper then examines "Interpersonal Violence and Animals" where Long et al also touch on this theme of potential damage from efforts directed at helping others from people reporting abuse. The paper shows how similarly, in "Rethinking Empowerment: A Postmodern Appraisal for Emancipatory Practice" Pease warns against helping others in the name of "empowerment", simply because speaking in those terms reinforces paradigms of power and powerlessness. The paper discusses how Doezema, Long et al, and Pease all speak of the potential problems inherent in assuming the position of "helping" others and shows how the people in the more fortunate position must be careful to be sensitive, respectful, and open-minded toward the group they aim to help; they must also be careful to view them as equals.

From the Paper:

"Long et al also touch on this theme of potential damage from efforts directed at helping others. In order to effectively implement cross-sector reporting, wherein all people in medical or helping professions would be required to report suspicions of abuse toward women, children, and animals, there will necessarily be cases where the suspicions are unfounded (Long, Long, & Kulkarni, 2007). In addition, the people reporting abuse are automatically placing themselves in a position of moral superiority, power over reputation, and potential privacy invasion. Long et al note that in order to take advantage of the positive correlation between different forms of domestic abuse (against women, children, or animals) in order to better identify and eradicate the problem within families, there needs to be strict control over the process of investigation and protection of privacy and reputation (Long, Long, & Kulkarni, 2007). Otherwise the professionals trying to help may at times do much more harm than good by exercising their knowledge and inherent power.
"Similarly, Pease warns against helping others in the name of "empowerment", simply because speaking in those terms reinforces paradigms of power and powerlessness (Pease, 2002). Rather, since knowledge is an underlying form of power, Pease suggests replacing old references to empowerment with references to "the insurrection of subjugated knowledge" (p. 135)"

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Doezema, J. (2001). Western Feminists' Wounded Attachment to the Third World Prostitute. Feminist Review , 67, 16-38.
  • Long, D., Long, J., & Kulkarni, S. (2007). Interpersonal Violence and Animals: Mandated Cross-Sector Reporting. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare , 34 (3), 147+.
  • Pease, B. (2002). Rethinking Empowerment: A Postmodern Appraisal for Emancipatory Practice. British Journal of Social Work , 32 (2), 135-147.

Cite this Article Review:

APA Format

Doezema, Long et al, and Pease on Helping Others (2013, May 03) Retrieved December 02, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/article-review/doezema-long-et-al-and-pease-on-helping-others-153145/

MLA Format

"Doezema, Long et al, and Pease on Helping Others" 03 May 2013. Web. 02 December. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/article-review/doezema-long-et-al-and-pease-on-helping-others-153145/>

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