Post-mod Feminism and Multiculturalism

The notion of the other: a determination of biology or society?

This notion of the other signifies a power structure in which the other is considered subjugate to those that establish this structure. In general, we can think of the white male as the norm, the ones who are represented in history, while women and people of non-white or non-european races are considered the Other, those who are often misrepresented or omitted from the history books. While First Wave Feminism focused on elevated notions of "womanhood," Post-modern feminists argued that these concepts of "womanhood" are only based off of preconcieved notions that are set in place by the male-dominant culture. While pregnancy and menstruation are female experiences (although even that is now arguable as the world witnesses the first "male" pregnancies), the notions that woman are more emotional, nurturing, and less violent than men are most definitely. These ideas are only based in the way in which our society raises girls; it is not true of all girls and is most definitely not due to our biological differences. The truth is that all men and all women contain both the male and the female hormones, therefore to the extent that these hormones influence are behaviors, we are all psychologically both male and female. I think that it is unlikely however, that these hormones actually produce what we consider to be "femininity" or "masculinity." Most of these notions has to do with behaviors learned from living within a social structure.

In the past it has been argued that gender roles (and you could even extend it to beliefs on the roles of different races in a multicultural society) are based on biology. I believe that this argument was made only to try to prevent people from questioning these roles. Now that they have been questioned, I believe that we have the necessary evidence to show that biology does not dictate roles that we must play in society, it is only society itself that dictates them.

A better question is, where did the notion of white male supremacy come from? I think the answer here does have a link to biology. When you consider the male against the female, in terms of biology, the male is subjugate to the female. Males are not necessary for the survival of the species; they simply improve the odds by creating a more diverse gene pool. Considering this, not as many men as women are necessary to improve the survival of the species (and it has been suggested by medical studies that male babies are more likely to be miscarried than female babies, resulting in a slight female majority). Noting his inferiority in his inability to decide when and with whom to reproduce, men tend to compensate by making women believe they are the inferiors (although this differs between cultures), using the phallus as if it were a weapon.

There may be a similar truth behind white dominance when you consider black vs. white. Dark skins are more resistant against the elements, and it is often said that blacks can jump farther and run faster than whites(although this is a stereotype, it may be just as powerful). The point is that whites learned to fear people with dark skin, perhaps because they became subconsciously aware of their own inferiority. Thus, fear and insecurity become the reigning power in these social structures.