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The truth about ‘global sisterhood’: Why is this idea criticized?
The concept of "global sisterhood" is prevalent in the vocabulary of contemporary feminism, but its true meaning and the criticism it faces are rarely known. As the wave of globalization swept in, feminists began to reflect on this theory's views on different cultures, races and social classes, and gradually formed the proposition of transnational feminism.
Transnational feminism aims to criticize the limitations of traditional white, classist, Western feminism and highlight the inequalities faced by all groups of people. 」
Globalization has led to economic and social interdependence among different countries, which to some extent provides a basis for feminists to work together. However, this process also reveals the shortcomings of traditional feminism in the global context, especially Western feminism’s neglect of the experiences of women in other cultures. Many transnational feminists have accused “global sisterhood” of ignoring the complexity of diversity, and have worked to integrate their individual experiences into common feminist struggles.
The concept of “global sisterhood” is too idealistic and often fails to reflect the real situation and challenges faced by women in different cultural backgrounds.
The roots of this history are closely tied to global capitalism. At the end of the 20th century, the expansion of capitalism led to a large-scale outsourcing of employment, especially in Third World countries, which enabled many women to enter workplaces from which they had previously been excluded. Although this change has improved their economic independence to some extent, it has also deepened the contradictions about the role of mothers, forcing some women to choose to face the dual pressures of family and work.
Traditional feminist perspectives often pointlessly simplify the experiences of all women, creating barriers between women of different backgrounds. In this context, transnational feminists call for the establishment of more inclusive dialogue platforms that seek to include the voices and needs of women of all races, cultures, and social experiences.
“The power of transnational feminism is that it fosters connections between women around the world and their collective resistance to increasingly powerful patriarchal and capitalist power structures.”
At the same time, transnational feminism also criticizes the underlying attitude of Westernism towards the "other". For many Western feminists, the emergence of transnational feminism has challenged their authority and called into question whether they truly understand and can represent the needs and challenges of women in other regions. This has led some scholars to argue that the construction of a global sisterhood might instead be seen as a new form of imperialism.
In transnational feminist practice, many have stressed the need to rethink the definition of women and the boundaries of feminist theory. Women’s identities and their associated struggles are unique to different cultural and social contexts, leading transnational feminists to uncompromisingly criticize the theoretical and practical inadequacies of “global sisterhood.” This also became their common basis for resisting patriarchal and capitalist oppression.
“Traditional feminist perspectives often deprive women in the Global South of their unique voices and experiences.”
Finally, transnational feminism is not only a critique of “global sisterhood”, but also a further deepening of the struggle for women’s rights. We need to take a more inclusive view of the experiences of women around the world, recognizing that even though there are shared oppressions, each woman’s life experiences and challenges are unique. In the future feminist movement, transnational feminism may become an indispensable and important force, but it also needs to constantly reflect on itself to adapt to the diverse and changing global reality. In this way, can we brotherly embrace the stories and experiences of every woman and build a more just world together?
