Shannon Hoff, A Phenomenological Account of the Conditions of Transnational Feminism

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A Phenomenological Account of the Conditions of Transnational Feminism
In its various attempts to be intercultural, feminist theory and praxis originating in the Global North has often stumbled over its own presumptions about what counts as feminist liberation. This paper develops a critique of these missteps and a phenomenological foundation for genuinely intercultural engagement. Mobilizing in particular Serene Khader’s challenge to what she calls “missionary feminism,” the paper argues that the core values for transnational feminist praxis that Khader offers require greater normative justification that phenomenology can provide, with its foundational descriptions of both interpersonal life and human singularity. It mobilizes the work of John Russon and Saba Mahmood in order to develop normative support for Khader’s otherwise promising arguments.
Shannon Hoff
Visiting Faculty Fellow
Memorial University