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Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses
26 pages, Scholarly Article
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Chandra Talpade Mohanty
17 books211 followersChandra Talpade Mohanty (born 1955) is a prominent postcolonial and transnational feminist theorist.
She became well-known after the publication of her influential essay, "Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses" in 1986. In this essay, Mohanty critiques the political project of Western feminism in its discursive construction of the category of the "Third World woman" as a hegemonic entity. Mohanty states that Western feminisms have tended to gloss over the differences between Southern women, but that the experience of oppression is incredibly diverse, and contingent on geography, history, and culture.
In 2003, Chandra Mohanty released her book, "Feminism Without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity". In this work, she argues for a bridging of theory and praxis, and the personal and the political. Major themes addressed include the politics of difference, transnational solidarity building, and anticapitalist struggle against globalization.
Mohanty is originally from Mumbai, India. She holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Master's degree and a bachelor's degree from the University of Delhi in India. Originally a professor of women's studies at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, she is currently the women's studies department chair at Syracuse University.
She became well-known after the publication of her influential essay, "Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses" in 1986. In this essay, Mohanty critiques the political project of Western feminism in its discursive construction of the category of the "Third World woman" as a hegemonic entity. Mohanty states that Western feminisms have tended to gloss over the differences between Southern women, but that the experience of oppression is incredibly diverse, and contingent on geography, history, and culture.
In 2003, Chandra Mohanty released her book, "Feminism Without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity". In this work, she argues for a bridging of theory and praxis, and the personal and the political. Major themes addressed include the politics of difference, transnational solidarity building, and anticapitalist struggle against globalization.
Mohanty is originally from Mumbai, India. She holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Master's degree and a bachelor's degree from the University of Delhi in India. Originally a professor of women's studies at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, she is currently the women's studies department chair at Syracuse University.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 7, 2019
This essay was written in 1986 and became the first chapter of Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity.
The Good:
--Useful roadmap examining the pitfalls of Western Liberal feminism, i.e. in academia, with some examples (from sloppy generalizations to theoretical flaws).
“If relations of domination and exploitation are defined in terms of binary divisions—groups that dominate and groups that are dominated—then surely the implication is that the accession to power of women as a group is sufficient to dismantle the existing organization of relations.”
“It is only by understanding the contradictions inherent in women’s location within various structures that effective political action and challenges can be devised.”
It’s Mostly Just Me, But:
--I cannot pretend that I enjoy reading cultural theory, especially theory about theory. The levels of abstraction combined with the academic style of writing always makes me doze off and daydream about other nonfiction I could be reading. Sorry not sorry, Foucault.
--So, I think this was a necessary first chapter, but the topic I came for is in the second half of Feminism Without Borders: women of colour in the global division of labor.
The Good:
--Useful roadmap examining the pitfalls of Western Liberal feminism, i.e. in academia, with some examples (from sloppy generalizations to theoretical flaws).
“If relations of domination and exploitation are defined in terms of binary divisions—groups that dominate and groups that are dominated—then surely the implication is that the accession to power of women as a group is sufficient to dismantle the existing organization of relations.”
“It is only by understanding the contradictions inherent in women’s location within various structures that effective political action and challenges can be devised.”
It’s Mostly Just Me, But:
--I cannot pretend that I enjoy reading cultural theory, especially theory about theory. The levels of abstraction combined with the academic style of writing always makes me doze off and daydream about other nonfiction I could be reading. Sorry not sorry, Foucault.
--So, I think this was a necessary first chapter, but the topic I came for is in the second half of Feminism Without Borders: women of colour in the global division of labor.
December 21, 2016
Some notes for the Critical Perspectives on Gender class:
“Beyond sisterhood there is still racism, colonialism and imperialism!” (Mohanty, p. 348).
Post-colonial literature provides the space to re-consider the tendency of the West to see itself superior to other cultures. The type of patronizing attitude toward the ‘developing/third world woman’ has a similar tone to the superior tone noted toward the ‘housewife’ vs. the ‘empowered’ career-woman whose development is primarily economic (Mohanty, 2003).
Making such wide generalizations and insisting on creating differentiations is tricky, as it hinders the path of transformation and restricts the ‘Other/disempowered’ in an immovable place and as a “homogeneous powerless group” (Mohanty, 2003, p. 338).
“Beyond sisterhood there is still racism, colonialism and imperialism!” (Mohanty, p. 348).
Post-colonial literature provides the space to re-consider the tendency of the West to see itself superior to other cultures. The type of patronizing attitude toward the ‘developing/third world woman’ has a similar tone to the superior tone noted toward the ‘housewife’ vs. the ‘empowered’ career-woman whose development is primarily economic (Mohanty, 2003).
Making such wide generalizations and insisting on creating differentiations is tricky, as it hinders the path of transformation and restricts the ‘Other/disempowered’ in an immovable place and as a “homogeneous powerless group” (Mohanty, 2003, p. 338).
May 9, 2016
A wonderful scholarly work. Chandra Talpade Mohanty focuses on the way Third World women are represented by First World scholars and how, even with the best of intentions, first world scholars tend to generalize and pigeonhole them instead of studying the particular context that shapes social relationships and values attached to people's actions in the society.
I found Mohanty's work in connection with my interest in postcolonial feminism as I found this theory something relevant to my life and the feminist movement in Ukraine. While it is naturally impossible to completely apply Third World feminism to that in Ukraine - after all, Ukraine is not a Third World country - the discussion of Western feminism and how its representatives, consciously or not, define themselves as the ultimate universal true feminist movement, speaks to me on many levels. Hoping to find more works on the subject.
I found Mohanty's work in connection with my interest in postcolonial feminism as I found this theory something relevant to my life and the feminist movement in Ukraine. While it is naturally impossible to completely apply Third World feminism to that in Ukraine - after all, Ukraine is not a Third World country - the discussion of Western feminism and how its representatives, consciously or not, define themselves as the ultimate universal true feminist movement, speaks to me on many levels. Hoping to find more works on the subject.
August 31, 2018
A fundamental text of transnational feminism that explores the necessity of a feminist praxis more conscious of the individualism and diverse experiences of women.
Absolutely relevant. A must read for anyone interested in this field of study.
Absolutely relevant. A must read for anyone interested in this field of study.
Read
March 19, 2025bez gwiazdek, ale super lektura
kocham edukację feministyczną
kocham edukację feministyczną
October 22, 2025
Okay I’m cheating…I read this article but the “revisited” version. Great example of how a feminist scholar becomes a historical materialist.
April 30, 2024
“Beyond sisterhood there is still racism, colonialism and imperialism!”
A bit basic in its scope but very clean argument that stresses the importance of specificity in cultural studies, as well as the danger of a universalised, uncritical feminism.
If one seeks to understand the world, it must be piece by piece, and not all at once.
An analysis of women’s lived experiences can never be universal.
A bit basic in its scope but very clean argument that stresses the importance of specificity in cultural studies, as well as the danger of a universalised, uncritical feminism.
If one seeks to understand the world, it must be piece by piece, and not all at once.
An analysis of women’s lived experiences can never be universal.
November 28, 2025
This is a bit difficult to read, i think because it's been so influential. There were moments when i thought i was missing something, but i think it's simply that I've come up in the generations that have been influenced by Mohanty's analysis, and so her critiques have been an organic part of my own education from the beginning. I do think her analysis could have been a bit more granular, but i don't know what kinds of space restrictions she was working under.
February 10, 2026
This essay was a critical reminder that academic or even feminist literature pieces carry “privilege bias”. It thoughtfully critiques how Western frameworks are often applied to other contexts without enough attention to local realities, leading to (over)generalizations that (over)simplifies complexity.
Even though feminist research today is much more self-critical and intersectional, the essay still feels relevant.
Even though feminist research today is much more self-critical and intersectional, the essay still feels relevant.
February 18, 2024
Mi única crítica es que la frase final está descontextualizada y, en mi opinión, no tiene el significado que la autora trata de darle. Fuera de eso me parece un ensayo muy acertado, fácil de entender y tan relevante cuando se publicó por primera vez como ahora.
March 23, 2021
“Beyond sisterhood there is still racism, colonialism and imperialism.” (p. 348).
December 28, 2022
Read for Feminist Philosophy Fall 2022
December 31, 2024
Älskade språket. Minns att hon var träffsäker.
January 24, 2023
An interesting article in which the author seeks to bring liberation to women in countries ignorantly classified as the "third world" by the West. I like how the author exposes the hypocrisy of supposed world feminism which claims to fight for women's rights but only caters to the needs of white women.
However, one thing I do not like about this article is the use of unnecessarily big words. It could be simpler.
However, one thing I do not like about this article is the use of unnecessarily big words. It could be simpler.
March 6, 2024
This a very prominent scholarly work in the canon of feminist literature and rightly so. I often come back to this and the later published “revisited” version of this work. Both are excellent resources for understanding the politics of feminist scholarship and “third-world feminism”.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews