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European Journal of Women's Studies
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Feminist Body/Politics as World Traveller

Translating Our Bodies, Ourselves

Kathy Davis

UTRECHT UNIVERSITY, kathy.davis{at}let.uu.nl

Global feminism has been criticized as a form of cultural imperialism, whereby a white, western model of feminism is imposed upon women in non-western contexts under the banner of universal sisterhood. In order to provide this theoretical critique with some empirical grounding, this article focuses on the worldwide impact of one of the most influential books ever to be published in the US, Our Bodies, Ourselves. This book not only had a decisive impact on how generations of American women felt about their bodies, their sexuality and their health, but it was translated and adapted in 20 languages, both within and outside Europe. The dissemination of Our Bodies, Ourselves , particularly in the so-called `third world', makes it a perfect site for exploring the possibilities and the pitfalls of the globalization of feminist knowledge. After showing how Our Bodies, Ourselves travelled and was adapted to meet the needs of women in specific contexts, conclusions are drawn about the viability of the `feminism-as-culturalimperialism' critique as well as about the empowering potential of transnational feminist alliances in the field of body/politics.

Key Words: body politics • cultural imperialism • feminist knowledge • global feminism • globalization • translation • women's health movement

European Journal of Women's Studies, Vol. 9, No. 3, 223-247 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/1350506802009003373
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[Abstract] [PDF]