‘Positive’ Representations of ‘Third World’ Women Produced by NGOs

DOI Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • ＮＧＯが産出する「ポジティブ」な「第三世界」女性表象
  • NGOが産出する「ポジティブ」な「第三世界」女性表象 : アシッドバイオレンス根絶運動におけるアクティヴィストの視覚表象を事例に
  • NGO ガ サンシュツ スル 「 ポジティブ 」 ナ 「 ダイサン セカイ 」 ジョセイ ヒョウショウ : アシッドバイオレンス コンゼツ ウンドウ ニ オケル アクティヴィスト ノ シカク ヒョウショウ オ ジレイ ニ
  • ――Visual Representations of a Local Activist Working in an Anti-acid Violence Campaign in Bangladesh――
  • ――アシッドバイオレンス根絶運動におけるアクティヴィストの視覚表象を事例に――

Search this article

Abstract

<p>Previous studies on the way information has been presented by development NGOs have critically analyzed ‘positive’ visual images of ‘Third World’ women that have been produced since the 1980s. They have pointed out that ‘positive’ representations of ‘Third World’ women are compatible with the neoliberalist logic that regards the market as the ‘solution’ to poverty issues, by celebrating their individual effort and economic independence instead of problematizing current global power structures. However, because these previous studies have mainly focused on international development NGOs, they have not adequately addressed the question of how local ‘Third World’ female activists are represented through ‘positive’ images produced by local ‘Third World’ NGOs. Therefore, by examining a photobook produced by a Bangladeshi NGO that helps support acid violence survivors, this paper aims to explore the representation of a female activist who participated in the women’s activism, based on her own experience as a survivor. As a result, the following issues were clarified. On the one hand, in terms of the preferred meaning shown in the written text and the sequence of photographs, a clear message is delivered that she is a transformative agent combating violence against women. On the other hand, the written text does not mention at all the fact that ‘Third World’ local women’s activism contributed to her change into an activist. Furthermore, it overvalues the competence of ‘First World’ donor agencies. Taking these points into consideration, this article argues that the transformative message may be successfully articulated along with the dominant discourses about race and gender, including the cultural racist discourse on acid violence.</p>

Journal

  • SOSHIOROJI

    SOSHIOROJI 63 (2), 3-21, 2018-10-01

    SHAKAIGAKU KENKYUKAI

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top