Ann Snitow ’s essay, “Feminist Futures in the Former East Bloc” is an intriguing text that presents twelve points that draw a comparison between Western and Eastern European understanding of feminism and why it has not taken shape in Eastern Europe as it did in the Western part of the world. Although I find the list portrayed by Snitow slightly subjective in tone, since the list is presented through her perspective as a Western feminist, I appreciate the effort in bringing into the conversation such aspects that exemplify some general viewpoints of some post-communist societies. I do believe, that if she would have included some primary voices that would have represented the thoughts of these women that live in a post-communist society, would have been essential to my understanding of the discourses that the East and West have on this topic.
As a born …show more content…
The ideal woman during Ceausescu’s regime, was as Snitow explains about Bulgarian woman imagery, an iron woman. In my mind, an example of an iron woman is my grandmother that lived most of her life during the communist regime. She fits very much within Sojourner Truth’s words in the essay, “Ain’t I a Woman?”. The iron woman as perceived by me was tireless, physically strong, and fearless. Just as Truth writes about her physical strength, the ability to work in tough conditions cultivating around the house. And yet, both of these iron women decided to handle their womanness differently. My grandmother that represents the East Bloc remained silent even in an all women group discussions, as I remember from my time spent together, meanwhile, Truth made her concerns and questions public. And this difference in approach on the topic of “woman” as understood by the West and the East, is clearly explained by Snitow in the following
As a born …show more content…
The ideal woman during Ceausescu’s regime, was as Snitow explains about Bulgarian woman imagery, an iron woman. In my mind, an example of an iron woman is my grandmother that lived most of her life during the communist regime. She fits very much within Sojourner Truth’s words in the essay, “Ain’t I a Woman?”. The iron woman as perceived by me was tireless, physically strong, and fearless. Just as Truth writes about her physical strength, the ability to work in tough conditions cultivating around the house. And yet, both of these iron women decided to handle their womanness differently. My grandmother that represents the East Bloc remained silent even in an all women group discussions, as I remember from my time spent together, meanwhile, Truth made her concerns and questions public. And this difference in approach on the topic of “woman” as understood by the West and the East, is clearly explained by Snitow in the following