Molly Geidel: Theory of the Counterinsurgent Girl, Gebunden

Klappentext

This element theorizes the emergence of the girl as the ideal subject of Western imperialist power. In 1983, Gayatri Spivak denounced imperialism as a practice of 'white men saving brown women from brown men.' Since then, scholars and popular critics have adopted this understanding of imperialist gender politics. During the global war on terrorism, and in keeping with the neoliberal emphasis on individual resilience and agency, the development and military establishment shifted its practices and rhetoric in response to the popularization of Spivak's critique. Focusing on this key historical shift, 'Theory of the Counterinsurgent Girl' argues that hegemonic Western cultural and military strategies have moved away from 'saving' women to 'empowering' girls. This element traces the rise to dominance of the figure of the agential girl, analyzing how she has been incorporated into decision-making, securitizing, and policing operations as both a surveillance tool and a social justice goal.