Women and Inequality in a Changing World: Exploring New Paradigms for Peace Read Along
In the next chapter of the Edited Volume titled "Exploring the Power of Silence, Voice, and the In-between in a Troubled World" by Jane L. Parpart, the dynamics between silence and voice are examined in the context of a complex and ever-changing global landscape. Parpart challenges the conventional dichotomy between silence and voice, emphasizing how these elements can work together or apart to shape individual and collective agency.
https://www.routledge.com/Women-and-Inequality-in-a-Changing-World-Exploring-New-Paradigms-for-Peace/Mahmoudi-Parpart-Seaman/p/book/9781032250649
One key theme highlighted in the chapter is the significance of in-between spaces, where silence and voice intersect to create unique experiences and opportunities for reflection, resistance, and healing. These liminal spaces serve as crucial sites for marginalized communities to strategize, organize, and challenge oppressive power structures.
The discussion draws from diverse examples, such as women's experiences within religious movements in Zimbabwe and Egypt, the strategies employed by Pakistani women to advocate for education, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups like cross-border women in South Africa and victims of violence in Colombia. These examples demonstrate the multifaceted nature of silence and voice as tools for empowerment and resistance in different cultural and social contexts.
The chapter also emphasizes the collective power of silence, illustrated through movements like the Argentine Madres of the Plaza de Mayo and the Women in Black movement, which use silence as a form of protest and solidarity. It also acknowledges the role of voice in challenging patriarchal structures, as seen in instances like Anita Hill's testimony against Clarence Thomas.
Moreover, the chapter underscores the transformative potential of silence and voice as co-constituted embodied practices and political acts. By exploring how individuals and groups navigate silence and voice in response to societal pressures, Parpart sheds light on the vital role these expressions play in survival and empowerment in a troubled world.
Overall, Parpart's examination suggests that understanding silence, voice, and the in-between requires nuanced analysis that considers their varied manifestations and implications across different settings. It challenges conventional assumptions about power dynamics and communication, advocating for a broader perspective that recognizes the agency inherent in both silence and voice.
About the Author:
Eden is a Graduate Assistant with the Baha’i Chair for World Peace. She is attending the University of Maryland and pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Care Management. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2023 with a B.S. in Public Health Science. Her interests are in health disparities and policy.
