The Question of Cultural Identity
Stuart Hall
I ti snow ac omm mmonpl ac et hatt hemo moder nagegaver i s et oanewand nd i v i dua l i s m,a de c i s i v ef or m ofi tt hec e nt r eo fwhi c hs t o odane w c o nc e pt i onoft hei ndi vi dua ls ubj e c ta ndi t si de nt i t y . Thi sdoe snotme a n t ha tpe opl ewe we r eno ti ndi vi dua l si npr e mode r nt i me s ,butt ha t i ndi vi dua l i t ywa sbot h' l i ve d' ,' e xpe r i e nc e d' a nd' c onc e pt ua l i z ed' di ffe r e nt l y . Thet r a ns f or ma t i onswhi c hus he r e di nmode r ni t yt or et he i ndi vi dua lf r e ef r om i t ss t a bl emo moor i ngsi nt r a di t i onsa nds t r uc t ur e s . Si nc e t he s ewe we r ebe l i e v e dt obedi vi ne l yor da i ne d,t he ywe r ehe l dno tt obe s ubj e c tt of unda me me nt a lc ha nge .One ' ss t a t us , r a nka ndpos i t i oni nt he ' gr e atc ha i nofbe i ng' t hes e c ul a ra nddi vi neor de roft hi ngs o ve r s ha do we we da nys e ns et ha to newa sas o ve r e i gni ndi vi dua l . Thebi r t ho f t he' s o ve r e i gni ndi vi dua l ' be t we e nt heRe na i s s a nc eh uma ni s m oft he s i x t e e nt hc e nt ur ya ndt heEnl i ght e nme ntoft hee i ght e e nt hc e n t ur y r e pr e s e nt e das i gni fic a ntbr e a kwi t ht hepa s t .S omea r guet ha ti twa st he e ngi newh whi c hs e tt hewh whol es oc i a ls ys t e m of' mode r ni t y' i nmo t i on. Ra y mo mondWi l l i a ms msno t e st ha tt hemo mo de r nhi s t or yoft hei ndi vi dua l s ubj e c tbr i ngst oge t he rt wodi s t i nc tme a ni ngs : ont heoneha nd, t he s ubj e c ti s' i ndi vi s i bl e ' ane nt i t ywhi c hi suni fie dwi t hi ni t s e l fandc annot bef ur t he rdi vi de d;ont heot he r ,i ti sal s oane nt i t ywhi c hi s' s i ngul ar , 1 di s t i nc t i ve ,uni que ' . Ma Manyma maj ormove ment si nWe Wes t er nt houghtand c ul t ur ec o nt r i but e dt ot hee me me r ge nc eo ft hi sne wc o nc e pt i on:t he Re f or ma t i ona ndPr o t e s t a nt i s m, m,whi c hs e tt hei ndi vi dua lc o ns c i e nc ef r e e f r om t her e l i gi ousi ns t i t ut i onso ft heChur c ha nde xpos e di tdi r e c t l yt ot he e yeofGod;Renai s s ancehumani s m,whi c hpl ac edMa Man( n( tt hec e nt r e s i c )a oft heuni v e r s e ;t hes c i e nt i ficr e v ol ut i ons ,whi c he ndo we we dMa nwi t ht he f a c ul t yandc a pa c i t i e st oi nqui r ei nt o, i nve s t i ga t eandunr a ve lt he mys t e r i e so fNa t ur e ;a ndt heEnl i ght e nme nt , c e nt r e dont hei ma geo f
r a t i ona l , s c i e nt i ficMa n,f r e e df r o m dogmaa ndi nt ol e r a nc e , be f or ewho m t hewhol eofhumanhi s t orywasl ai doutf orunder s t andi ngandmas t er y. Tho s ewhoho l dt ha tmode r ni de nt i t i e sa r eb e i ngf r a gme nt e da r guet ha t whathashappenedi nl at emoder ni t yt ot hec onc ept i onoft hemoder n s ubj e c ti snots i mpl yi t se s t r a nge me ntbuti t sdi s l oc a t i on.The yt r a c et hi s di s l oc a t i ont hr oughas e r i e so fr upt ur e si nt hedi s c our s e sofmode r n knowl e dge .I nt hi ss e c t i on,Is ha l loffe rabr i e fs ke t c hoffivegr e at advanc esi ns oci alt heor yandt hehumans c i enc eswhi c hhaveocc ur r ed i n,orha dt he i rma j ori mpa c tupon,t houghti nt hepe r i odofl a t e mo de r ni t y( t hes e c o ndha l fo ft het we nt i e t hc e nt ur y) ,a ndwho s ema i n e ffe c t ,i ti sa r gue d,ha sbe e nt hefina lde c e nt r i ngoft heCa r t e s i a ns ubj e c t . Thefir s tma j orde c e nt r i ngc onc e r nst het r a di t i onsofMa r x i s tt hi nki ng. Ma r x ' swr i t i ngbe l ongs , ofc o ur s e , t ot heni ne t e e nt ha ndno tt het we nt i e t h c e nt ur y . Buto neo ft hewa y si nwhi c hhi swo r kwa sr e c o v e r e da ndr e r e a d s i c )ma i nt he1 9 60 swa si nt hel i ghtofhi sa r gume ntt ha t' me n( kehi s t or y , butonl yont hebas i sofc ondi t i onswhi c har enotoft he i rownmaki ng' . Hi sr e r e a de r si nt e r pr e t e dt hi st ome a nt ha ti ndi vi dua l sc oul dno ti na ny t r ues e ns ebet he' a ut hor s ' ora ge nt sofhi s t or ys i nc et he yc oul donl ya c ton t heba s i soft hehi s t or i c a lc o ndi t i onsma debyo t he r si nt owhi c ht he ywe r e bor n,a ndus i ngt her e s our c e s( mat e r i ala ndc ul t ur e )pr ovi de dt ot he m f r om pr e vi ousge ne r a t i ons . Ma r x i s m,pr ope r l yunde r s t ood,t he ya r gue d,di s pl a c e da nyno t i onof i ndi vi dua la ge nc y . TheMa r x i s ts t r uc t ur a l i s t ,Loui sAl t hus s e r( 1 91 88 9) a r g ue dt ha t ,b yput t i ngs o c i a lr e l a t i ons( mode sofpr oduc t i on, e xpl oi t a t i on ofl a bourpowe r ,t hec i r c ui t sofc a pi t a l )r a t he rt ha na na bs t r a c tnot i onof Ma na tt hec e nt r eofhi st he or e t i c a ls ys t e m,Ma r xdi s pl a c e dt woke y pr opos i t i onso fmode r nphi l os o phy:' ( 1 )t ha tt he r ei sauni ve r s a le s s e nc e ofma n;( 2)t hatt hi se s s e nc ei st heat t r i but eof" e ac hs i ngl ei ndi vi dual " whoi si t sr e als ubj e c t ' : The s et wopos t ul a t e sa r ec ompl e me nt a r ya ndi ndi s s ol ubl e . Butt he i r e xi s t e nc ea ndt he i runi t ypr e s uppos eawhol ee mpi r i c i s t i de al i s t
wor l dout l ook.Byr e j e c t i ngt hee s s e nc eofma na shi st he or e t i c a l bas i s ,Mar xr e j e c t e dt hewhol eoft hi sor gani cs ys t e m ofpos t ul at e s . Hedr o vet hephi l os ophi c a lc a t e gor yoft hes ub j e c t ,o fe mpi r i c i s m,of t h ei r om al lt hedomai nsi nwhi c ht he yhadbeen d e a le s s e nc ef s upr e me . No tonl yf r om pol i t i c a le c o nomy( r e j e c t i onoft hemyt h ofh hati s , oft hei ndi vi dualwi t hde fini t ef ac ul t i e s o moe c o no mi c us ,t a ndne e dsa st hes ubj e c toft hec l a s s i c a le c o nomy) ; no tj us tf r om hi s t or y;. . .notj us tf r om e t hi c s( r e j e c t i onoft heKa nt i a ne t hi c ali de a) ; 2 buta l s of r om phi l os ophyi t s e l f . Thi s' t ot alt he or e t i c alr e vol ut i on' was , ofc our s e ,fie r c e l yc ont e s t e dby ma nyhuma ni s t i ct he or i s t swhogi v egr e a t e rwe i ghti nhi s t or i c a l expl anat i ont ohumanagency .Weneednotar gueher eaboutwhet her Al t hus s e rwa swhol l yorpa r t l yr i ght , ore nt i r e l ywr ong.Thef a c ti st ha t , t houghhi swor kha sbe e ne xt e ns i ve l yc r i t i c i z ed,hi s' t he or e t i c a l a nt i huma ni s m' ( t ha ti s ,awa yoft hi nki ngoppos e dt ot he or i e swhi c h de r i v et he i ra r gume ntf r o ms o meno t i o no fauni v e r s a le s s e nc eo fMa n l odg e di ne a c hi ndi vi dua ls ubj e c t )ha sh adc o ns i de r a bl ei mpa c to nma ny br anc he sofmode r nt hought . Thes e c o ndoft hegr e a t' de c e nt r i ngs ' i nt we nt i e t hc e nt ur yWe s t e r n t houghtc o me sf r om Fr e ud' s' di s c o ve r y' oft heunc o ns c i ous . Fr e ud' s t he or yt ha touri de nt i t i e s , ours e xual i t y ,a ndt hes t r uc t ur eofourde s i r e s a r ef or me dont heba s i soft heps y c hi ca nds ymbol i cpr oc e s s e so ft he unc o ns c i ous , whi c hf unc t i ona c c o r di ngt oa' l ogi c ' v er ydi ffe r e ntf r om t ha t o fRe a s o n,pl a y sha v ocwi t ht hec o nc e ptoft hekno wi nga ndr a t i ona l s ubj e c twi t hafix e da nduni fie di de nt i t yt hes ubj e c tofDe s c a r t e s ' s' I t hi nk,t he r e f or eIa m' .Thi sa s pe c tofFr e ud' swor kha sa l s oha da pr of oundi mpa c to nmo de r nt ho ughti nt hel a s tt hr e ede c a de s . Ps y c hoa na l yt i ct hi nke r sl i keJ a c que sLa c a n, f ore x ampl e ,r e a dFr e uda s s a y i ngt ha tt hei ma geoft hes e l fa s' whol e ' a nduni fie di ss ome t hi ng whi c ht hei nf a ntonl ygr a dua l l y , pa r t i a l l y , a ndwi t hgr e at e a r ns .I di ffic ul t y ,l tdoe sno tgr o w na t ur a l l yf r om i ns i det hec o r eo ft he i nf a nt ' sbe i ng,buti sf or me di nr e l at i ont oot he r s ; e s pe c i al l yi nt he c o mpl e xunc o ns c i ousps y c hi cn e go t i a t i o nsi ne a r l yc hi l dhoodbe t we e nt he c hi l da ndt hepowe r f ulf a nt a s i e swhi c hi tha sofi t spa r e nt a lfigur e s . I n
wha tLa c a nc a l l st he' mi r r orpha s e ' ofde v e l opme nt ,t hei nf a ntwhoi sno t y etc o or di na t e d,a ndpos s e s s e snos e l fi ma geasa' whol e ' pe r s o n,s e e sor ' i magi ne s ' i t s e l fr e fle c t e de i t he rl i t e r al l yi nt hemi r r or ,orfigur at i ve l y ,i n t he' mi r r or ' oft heot he r ' sl ook,a sa' whol epe r s on' .Thi si sc l os ei ns ome wa yst oMe a d' sa ndCool e y' s' l ooki nggl a s s ' c onc e pt i onoft hei nt e r a c t i ve s e l f ; e xc e ptt ha tf ort he ms oc i a l i z at i onwa sama t t e rofc ons c i ousl e ar ni ng, whe r e a sf orF r e uds ubj e c t i vi t ywa st hepr oduc tofunc o ns c i ousps y c hi c pr oc e s s e s . Thi sf or ma t i onoft hes e l fi nt he' l ook' oft heOt he r , ac c or di ngt oLa c an, ope nst hec hi l d' sr e l a t i onwi t hs y mbol i cs y s t e msout s i dei t s e l f ,a ndi st hus t hemome ntoft hec hi l d' se n t r yi nt ot heva r i ouss ys t e mso fs ymbol i c r e pr e s e nt a t i oni nc l udi ngl a ngua ge ,c ul t ur eands e x ua ldi ffe r e nc e . The c o nt r a di c t or ya ndunr e s o l v e df e e l i ngswhi c ha c c ompa nyt hi sdi ffic ul t e nt r y t hes pl i t t i ngofl oveandha t ef ort hef a t he r ,t hec onfli c tbe t we e nt he wi s ht opl e a s ea ndt hei mpul s et or e j e c tt hemot he r ,t hedi vi s i onoft hes e l f i nt oi t s' good' a nd' ba d' pa r t s , t hedi s a v owa loft hema s c ul i ne /f e mi ni ne pa r t sofone s e l f ,a nds oonwhi c ha r ek e ya s pe c t soft hi s' unc ons c i ous f or ma t i onoft hes ubj e c t ' ,a ndwhi c hl e a vet hes ubj e c t' di vi de d' ,r e ma i n wi t honef orl i f e .Ho we ve r ,t hought hes ubj e c ti sa l wa yss pl i tordi vi de di t e xpe r i e nc e si t so wni de nt i t ya sbe i nghe l dt oge t he ra nd' r e s ol v ed' ,or uni fie d,a sar e s ul toft hef a nt a s yofi t s e l fa sauni fie d' pe r s on' whi c hi t f or me di nt hemi r r orpha s e . Thi s , a c c o r di ngt ot hi sk i ndofps y c hoa na l yt i c t hi nki ng,i st hec ont r adi c t or yor i gi nof' i de nt i t y' . Thus , i de nt i t yi sa c t ua l l ys ome t hi ngf or me dt hr oughunc o ns c i ous pr oc e s s e sov ert i me ,r a t he rt ha nbe i ngi nna t ei nc ons c i ous ne s sa tbi r t h. The r ei sa l wa yss ome t hi ng' i ma gi na r y' orf a nt a s i z eda bouti t suni t y . I t a l wa ysr e ma i nsi nc ompl e t e ,i sa l wa ys' i npr oc e s s ' ,a l wa ys' be i ngf or me d' . The' f e mi ni ne ' pa r t so ft hema l es e l f ,f ore x ampl e ,whi c ha r edi s a v o we d, r emai nwi t hhi m andfindunc ons c i ousex pr es s i onsi nmany una c kno wl e dge dwa ysi na dul tl i f e .Thus , r a t he rt ha ns pe a ki ngofi de nt i t y de nt i fic a t i o n,a a safini s he dt hi ng,wes ho ul ds pe a kofi nds e ei ta sa n ongoi ngpr oc e s s . I de nt i t ya r i s e s ,nots omuc hf r om t hef ul l ne s sofi de nt i t y a c kofwhol whi c hi sa l r e a dyi ns i deusa si ndi vi dua l s , butf r om al eness
whi c hi s' fil l e d' f r om o b hewa yswei magi neour s e l ve st obe ut s i d eu s ,yt s ee nbyo .Ps y c hoa na l yt i c a l l y , t her e a s onwhywec ont i nua l l ys e a r c h t h e r s f or' i de nt i t y' ,c ons t r uc t i ngbi ogr a phi e swhi c hkni tt oge t he rt hedi ffe r e nt pa r t sofourdi vi de ds e l ve si nt oauni t y , i st or e c apt ur et hi sf a nt as i z ed pl e as ur eoff ul l ne s s( pl e ni t ude ) . Aga i n,Fr e ud' swor k,a ndt ha toft heps y c hoa na l yt i ct hi nke r sl i keLa c a n whor e a dhi mi nt hi swa y ,ha sb e e nwi de l yc o nt e s t e d.Byde fini t i on, unc o ns c i o uspr o c e s s e sc a nno tbee a s i l ys e e no re x a mi ne d.The yha v et obe i nf e r r e dbyt hee l a bor a t eps y c hoa na l yt i ct e c hni que so fr e c ons t r uc t i ona nd i nt e r pr e t a t i ona ndar enote as i l ya me na bl et o' pr oof ' .Ne ve r t he l e s s , t he i r gener ali mpac tonmoder nwaysoft houghthasbeenver yc ons i der abl e. Muc hmode r nt hi nki nga bouts ubj e c t i v ea ndps y c hi cl i f ei s' pos t Fr e udi a n' ,i nt hes e ns et ha ti tt a ke sF r e ud' swor kont heunc ons c i ousf or gr a nt e d,e v e nwhe ni tr e j e c t ss omeofhi ss pe c i fichypo t he s e s . Ag ai n,y ou c a na ppr e c i a t et heda ma g ewhi c ht hi swa yoft hi nki ngdoe st ono t i o nso f t her a t i ona ls ubj e c ta ndi de nt i t ya sfix e da nds t a bl e . Thet hi r dde c e nt r i ngIs ha l le x ami nei sa s s o c i a t e dwi t ht hewor koft he s t r uc t ur a ll i ngui s tFe r di na nddeS aus s ur e .Sa us s ur ea r gue dt ha twea r e no ti na nya bs ol ut es e ns et he' a ut hor s ' oft hes t a t e me nt swema keoroft he meani ngsweexpr es si nl anguage. Wec anonl yus el anguaget opr oduc e me a ni ngsb ypos i t i oni ngour s e l v e swi t hi nt her ul e sofl a ngua gea ndt he s ys t e mso fme a ni ngofourc ul t ur e . La ngua gei sas oc i a l ,no ta ni ndi vi dua l s ys t e m.I tpr e e xi s t sus . Wec a nnoti na nys i mpl es e ns ebei t sa ut hor s . T o s pe a kal a ngua gei snotonl yt oe x pr e s souri nne r mos t ,or i gi na lt hought s , i ti sa l s ot oa c t i va t et heva s tr a ngeofme a ni ngswhi c ha r ea l r e a dy embeddedi nourl anguageandc ul t ur als yst ems . F ur t he r ,t heme a ni ngso fwor dsa r eno tfix e di naone t ooner e l a t i ont o obj e c t so re v ent si nt hewor l dout s i del a ngua ge .Me a ni nga r i s e si nt he r e l a t i onsofs i mi l a r i t ya nddi ffe r e nc ewhi c hwor dsh a vet oo t he rwor ds wi t hi nt hel a ngua gec o de . Wekno w wha t' ni ght ' i sbe c a us ei ti sn da y' . o t' No t i c et hea na l o gyhe r ebe t we e nl a ngua g ea ndi de nt i t y . Ikno w who' I ' a m i nr e l a t i ont o' t heot he r ' ( e . g.mymo t he r )whom Ic a nno tbe . AsLa c a n
woul ds a y ,i de nt i t y ,l i ket heunc ons c i ous , ' i ss t r uc t ur e dl i kel a nguage ' . Whatmoder nphi l osopher sofl anguage,l i keJ ac quesDer r i da,whohave be e ni nflue nc e dbySaus s ur eandt he' l i ngui s t i ct ur n' ,ar guei st hat , de s pi t ehi s /he rbe s te ffor t st hei ndi vi dua ls pe a ke rc a nne v erfina l l yfix me a ni ngi nc l udi ngt heme a ni ngofhi sorhe ri de nt i t y . Wor dsa r e' mul t i a c c e nt ua l ' .The ya l wa y sc a r r ye c hoe so fo t he rme a ni ngswhi c ht he y t r i gg e ro ff,de s pi t eone ' sb e s te ffor t st oc l os eme a ni ngdo wn.Our s t at ement sar eunder pi nnedbypr oposi t i onsandpr emi s esofwhi c hwe a r eno ta wa r e , butwhi c ha r e , s ot os pe a k,c a r r i e da l ongi nt he bl oods t r e am ofourl a nguage .Eve r yt hi ngwes a yhasa' be f or e ' anda n ' a f t e r ' a' ma r g i n' i nwhi c hot he r sma ywr i t e .Me a ni ngi si nhe r e nt l y uns t abl e :i tai msf orc l os ur e( i de nt i t y) ,buti sc ons t ant l ydi s r upt e d( by di ffe r e nc e ) .I ti sc ons t a nt l ys l i di nga wa yf r om us . The r ea r ea l wa ys s uppl ement ar ymeani ngsoverwhi c hwehavenoc ont r ol , whi c hwi l lar i s e a nds ub ve r toura t t e mpt st oc r e a t efix e da nds t a bl ewor l ds . Thef our t hma j orde c e nt r i ngofi de nt i t ya ndt hes ubj e c toc c ur si nt he wor koft heFr e nc hphi l os o phe ra ndhi s t or i a nMi c he lF ouc a ul t .I nas e r i e s ofs t udi e sF ouc a ul tha spr oduc e das o r tof' g e ne a l ogyoft hemode r n s ubj e c t ' .F ouc a ul ti s o l a t e sane wt ypeofpo we r ,e v ol vi ngt hr ought he ni ne t e e nt hc e n t ur ya ndc o mi ngt of ul lflo we ra tt hebe gi nni ngoft hi s c e nt ur y , whi c hhec a l l s' di s c i pl i na r ypowe r ' .Di s c i pl i na r ypowe ri s c o nc e r ne dwi t ht her e g ul a t i on,s ur ve i l l a nc ea ndgo ve r nme ntof ,fir s t ,t he huma ns pe c i e sorwhol epopul a t i o ns ,a nds e c o nd,t hei ndi vi dua la ndt he body .I t ss i t e sar et hos ene wi ns t i t ut i onswhi c hde ve l ope dt hr oughoutt he ni ne t e e nt hc e n t ur ya ndwhi c h' pol i c e ' a nddi s c i pl i nemode r n popul at i ons i nwor ks hops , bar r ac ks , s c hool s , pr i s ons , hos pi t al s , c l i ni c s ands oon. Theai m of' di s c i pl i nar ypowe r ' i st obr i ng' t hel i ve s ,de at hs , ac t i vi t i e s , wor k,mi s e r i e sa ndj o yso ft hei ndi vi dua l ' ,a swe l la shi s /he rmor a la nd phys i c alhe al t h,s e xualpr ac t i c e sandf ami l yl i f e ,unde rs t r i c t e rdi s c i pl i ne a ndc o nt r ol ;br i ngi ngt obe a ront he mt hepo we rofa dmi ni s t r a t i v e r e gi me s , t hee x pe r t i s eoft hepr of e s s i ona l ,a ndt hekno wl e dgepr o vi de db y
t he' di s c i pl i ne s ' oft hes oc i als c i e nc e s .I t sbas i cobj e c ti st opr oduc e' a humanbei ngwhoc anbet r eat edasa" doci l ebody" ' . Wha ti spa r t i c ul a r l yi nt e r e s t i ngf r om t hepoi ntofvi e w oft hehi s t or yof t hemode r ns ubj e c ti st ha t ,t houghF ouc a ul t ' sdi s c i pl i na r ypo we ri st he pr oduc toft hene wl a r g e s c a l er e g ul a t i ngc ns t i t ut i onsofl at e o l l e c t i v ei mode r ni t y , i t st e c h ni que si nv ol v ea na ppl i c a t i onofpo we ra ndkno wl e dg e whi c hf ur t he r' i ndi vi dua l i z e s ' t hes ubj e c ta ndbe a r sdo wnmor ei nt e ns e l y onhi s /herbody: I nadi s c i pl i na r yr e gi me ,i ndi vi dua l i z at i oni sde s c e ndi ng.Thr ough s ur v ei l l anc e ,c ons t antobs e r vat i on,al lt hos es ubj e c tt oc ont r o la r e i ndi vi dua l i z e d. . . .No tonl yha spo we rno w br oughti ndi vi dua l i t y i nt ot hefie l dofobs e r va t i on,butpo we rfix e st ha tobj e c t i ve i ndi vi dua l i t yi nt hefie l dofwr i t i ng.Ava s t ,me t i c ul ous document ar yappar at usbecomesanes s ent i alc omponentoft he gr o wt hofpo we r[ i nmode r ns oc i e t i e s ] .Thi sa c c umul a t i onof i ndi vi dua ldoc ume nt a t i o ni nas ys t e ma t i cor de r i ngma ke s' pos s i bl e t heme a s ur e me nto fo ve r a l lphe nome na ,t hede s c r i pt i ono fgr oups , t hec har ac t e r i zat i onofc ol l e c t i vef ac t s , t hec al c ul at i onofgaps 3 be t we e ni ndi vi dual s ,t he i rdi s t r i but i oni nagi ve npopul at i on' . I ti snotne c es s a r yt oac c e pte ve r yde t ai lofFouc aul t ' spi c t ur eoft heal l e nc o mpa s s i ngc ha r a c t e roft he' di s c i pl i na r yr e g i me s ' ofmode r n a dmi ni s t r a t i v epo we rt ounde r s t a ndt hepa r a do xt ha t ,t hemor ec o l l e c t i v e a ndor ga ni z edi st hena t ur eoft hei ns t i t ut i onso fl a t e mode r ni t y , t he gr e at e rt hei s ol at i on,s ur v e i l l a nc eandi ndi vi dua t i onoft hei ndi vi dua l s ubj e c t . Thefif t hde c e nt r i ngwhi c hpr opone nt so ft hi spos i t i onc i t ei st hei mpa c t off e mi ni s m, bo t ha st he or e t i c a lc r i t i quea nda sas oc i a lmo ve me nt . F e mi ni s m be l o ngswi t ht ha tc ompa nyo f' ne ws o c i a lmo v e me nt s ' ,a l lof whi c hs ur f a c e ddur i ngt he1 9 60 s t hegr e a twa t e r s he dofl a t emode r ni t y a l ongs i det hes t ude ntuphe a va l s , t hea nt i wa ra ndc o unt e r c ul t ur a ly out h mo ve me nt s , t hec i vi lr i ght ss t r uggl e s , t heThi r dWor l dr e v ol ut i ona r y
mo ve me nt s ,t hepe a c emo ve me nt s ,a ndt her e s ta s s oc i a t e dwi t h' 1 9 6 8' . Wha ti si mpor t a nta boutt hi shi s t or i c a lmome nti st ha t : 1.
t he s emo ve me nt swe r eoppos e dt ot hec o r por a t el i be r a lpol i t i c sof t heWe s ta swe l last he' St al i ni s t ' pol i t i c soft heEas t ;
2.
t he ya ffir me dt he' s ubj e c t i ve ' a swe l la st he' obj e c t i ve ' di me ns i onso f pol i t i c s ;
3.
t he ywe r es us pi c i ouso fa l lbur e a uc r a t i cf or mso for ga ni z at i ona nd f a vour e ds pont a ne i t ya nda c t so fpol i t i c a lwi l l ;
4.
a sa r gue de a r l i e r ,a l lt he s emo ve me nt sha da power f ulc mpha s i sa ndf or mt he ye s pous e dt he' t he a t r e ' of ul t ur a le r e vol ut i on;
5.
t he yr e fle c t e dt hewe a ke ni ngorbr e a k upofc l a s spol i t i c s ,a ndt he ma s spol i t i c a lor ga ni z at i onsa s s oc i a t e dwi t hi ta ndt he i r f r a gme nt a t i oni nt ova r i ousa nds e pa r a t es oc i a lmo ve me nt s ;
de nt i t yofi eac hmovementappeal edt ot hes oci ali t ss uppor t e r s . Thusf e mi ni s ma ppe a l e dt owome n,s e x ua lpol i t i c st oga y sa nd l e s bi a ns , r a c i a ls t r uggl e st obl a c ks , a nt i wa rt ope ac e ni ks , a nds oon. Thi si st hehi s t or i c a lbi r t ho fwha tc a met obekno wna si d e nt i t y o nei de nt i t ype rmo ve me nt . p o l i t i c s
6.
Butf e mi ni s ma l s oha damor edi r e c tr e l a t i ont ot hec o nc e pt ua lde c e n t r i ng oft heCa r t e s i a na ndt hes oc i ol ogi c a ls ubj e c t : 1.
I tque s t i one dt hec l as s i cdi s t i nc t i onbe t we en' i ns i de ' and' out s i de ' , ' pr i va t e ' a nd' publ i c ' .Fe mi ni s m' ss l oga nwa s' t hepe r s ona li s pol i t i c al ' .
2.
I tt he r e f or eope ne dupt opol i t i c a lc o nt e s t a t i onwhol ene wa r e na sof s oc i all i f e t hef ami l y ,s e xual i t y ,hous e wor k, t hedome s t i cdi vi s i onof l abour ,c hi l dr e ar i ng, e t c .
3.
I ta l s oexpos e d,a sapol i t i c a la nds oc i a lque s t i on, t hei s s ueofhow wea r ef or me da ndpr oduc e da sg e nde r e ds ubj e c t s .Tha ti st os a y ,i t pol i t i c i ze ds ubj e c t i vi t y ,i de nt i t ya ndt hepr oc e s sofi de nt i fic at i on( as men/women,mot her s /f at her s , s ons /daught er s ) .
4.
Whatbeganasamovementdi r ec t edatc hal l engi ngt he s oc i a lo oi nc l udet h eo e x ua l p s i t i o nofwomenexpandedt f r ma t i o nofs a ndge nde r e di de nt i t i e s .
5.
Femi ni s mc hal l engedt henot i ont hatmenandwomenwer epar tof t hes a mei de nt i t y' Ma nki nd' r e pl a c i ngi twi t ht heq ue s t i o no fs e xua l d i ffe r e nc e .
I nt hi sRe a di ng,t he n, Iha v et r i e dt oma pt hec onc e pt ua ls hi f t sb ywhi c h, a c c o r di ngt os o met he or i s t s , t heEnl i ght e nme nt' s ubj e c t ' , wi t hafix e da nd s t a bl ei de nt i t y , wa sde c e nt r e di nt ot heope n, c ont r a di c t or y ,unfini s he d, f r a gme nt e di de nt i t i e so ft hepos t mode r ns ubj e c t . Iha vet r a c e dt hi s t hr o ughfiv egr e a tde c e nt r i ngs .Le tmer e mi ndy oua g ai nt ha tagr e a t ma nys o c i a ls c i e nt i s t sa ndi nt e l l e c t ua l sdonota c c e ptt hec onc e pt ua lor i nt e l l e c t ua li mpl i c a t i ons( a sout l i ne da bov e)oft he s ede ve l opme nt si n moder nt hought . Howeve r ,f ew woul dnow denyt hei rdee pl yuns et t l i ng e ffe c t sonl a t e mode r ni de a sa nd, pa r t i c ul a r l y , onho wt hes ubj e c ta ndt he i s s ueofi de nt i t yha v ec omet obec o nc e pt ua l i z e d.
No t e sa n dr e f e r e n c e s
1R.Wi l l i a ms ,Ke Font a na ,London,1 9 76 ) ,pp.1 3 35 . ywo r ds( 2L.Al t hus s e r ,Fo Ve r s o ,London,1 96 6 ) , p.2 2 8. rMa r x( 3H.Dr eyf usandP. Rabi now , c Mi he lFo uc a ul t Be y o ndSt r uc t ur a l i s ma nd ( Ha r v es t e r ,Br i ght on, 1 98 2) He r me ne ut i c s
