Book Review of 'SEEING LIKE A FEMINIST'

                    Book Review of 'Seeing like a Feminist'

BY SANIYA SHEKH

“…the maintaining of social order is like no makeup, makeup look. It requires faithful

performance of prescribed rituals over and over again throughout one’s lifetime. Complex networks of cultural reproduction are dedicated to this purpose. But the ultimate goal is to produce the effect of untouched naturalness.”

I had come to read ‘seeing like a feminist’ by Niveditha Menon, one of the finest works on feminism recently, which compelled me to question the so-called social life which is assumed to be the “normal” under the deeply patriarchal society where  “in whichever ways women are different… their difference is considered to be an inferior difference, not just a difference, or not a superior difference.” 

The book is a critical and thought-provoking exploration of feminism, gender politics, and social structures that shape women's lives. Drawing from diverse disciplines such as political theory, history, and cultural studies, Menon presents an incisive critique of patriarchal norms while advocating for a more nuanced and intersectional understanding of feminism. As Menon states, "Feminism is not about a checklist of demands; it is about changing the way we see the world” , arguing that feminism is not merely about advocating for women’s rights but about fundamentally transforming how we understand power, gender, and justice. 

The book is structured around key themes such as marriage, sexuality, the state, and global feminism, illustrating how gendered hierarchies persist in various domains. Menon critiques the idea of universal feminism, emphasizing that feminist struggles are shaped by cultural and historical contexts."The gender binary is not natural; it is a construct that serves power", she challenges the binary notion of gender, advocating for a more fluid and inclusive perspective. Menon argues that binaries such as male/female and heterosexual/homosexual are not natural but socially constructed categories that reinforce patriarchal norms. For instance, she critiques the binary understanding of gender as biologically determined, highlighting how it excludes transgender and non-binary individuals. Menon calls for a more fluid and inclusive understanding of gender that recognizes the diversity of human experiences. This deconstruction of binaries extends to other domains, such as the public/private divide. Menon critiques the traditional feminist focus on the public sphere, arguing that the private sphere—family, marriage, and domesticity—is equally important in understanding gender oppression. She highlights how patriarchal norms are perpetuated within the family through practices like dowry, honor killings, and gendered division of labor.

Menon offers a critical analysis of the role of the state and legal systems in perpetuating gender inequality. She argues that laws are often framed within patriarchal norms and fail to address the root causes of oppression. For instance, she critiques anti-dowry laws for focusing on individual cases of violence rather than challenging the structural inequalities that sustain the practice of dowry.

Menon also examines the limitations of legal reforms in addressing issues like sexual violence and workplace harassment. She argues that while legal reforms are important, they are insufficient without broader cultural and social change. Menon’s critique of the state is particularly relevant in the Indian context, where the state often positions itself as a protector of women’s rights while perpetuating patriarchal norms through its policies and practices.

Menon’s work is deeply intersectional, emphasizing how gender intersects with caste, class, religion, and sexuality to produce multiple forms of oppression. She critiques mainstream feminism for often centering the experiences of upper-caste, middle-class, heterosexual women, while marginalizing the voices of Dalit women, queer individuals, and religious minorities.

For example, Menon discusses how caste-based violence against Dalit women is often overlooked in mainstream feminist discourse. She also critiques the heteronormativity of Indian feminism, highlighting the struggles of queer individuals for recognition and rights. By centering intersectionality, Menon challenges readers to think beyond a monolithic understanding of gender and to recognize the diverse experiences of oppression and resistance.

Menon employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from academic research, legal cases, media analysis, and personal narratives. This method enriches the text, making it accessible to both academic and non-academic audiences. The book is structured thematically rather than chronologically, allowing her to weave together historical and contemporary issues seamlessly. Her engagement with feminist theorists such as Judith Butler, Gayatri Spivak, and Michel Foucault situates her arguments within broader intellectual traditions. Additionally, her use of real-life case studies and references to popular culture makes her critique more relatable, enhancing its impact beyond academic circles. Menon effectively demonstrates how feminism is inherently political and requires constant negotiation within specific social contexts. She argues that feminist thought must go beyond legal reform and engage in ideological shifts that redefine social norms and power structures.

Menon encourages readers to adopt a feminist lens to critically examine societal norms and power structures. She argues that feminism is not about achieving equality within existing systems but about transforming those systems to create a more just and equitable society. "Feminism is not a comfortable movement; it is meant to disrupt, to unsettle, to challenge the status quo.” This perspective is particularly evident in Menon’s discussion of issues like reservation and affirmative action. She critiques the notion that reservation for women in legislative bodies is a sufficient measure for achieving gender equality, arguing that it does not address the underlying power dynamics that exclude women from political participation. 

Also, Menon’s work contributes to the broader discourse on gender justice by emphasizing the interconnectedness of struggles against patriarchy, caste oppression, and neoliberal economic policies. She critiques the ways in which global capitalism commodifies feminism, reducing it to market-friendly slogans rather than genuine systemic change.

Through its accessible style, intersectional approach, and critical engagement with power, Seeing Like a Feminist succeeds in its goal of making feminism relevant to everyday life. It is a book that not only critiques the world as it is but also imagines the world as it could be—a world where gender justice is not just a dream but a reality. This sentiment is reflected in her acknowledgement, when she says, “Here’s to feminist of every gender, everywhere, anywhere. And those who seriously engage with feminism to push us, kicking and screaming, in unexpected directions. And to those who’ll become feminist at some stage. Our lives are meaningful because of one another”.

BOOK REVIEW 

• BY SANIYA SHEKH

“…the maintaining of social order is like no makeup, makeup look. It requires faithful

performance of prescribed rituals over and over again throughout one’s lifetime. Complex networks of cultural reproduction are dedicated to this purpose. But the ultimate goal is to produce the effect of untouched naturalness.”

I had come to read ‘seeing like a feminist’ by Niveditha Menon, one of the finest works on feminism recently, which compelled me to question the so-called social life which is assumed to be the “normal” under the deeply patriarchal society where  “in whichever ways women are different… their difference is considered to be an inferior difference, not just a difference, or not a superior difference.” 

The book is a critical and thought-provoking exploration of feminism, gender politics, and social structures that shape women's lives. Drawing from diverse disciplines such as political theory, history, and cultural studies, Menon presents an incisive critique of patriarchal norms while advocating for a more nuanced and intersectional understanding of feminism. As Menon states, "Feminism is not about a checklist of demands; it is about changing the way we see the world” , arguing that feminism is not merely about advocating for women’s rights but about fundamentally transforming how we understand power, gender, and justice. 

The book is structured around key themes such as marriage, sexuality, the state, and global feminism, illustrating how gendered hierarchies persist in various domains. Menon critiques the idea of universal feminism, emphasizing that feminist struggles are shaped by cultural and historical contexts."The gender binary is not natural; it is a construct that serves power", she challenges the binary notion of gender, advocating for a more fluid and inclusive perspective. Menon argues that binaries such as male/female and heterosexual/homosexual are not natural but socially constructed categories that reinforce patriarchal norms. For instance, she critiques the binary understanding of gender as biologically determined, highlighting how it excludes transgender and non-binary individuals. Menon calls for a more fluid and inclusive understanding of gender that recognizes the diversity of human experiences. This deconstruction of binaries extends to other domains, such as the public/private divide. Menon critiques the traditional feminist focus on the public sphere, arguing that the private sphere—family, marriage, and domesticity—is equally important in understanding gender oppression. She highlights how patriarchal norms are perpetuated within the family through practices like dowry, honor killings, and gendered division of labor.

Menon offers a critical analysis of the role of the state and legal systems in perpetuating gender inequality. She argues that laws are often framed within patriarchal norms and fail to address the root causes of oppression. For instance, she critiques anti-dowry laws for focusing on individual cases of violence rather than challenging the structural inequalities that sustain the practice of dowry.

Menon also examines the limitations of legal reforms in addressing issues like sexual violence and workplace harassment. She argues that while legal reforms are important, they are insufficient without broader cultural and social change. Menon’s critique of the state is particularly relevant in the Indian context, where the state often positions itself as a protector of women’s rights while perpetuating patriarchal norms through its policies and practices.

Menon’s work is deeply intersectional, emphasizing how gender intersects with caste, class, religion, and sexuality to produce multiple forms of oppression. She critiques mainstream feminism for often centering the experiences of upper-caste, middle-class, heterosexual women, while marginalizing the voices of Dalit women, queer individuals, and religious minorities.

For example, Menon discusses how caste-based violence against Dalit women is often overlooked in mainstream feminist discourse. She also critiques the heteronormativity of Indian feminism, highlighting the struggles of queer individuals for recognition and rights. By centering intersectionality, Menon challenges readers to think beyond a monolithic understanding of gender and to recognize the diverse experiences of oppression and resistance.

Menon employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from academic research, legal cases, media analysis, and personal narratives. This method enriches the text, making it accessible to both academic and non-academic audiences. The book is structured thematically rather than chronologically, allowing her to weave together historical and contemporary issues seamlessly. Her engagement with feminist theorists such as Judith Butler, Gayatri Spivak, and Michel Foucault situates her arguments within broader intellectual traditions. Additionally, her use of real-life case studies and references to popular culture makes her critique more relatable, enhancing its impact beyond academic circles. Menon effectively demonstrates how feminism is inherently political and requires constant negotiation within specific social contexts. She argues that feminist thought must go beyond legal reform and engage in ideological shifts that redefine social norms and power structures.

Menon encourages readers to adopt a feminist lens to critically examine societal norms and power structures. She argues that feminism is not about achieving equality within existing systems but about transforming those systems to create a more just and equitable society. "Feminism is not a comfortable movement; it is meant to disrupt, to unsettle, to challenge the status quo.” This perspective is particularly evident in Menon’s discussion of issues like reservation and affirmative action. She critiques the notion that reservation for women in legislative bodies is a sufficient measure for achieving gender equality, arguing that it does not address the underlying power dynamics that exclude women from political participation. 

Also, Menon’s work contributes to the broader discourse on gender justice by emphasizing the interconnectedness of struggles against patriarchy, caste oppression, and neoliberal economic policies. She critiques the ways in which global capitalism commodifies feminism, reducing it to market-friendly slogans rather than genuine systemic change.

Through its accessible style, intersectional approach, and critical engagement with power, Seeing Like a Feminist succeeds in its goal of making feminism relevant to everyday life. It is a book that not only critiques the world as it is but also imagines the world as it could be—a world where gender justice is not just a dream but a reality. This sentiment is reflected in her acknowledgement, when she says, “Here’s to feminist of every gender, everywhere, anywhere. And those who seriously engage with feminism to push us, kicking and screaming, in unexpected directions. And to those who’ll become feminist at some stage. Our lives are meaningful because of one another”.

BOOK REVIEW 

• BY SANIYA SHEKH

“…the maintaining of social order is like no makeup, makeup look. It requires faithful

performance of prescribed rituals over and over again throughout one’s lifetime. Complex networks of cultural reproduction are dedicated to this purpose. But the ultimate goal is to produce the effect of untouched naturalness.”

I had come to read ‘seeing like a feminist’ by Niveditha Menon, one of the finest works on feminism recently, which compelled me to question the so-called social life which is assumed to be the “normal” under the deeply patriarchal society where  “in whichever ways women are different… their difference is considered to be an inferior difference, not just a difference, or not a superior difference.” 

The book is a critical and thought-provoking exploration of feminism, gender politics, and social structures that shape women's lives. Drawing from diverse disciplines such as political theory, history, and cultural studies, Menon presents an incisive critique of patriarchal norms while advocating for a more nuanced and intersectional understanding of feminism. As Menon states, "Feminism is not about a checklist of demands; it is about changing the way we see the world” , arguing that feminism is not merely about advocating for women’s rights but about fundamentally transforming how we understand power, gender, and justice. 

The book is structured around key themes such as marriage, sexuality, the state, and global feminism, illustrating how gendered hierarchies persist in various domains. Menon critiques the idea of universal feminism, emphasizing that feminist struggles are shaped by cultural and historical contexts."The gender binary is not natural; it is a construct that serves power", she challenges the binary notion of gender, advocating for a more fluid and inclusive perspective. Menon argues that binaries such as male/female and heterosexual/homosexual are not natural but socially constructed categories that reinforce patriarchal norms. For instance, she critiques the binary understanding of gender as biologically determined, highlighting how it excludes transgender and non-binary individuals. Menon calls for a more fluid and inclusive understanding of gender that recognizes the diversity of human experiences. This deconstruction of binaries extends to other domains, such as the public/private divide. Menon critiques the traditional feminist focus on the public sphere, arguing that the private sphere—family, marriage, and domesticity—is equally important in understanding gender oppression. She highlights how patriarchal norms are perpetuated within the family through practices like dowry, honor killings, and gendered division of labor.

Menon offers a critical analysis of the role of the state and legal systems in perpetuating gender inequality. She argues that laws are often framed within patriarchal norms and fail to address the root causes of oppression. For instance, she critiques anti-dowry laws for focusing on individual cases of violence rather than challenging the structural inequalities that sustain the practice of dowry.

Menon also examines the limitations of legal reforms in addressing issues like sexual violence and workplace harassment. She argues that while legal reforms are important, they are insufficient without broader cultural and social change. Menon’s critique of the state is particularly relevant in the Indian context, where the state often positions itself as a protector of women’s rights while perpetuating patriarchal norms through its policies and practices.

Menon’s work is deeply intersectional, emphasizing how gender intersects with caste, class, religion, and sexuality to produce multiple forms of oppression. She critiques mainstream feminism for often centering the experiences of upper-caste, middle-class, heterosexual women, while marginalizing the voices of Dalit women, queer individuals, and religious minorities.

For example, Menon discusses how caste-based violence against Dalit women is often overlooked in mainstream feminist discourse. She also critiques the heteronormativity of Indian feminism, highlighting the struggles of queer individuals for recognition and rights. By centering intersectionality, Menon challenges readers to think beyond a monolithic understanding of gender and to recognize the diverse experiences of oppression and resistance.

Menon employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from academic research, legal cases, media analysis, and personal narratives. This method enriches the text, making it accessible to both academic and non-academic audiences. The book is structured thematically rather than chronologically, allowing her to weave together historical and contemporary issues seamlessly. Her engagement with feminist theorists such as Judith Butler, Gayatri Spivak, and Michel Foucault situates her arguments within broader intellectual traditions. Additionally, her use of real-life case studies and references to popular culture makes her critique more relatable, enhancing its impact beyond academic circles. Menon effectively demonstrates how feminism is inherently political and requires constant negotiation within specific social contexts. She argues that feminist thought must go beyond legal reform and engage in ideological shifts that redefine social norms and power structures.

Menon encourages readers to adopt a feminist lens to critically examine societal norms and power structures. She argues that feminism is not about achieving equality within existing systems but about transforming those systems to create a more just and equitable society. "Feminism is not a comfortable movement; it is meant to disrupt, to unsettle, to challenge the status quo.” This perspective is particularly evident in Menon’s discussion of issues like reservation and affirmative action. She critiques the notion that reservation for women in legislative bodies is a sufficient measure for achieving gender equality, arguing that it does not address the underlying power dynamics that exclude women from political participation. 

Also, Menon’s work contributes to the broader discourse on gender justice by emphasizing the interconnectedness of struggles against patriarchy, caste oppression, and neoliberal economic policies. She critiques the ways in which global capitalism commodifies feminism, reducing it to market-friendly slogans rather than genuine systemic change.

Through its accessible style, intersectional approach, and critical engagement with power, Seeing Like a Feminist succeeds in its goal of making feminism relevant to everyday life. It is a book that not only critiques the world as it is but also imagines the world as it could be—a world where gender justice is not just a dream but a reality. This sentiment is reflected in her acknowledgement, when she says, “Here’s to feminist of every gender, everywhere, anywhere. And those who seriously engage with feminism to push us, kicking and screaming, in unexpected directions. And to those who’ll become feminist at some stage. Our lives are meaningful because of one another”.