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Gayatri Spivak
- Born and raised in Calcutta, India
- self described Marxist-Feminist-Deconstructionist
- Post-colonial theorist (like Said)
- Columbia University Literature professor
Gayatri Spivak
Who are the Subaltern?
- Colonial populations who are socially, politically, and geographically excluded from the hierarchy of power
- Gramsci first used the term
- Subaltern must adopt Western ways of knowing (language, thought, reasoning
- More than just "The Other"
"Subaltern is not just a classy word for "oppressed", for [the] Other, for somebody who's not getting a piece of the pie ... .
In post-colonial terms, everything that has limited or no access to the cultural imperialism is subaltern — a space of difference. Now, who would say that's just the oppressed? The working class is oppressed. It's not subaltern ... .
Many people want to claim [the condition of] subalternity. They are the least interesting and the most dangerous. I mean, just by being a discriminated-against minority on the university campus; they don't need the word 'subaltern' ... . They should see what the mechanics of the discrimination are. They're within the hegemonic discourse, wanting a piece of the pie, and not being allowed, so let them speak, use the hegemonic discourse. They should not call themselves subaltern."
Can the Subaltern Speak? (1988)
Academics and the Subaltern
- Academics often "speak for" the subaltern
- Do you think it's possible for academics to study the subaltern?
- How do economic interests factor in?
- What about disciplines that rely upon cross-cultural interactions/study?
"White men are saving the Brown women from Brown men."
- Spivak uses this as an example of the relationship between colonizer and colonized
- What about missions?