-This is adapted from a project description/proposal I wrote last semester as I began to work on this topic.-
Broadly, this paper seeks to understand post-colonial relationships as well as globalization in the context of Kenya. The case study or example to be used from Kenya is that of widow inheritance. In a previous paper, I discussed how the cultural practice of widow inheritance has significantly changed in recent years. In that paper, I identified the causes of changes to widow inheritance to be HIV/AIDS, Westernization, and economic issues. This paper then seeks to further examine the changes of widow inheritance and associated processes on a more critical level by investigating the following questions:
1. How can we debunk the myth that globalization is a top-down, outside-in process? What is a bottom-up view of globalization in Kenya's case?
2. How can we look deeper into the discourse surrounding widow inheritance - beyond the façade of HIV/AIDS to underlying discourses of neocolonialism and paternalism? What does this then tell us about how certain issues are considered important?
3. Lastly, what can this imply for us about a feminist code of ethics?
I plan to use a number of sources, including my own past research and writing on widow inheritance and transnational feminist ethics; theoretical feminist writings on globalization and post-colonial thought; and Kenyan newspaper articles discussing globalization and western influences.
I think this sounds like an engaging topic. I know that you discuss which types of feminist works you will be using to explore the issue but I'm wondering if you will make the case within your paper that this is a feminist issue that needs to be explored. Also, I know that you mentioned in your free-write exercise the other day that you are very committed to including an aspect of your positionality within the paper and I want to encourage you to think about that in the context of these larger questions as well. Meaning, as a white, Western feminist, what is your role within the "feminist code of ethics" you will be identifying and how can we engage (as Western feminists) in transnational feminist practices that don't simply recreate imbalances in power and become oppressive (neocolonial) in themselves?
Also, I know this text doesn't have to do with widow inheritance or Kenya, but I really like it and am wondering if you've read it. It might provide an interesting view in terms of doing transnational feminist research collaboratively. It's Richa Nagar's (who is a faculty member in GWSS) text, "Playing with Fire". http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Fire-Feminist-Thought-Activism/dp/0816647704/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265380461&sr=1-6 Again, it might just be something to check out but it deals with some of these questions of transnational feminist ethics, is a quick and enjoyable read and it might be able to inform your project in some way.
I'm really excited for you to keep working on this project. I always loved when you shared your research while we were in Kenya and I think this semester is going to be a great opportunity to take it further. I think your questions are really great and one thing I am also interested in is the fine details--the nuances to "transnational" and "local" relationships. I think it's easy to fall into a structure where all of the problems with the current and historical systems of power are highlighted (which is certainly necessasry), effectively denying any route into spaces for transformation. I know you are a solution-oriented thinker and I think that your discussion of a feminist code of ethics may be a space you can incorporate a complex argument about constructions of transnational relationships and ways feminist engagement may create or enter into already existing ruptures.
I also agree with Kandace that the feminist code of ethics is interesting when considering structures of power in transnational relationships. Is this a Western feminist code of ethics? What are ethics? There is a pretty interesting collection of essays called "The Turn to Ethics" (it's a book but I can't figure out how to underline or italicize on here). I'm not sure how deep you plan to go in the discussion of ethics themselves but it might be worth taking a peek at.