Atlas: The Emerging Transnational Female Identity---illustrations from multi-ethnic,multi-cultural perspective by Latika Mangrulkar

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ISTR Sixth International Conference
Toronto, Canada / July 11-14, 2004
Contesting Citizenship and Civil Society in a Divided World

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The Emerging Transnational Female Identity---illustrations from multi-ethnic,multi-cultural perspective
by
Latika Mangrulkar
Psychologists for social responsibility

The last fifty or more years have seen waves of trans-national migrations across the world. Occuring for various religious, political and economic reasons, these migrations have seen the evolution of the female leadership role under continually changing circumstances, forcing many to transcend the limitations of traditional boundaries of their cultures of origin. This papers looks at an emerging female identity and the inherent tensions when traditions must give way to the creation of new pathways to adapt to the cultures of voluntary or involuntary adoption.

The post 9/11 world, when an obviously fear laden thinking has permeated public policy decisions, particularly in the western countries, the role of this emerging feminist leadership in the creation of cultures of peace and civil society has been significant. As a trans-national woman, a social worker as well as a grasroots activist, I have spent over thirty years observing this phenomenon. My presentation will draw on the experiential work done by individuals as well the limited research available in this area. This new model of female leadership will be illustrated from the following three levels: transnatioanl, local and personal involvement.

a) Psychololgists for Social Responsibility and International Peace Practitioners Network are two national and international organizations. Their mission is to creat cultures of peace through education, research and practice of psychology to promote civil society and durable peace. Over and over again women of trans-national backgrounds, researchers, clinicians and community activists have used their unique multi-cultural perspectives for raising issues in ethnic and gneder sensitive ways. Often theses concens first surfaced when they had to create a way for themselves while dealing with the inherent contradictions in the varying worldviews they experienced. This is the macro level from which the illustrations are drawn.

b)New Visions-- a grasroots community organization engaged in education and consciouness raising, an effort to eradicate gender violence in immigrant communities. Here women from many different backgrounds, homemakers, activists, enterpreneurs, all trans-nationals are developing programs their respective communities. Some are assuming leadership for the first time, others have been advocates in their cultural groups. These are women from Korea and Japan, China and the Phillipines, the Indian subcontinent or some combination of Asian ethnicity, but all are members of the trans-nationale group and combating a global problems, gender violence, with the help of mainstream resources. They act as interpreters, cultural ambassadors or an adaptation of many cultures they are a part of, thuse creating a new female identity that is trying to build civil society on the mezzo level.

c) Individual volunteers or professionals contributing in their own ways, whether through pro-bono workshops or in-services or developing personal techniques that connect across cultures and nationalities-- this is the micro level. These volunteers may educate lay people or other clinicians, in physical or mental health settings academic or cooorporate establishments, demonstrating a new brand of leadership to effectively cope with with thei own changing circumstances as well as create better understanding in an increasingly multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society.

This a multi-layer approach whose presence in the increasingly trans-national world cannot be disputed. In our ever changing, anxiety filled world, through these practice focused examples the presenter tries to demonstrate that here is a huge cache of resources that can be used much more more effectively, if only we are able to recognize and harness this social capital to resolve the conflicting tensions created by our colliding worldviews. These examples show how widespread, yet how underutilized this capital is. To use the words of William F. Schulz, the Executive Director of Amnesty International when he advocates for greater international responsibility, " It is a matter of survival...our...welfare is bound up in theirs, and when their dreams die, our health and security die with them." Following this line of thought not to optimally utlize this emerging leadership to cultivate cultures of peace and civility is to waste a very vital resource.

Date received: September 24, 2003