ERIC Number: EJ1262782
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0954-0253
EISSN: N/A
Sensational Human Rights Curriculum and the Discourse on Saving the Other
Subedi, Binaya
Gender and Education, v32 n6 p715-731 2020
This article advocates for the need to develop a more critical approach to theorizing human rights curriculum and critiques dominant/western liberal interpretation of human rights discourse that claims to be humanitarian and benevolent. Liberal approach to (global) human rights discussion places emphasis on individual rights and views concepts such as freedom and independence as being easily transferable across cultures and geographical borders. By examining an award-winning text on gender oppression, the article explores why stories about the oppression faced by Third World girls are often sensationalized and are appealing to mainstream U.S./western audience. The article advocates for the need to rethink how human rights discussions are included in school curriculum and how well-meaning projects on social change reproduce deficit understanding of Third World gender experiences. Furthermore, the article explores how attempts to promote global gender advocacy often silence agency, reinscribe cultural essentialisms and avoid structural factors that contribute to gender oppressions. Lastly, the article critiques 'saving-the-Other' narratives that reinforce U.S. exceptionalism.
Descriptors: Civil Rights, Teaching Methods, Educational Theories, Curriculum Development, Awards, Gender Bias, Gender Differences, Power Structure, Females, Developing Nations, Advocacy, Global Approach, Criticism, Cultural Differences, Freedom, Books, Sexuality, Employment, Adolescents, Political Attitudes, Personal Autonomy
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A