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Strategic Essentialism


Strategic Essentialism
ENC 3315 Argumentative Writing
Annette Williams
University of Central Florida


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Strategic Essentialism

Since societys conception people have observed the formation of groups and cultures.
Often in todays society you can see that happening with political motives, gay rights, womens
rights, racial equality etc. That is the act of a particular rhetorical concept: strategic essentialism.
The creator of this term, Gayatri Spivak, uses strategic essentialism in several different ways.
Strategic essentialism is, the strategic use of positivist essentialism in a scrupulously visible
political interest, (Fuss 1994: 99). In a simpler explanation, A political tactic employed by a
minority group acting on the basis of a shared identity in the public arena in the interests of unity
during a struggle for equal rights (Chandler, 2011). First take a look at what essentialism
isolated means. It is often used as an answer or explanation to certain behaviors. An example
would be to argue that men are more aggressive than women and that this is inevitable due to
hormonal differences. So the intention here is to use biology to argue that a particular social
difference and/or behavior is unchangeable. (http://richardtwine.com/ecofem/essentialism.html
so it can be inferred that strategic essentialism is just that, but with a motive, usually political. It
is seen every day, to persuade both positive and negative opinions. Racists, pre-dating the Civil
Rights movement used essentialism politically/strategically to say that blacks were not inferior
simply because they were black but that those of the black race had mental incapacities that
confirmed they could not be on par with that of whites. (Kennedy, Stetson. Jim Crow Guide: The
Way It Was. Boca Raton: Florida Atlantic).
And yet a further definition of essentialism is the experience. Meaning the discussion
of say, the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island. Or perhaps the Civil Rights movement and the
struggle of blacks for equal rights. Those would be examples of essentialism both independently
and strategically. So strategic essentialism would be in close relation. For instance, candidates
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Strategic Essentialism
running for office often speak of the struggle of single mothers, or the middle class. They are
using strategic essentialism, grouping different types of people, by one common thread to
achieve a political goal. In our text, there is an essay, Skeletons in The Attic, (Clara Spotted
Elk, page. 120). That seemed to motivate lawmakers to award Native Americans their ancestors
skeletons that are currently housed in museums across the country. Grouping of this sort or
generalization for with a political finish line is strategic essentialism at work.
However, not all agree with the way strategic essentialism is being used. The creator of
the term Spivak, has disavowed the term as she believes it is being used incorrectly and for the
wrong purposes, like promoting essentialist beliefs themselves. However, the original idea
behind strategic essentialism, that she has not abandoned. In reading several of her works it is
evident that much can be viewed as contradictory. Essentialism is good if used in a way that she
and society deems acceptable, but is bad if used inversely. For instance strategic essentialism of
women, is often created for feminist arguments. Such as, equal pay for women in the
workplace. But strategic essentialism to promote, the superiority of men to women would be
deemed an incorrect use of strategic essentialism.
I believe it can be inferred that Spivak seeks to define strategic essentialism as the
grouping or highlighting of a type of persons. However, it is important to note that the grouping
is not segregated, or elevated nor submerged amongst any other group. Simply different. So
saying women in the work place versus stating men as better workers than women, the former
would fit well with Spaaks intentions of strategic essentialism, the latter not so much.
When writing a persuasive speech or paper, strategic essentialism can assist to further
ones viewpoint in several different ways. For instance, in the aforementioned essay by Clara
Spotted Elk she speaks about the abuse Native Americans have incurred. Her use of strategic
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Strategic Essentialism
essentialism of her people serves to convey to the reader that this has happened to a vast majority
of Native Americans and not simply a few. Strategic essentialism in that sense can motivate the
audience to take action in support of a whole people as opposed to individuals.
The process of persuading an audience via speech or paper often uses strategic
essentialism without us even realizing. The goal of strategic essentialism is to mute the
differences amongst the audience to create unity and promote action. Again, in Elks article she
tries to create the common thread by relating that Native Americans religion and burial beliefs
should be respected just as Jews, Muslims, and Christians are (pg. 121.)
Strategic Essentialism is always discussed during the discussion of post-colonial
feminism. This is what Spivak is referring to when saying that her term is being used incorrectly.
Feminists have long disagreed with essentialism because they believe there is no way to
adequately group and generalize the entire category of women. It is what had caused the fight for
equal rights in the first place; the essentialist thought that women could not be as productive in
the workplace due to commitments at home. Critics of Spivak say strategic essentialism is
simply an excuse to defend essentialist claims if they provide further foundation for ones claim
or political goal (https://www.academia.edu/1629266/Essentialism_and_Anti-
Essentialism_in_Feminist_Philosophy pg. 136)
Nonetheless as with everything there is good and bad. Strategic essentialism in its
honesty only wants to serve as a way for minorities, ethnic groups, nationalities, etc. to present
themselves as a united front for a political purpose. Since its conception in the 1980s, by
Spivak, it has been used for less honorable purposes but at its core that is what the creator
intended. It has been in existence since before it was consciously named; as seen by the Civil
Rights Movement. Most recently it has been seen in a new movement to empower young girls.
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Strategic Essentialism
Everywhere one turns it is evident by the Dove real body campaigns and the other societal
pushes to stop photoshopping that this strategic essentialism is delivering the message that all
girls need to have positive and realistic images to view in order to stop the self-criticizing that
occurs from comparison with unrealistic images. Strategic essentialism more often than not is
used to garner support for ones issue or request. It is a persuasive tactic often used in rhetoric
whether the audience and author are aware.

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Strategic Essentialism
References
Chandler, D., & Munday, R. (2011). A dictionary of media and communication. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.