What specific definition does Moi give for “essentialism” and what does she consider to be its danger?
Essentialism is the belief that there is a historically or socially given female nature. The danger is it forces women to fit into the constraints of femininity
In her book, “Gender Trouble,” Judith Butler critiques the then-dominant view of feminism that relied on the concept of “essentialism.” According to Butler, essentialism is the belief that gender and sexuality are natural and fixed traits, determined solely by biology rather than social and cultural factors. Essentialism posits that there is an inherent and unchanging essence or core to an individual’s gender identity, and that this identity is independent of external factors like social norms and cultural expectations.
Moi, in her article “What Is a Woman?” provides a similar definition of essentialism. For Moi, essentialism is the idea that women share a set of innate, unchanging characteristics, which determine their identity and experiences. In other words, essentialism posits that “woman” is defined by some essential, unchanging characteristic that all women share.
Moi’s main critique of essentialism is that it overlooks the role of social and cultural factors in shaping gender identity and experiences. She argues that essentialism naturalizes gender and obscures the ways in which gender is constructed through cultural norms, socialization, and historical and political contexts. Moi further believes that essentialism poses the danger of reinforcing gender stereotypes, limiting the possibilities for self-expression, and reinforcing gender-based oppression.