Amrit Wilson traces back the oppression of Asian women to the total division of labour mirrored, caused religion in feudal IndoThere, because a woman's chief economic role is as a ASIAN WOMEN in Britain are not only female, black and predominantly working class, they also belong to Amrit Wilson uses extensive interviews with Asian women to describe their oppression. She says: 1 wanted to show that Asian women are quite capable of KATHY BOR reviews "Finding a Voice'.
producer of labour power (her sons), she is not considered of any real economic value before by sne is marrea. having sons to farm the land is vital.
This is not adequate as an explanation of the origins the division of labour, and the context are not explored.
However, the author cinctly presents woman as economic survival meaning ITe. security *Her role is at the heart, the core of the civilisation. That is why she is kept in place, if necessary by the most brutal oppression.
situalion sisterhood between women. On the transfer to the isolation of British society, this sisterhood Is lost. but the remains and in the hostile. "immoral" may well increase. other What's more, the woman is dependence on her husband. What young mothers suffer that more and TV anything else is having constant responsibility for dren. In Bangladesh, children under the age of five or six are looked after on family.
Nevertheless, taken jobs workplace, the womens' ability to speak SUC the Asian 'the link between and the being involved emotional se- transform this picture.
cenool of this strong ferences and racist VCEV oppression got any to talk about.
face of 'If they society it their completely ours. single thing.
and disgusting. than almost their childifficult to accept the whole them, so immodest.
many have continue her but in the inEnglish, the indiffe--ace for the most part of tne trade unions means that the women are thoroughly exploited. Their experience workplace conscious many of them can stand up in front of the gate and talk back to the managing director. If he swears, swear back at him.' Younger Asian women first cultures introduced to British society at usually find their customs ignored, crushed c idiculed by staff, pupils, an the curriculum. Cultural difattitudes distance Asian and brisa girts petty their by tends, walk havent usually talk about talk about their are the state. different . We have to explain every COLD We eat with our fingers. They think that's dirty For Asian parents, especially Muslims, the fact that their particuJariv when the uniform is. to nOw cratic, If a girl should want to education or move away from home, she is likely to encounter very strong Changes Press at £2.95 tions centres which are being set up by and for Asian women.
Her position as an Asian feminist is obviously particu larly valuable in this book and necessary since the women racism, would not have spoken to a white woman (never mind a man) in the same way.
tis not just a conflict o which creates prob lems. If the women break out of their specific chains, what is there to meet them but racism, or the constant threat of it?
The author sees beyond the day pody raciss and the racists National Front. In a forceful chapter on immigration, she nuts her tinger on the mor damaging and hidden racism of The book is well worth reading because it concerns a little discussed subject; does so in an unsentimental, insightful way, and because it reminds us (as if we needed reminding)
COlE bureau individualistic, and racist this societv is 'Finding a Voice* by Amrit Wilson, is published by Virago Photo: MICHAEL / NN MULLEN Socialist Challenge 23 November 1978 page 15
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particularly patriarchal cultures. speaking for themselves".
SOLATION consistence