Postcolonial
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Commentary
Postcolonial perspectives are concerned with conducting research in Psychology away from the traditionally white western centric ideals. This perspective concentrates on colonialism as a specific historical and cultural event which has undermined alternative forms of Psychology other than that of the predominantly white west. Perspectives from researchers which deviate from this white western psychology are welcomed and explorations are made into the ways in which colonialism has impacted Psychology. Early postcolonial researchers focused on the scientific racism rife in the early part of the history of Psychology. Their work continues to concentrate on race, oppression, inequalities and the ‘taking back’ of history, and other forms of Psychology which were colonialized historically. Now post-colonial perspectives often include other perspectives, for example, there is a small selection of post-colonial feminist researchers within Psychology.
Bharj and Hegarty discuss and define a post colonial approach:
'There is considerable debate over the meaning of the term ‘postcolonial’ when labelling critical theory; a common usage is to indicate social commentary and revolutionary struggles originating in previously colonised countries. While this is often the case, with many eminent postcolonial writers originating from previously colonised countries, there are also perspectives that find this definition limiting. The “post” in postcolonial has been criticised as locating colonialism firmly in the past, thus ignoring neo-colonialism or the continuing after-effects of colonial practices (see Loomba, 1998, for discussion). The term ‘postcolonial’ can also be used to represent a critical standpoint from which colonial discourse and practices, and their continuing effects, can be deconstructed and challenged (Alva, 1995; Hsieh, 1997). As writers in a Western context this definition better represents our usage of the term ‘postcolonial theory’. Postcolonial feminism, while inheriting the difficulties of definition, attempts to extend postcolonial critique through uncovering and analysing the intersections between colonial practices and gendered oppression. Postcolonial feminism responds to criticisms of postcolonial theory’s androcentrism and its failures to account for the gendered dynamics of colonialism. Postcolonial feminists, such as Mohanty (2003) and Jarmakani (2008) have also critiqued the western mainstream feminist movement and its complicity in colonialism and continued ethno-and euro-centrism'.