8) Ong, Aihwa. “Sisterhood Solidarity: Feminist Virtue under Moderate Islam” Feminist Theory Reader. Eds. Carole R. McCann and Seung-kyung Kim New York: Routledge 2101. 503-520

‘Strategic sisterhood’ (503) implies the cooperation of the north/south feminist share with one another; it also seeks to broadcast equality ideals in the area of gender across the globe. Northern or western feminists have a Euro centric way of understanding the southern or eastern women lives as in need of improvement. Western feminists recognize themselves as free agent women whose job is to liberate their oppressed sister in the third world. There has been liberation work conducted by the women in Islam to empower their sisters yet this notion of continuously dismissed by western feminists; since they associate this world with giving into patriarchal ethics and notions that create gender differences. Ong argues that without the respect and comprehension of looking at the situation, creating a transnational sisterhood solidarity approach will be difficult. If this is not done than western feminisms will be viewed as another imperialist conquest that seeks to ignore the voice of the colonialised women for the sake of the western ego as a savior.

The formulation of strategic sisterhood is not a solid plan of action, given its multiple e complexities of ‘geopolitical inequalities, global markets and situated ethical worlds’ (518) that international feminists attempt to intrude upon. A more effective sisterhood would emulate the idea of working together to understand, challenge and reinforce the power issues that are associated with having a good western life.

Ong and Mohanty both argue that the best model that needs to be adopted when working as a collective with first and third world countries was feminist solidarity/strategic sisterhood. They both suggest that working together as equals rather than with pre-existing power relations will lead to success. An open minded transnational sister solidarity would be able to distinguish its limitation and would begin to acknowledge the authenticity of varied ethical systems. Also being inclusive to the number of situations where issues of gender equality can be brought up, medicated and resolved for the benefit of all women.