The damnation of being a girl. Structuralism, postestructuralism and the theory of practice in gender and sexuality

Abstract

This article uses sociological theory to denounce two terrible practices such as feticide and infanticide in India, China and Pakistan, as well as their structural cause: a patriarchal system that generates gender domination and oppression. In doing so, the argument will draw on feminist structuralism, poststructuralism, and the theory of practice, and will deal with the concept of exchange/traffic of women. It will also define feminist theory in terms of transformative practice aimed to social change. The final objective is to link theory and practice: theory in order to think about the phenomenon and denounce it, and practice in order to change it. The focus is on the feminist transformative potential of the feminist theory of practice, which allows to theorise agency, resistance and change led by women.