Strategic essentialism is a major concept in postcolonial theory. The term was coined by the Indianliterary critic and theoristGayatri Chakravorty Spivak. It refers to a strategy that nationalities, ethnic groups or minority groups can use to present themselves. While strong differences may exist between members of these groups and among themselves they engage in continuous debates, it is sometimes advantageous for them to temporarily 'essentialize' themselves and bring forward their group identity in a simplified way to achieve certain goals. Postcolonial theory is a literary theory or critical approach that deals with literature produced in countries that were once, or are now, colonies of other countries. ... Literary criticism is the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. ... Literary theory is the theory (or the philosophy) of the interpretation of literature and literary criticism. ... Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (born February 24, 1942) is a literary critic and theorist from India. ...
The idea also comes up regularly in queer theory and in feminist theory, specifically in the work of Luce Irigaray. Queer theory is an anti-essentialist theory about sex and gender within the larger field of Queer studies. ... // Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical, ground. ... Luce Irigaray (born 1930 Belgium) is a French feminist and psychoanalytic and cultural theorist. ...
Her recent work, A Critique of Postcolonial Reason, published in 1999, explores how major works of European metaphysics (e.g., Kant, Hegel) not only tend to exclude the subaltern from their discussions, but actively prevent non-Europeans from occupying positions as fully human subjects.
Spivak coined the term "strategicessentialism", which refers to a sort of temporary solidarity for the purpose of social action.
"Strategicessentialism" is about the need to temporarily accept an "essentialist" position in order to be able to act.
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