08:28 Mar 25, 2006 

08:14 Mar 25, 2006 

The consequence of assuming that there is an ‘essential’ woman is that other women who do not match the ideals of this essential
figure are considered 'inessential'. The essential woman has characteristics which are culled from particular historical/cultural
formations: she speaks a particular language, eats particular foods, consumes particular products, dresses in particular ways,
and s on. Her ‘essential’ status, however, has the effect of transforming her particularities into universals; her particular way
of being becomes everywoman’s way of being.