Feminism And Multiculturalism

While at first blush the protection of cultural diversity seems like a worthy cause to support for many of us, there are much deeper implications than the prima facie façade multiculturalism suggests. Instead, there is a “deep and growing tension” (Okin,1999; p10) between the ideals of feminism and those concerned with the protection of cultural rights. This tension is exacerbated when the protection of those rights safeguards the continuation of practices such as female genital cutting (FGC) in the name of ‘culture’ and ‘tradition.’ Every culture is dynamic, complex, and rich in its own ways. However when cultures come together and interact there are inevitably tensions and one such tension is centred on gender and gender norms. In this paper I hope to explore the question “what should be done when the claims of minority cultures or religions clash with the norm of gender equality that is at least formally endorsed by liberal states (however much they continue to violate it in their practices)?” (Okin,1999; p9) Answering this question will allow us to look at the inconsistencies between women’s rights and cultural rights.

Definitions

In order to fully explore the complexities of the relationship between feminism and multiculturalism, we first need to understand the terms which are being used. I believe that Okin (1999) describes feminism best when she explains it as “the belief that women should not be disadvantaged by their sex, that they should be recognized as having human dignity equal to that of men, and that they should have the opportunity to live as fulfilling and as freely chosen lives as men can” (p10). The exact definition of multiculturalism is harder to specify. Taken literally, it can mean multiple cultures living t...

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... to look beyond this as it is a multidimensional practice that deserves a reasoned and reflective dialogue. In order to fully examine the practice I will first discuss the facts of the practice, and then I will look at its social implications and why they cause the dispute between women’s rights and cultural rights.

It has been recently documented that there are about 140 million females worldwide that are currently living with the consequences of female genital cutting (World Health Organization, 2013). That is approximately two million girls annually or approximately 6,000 girls per day who endure torture that results in pain, trauma, bleeding, infection or even death (Dorkenoo & Elwothy, 1992). The “long-term physical complications are numerous, and there appear to be substantial psychological effects on women’s self-image and sexual lives” (Toubia, 1993; p46).