Week 3

Question 1

Rule and exemption approach

Answer 1

If the law disadvantages a certain religion than exemptions from these laws may be justified if it disadvantages a certain group.

-Eg carrying kirpan

Question 2

Brian Berry’s theory

Answer 2

Most important equality is liberal principle

• Should tolerate religious and cultural ways including illiberal forms of living.
• If people choose to exit, they should be given a certain amount of recourses given to them by the community that make their exit possible

Question 3

Susan Okin’s Theory

Answer 3

Not opposed to multicultural rights but we should evaluate each group because they typically do not have a great amount of gender equality (Polygamy)

• Believes that women’s role in these communities is to raise kids for future generations, so they need to be heavily socialized to transmit the view that women are caregivers.
• Giving these groups rights can keep women subordinated

Question 4

Critics of Okin

Answer 4

Kymlicka believes that it may be better to persuade groups, rather than require gender equality because if we have limited accommodation, it isn’t align with liberal democratic principles

Question 5

Solutions for Okin’s Women subordination

Answer 5

Try to socialize the young women into the majority society ways
- Educate the women, although she does not believe this will completely work because of how heavily socialized they are.
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