Week 8 - Social Identities, Culture, Women's Rights Flashcards
Universalism
- Some values are universal
Ex. Democracy, Human/Equal Rights
(Cultural values are not valid excuses for violating universal values)
Relativism
- Different cultural values are relevant in different settings
(No set of cultural values is superior to another)
- Concept of “Universal values” is a form of imperialism (Eurocentric values in disguise)
Universalism vs. Relativism
Universalism assumes culture is homogenous and fixed: Incorrect - Culture is always plural and contested
Universalism assumes that one or the other perspective will prevail - no room for minorities
Strictly “universal” approach = Imperialism
Perspective: Culture is always plural and contested
“Seeing culture as open to change emphasizes struggles over cultural values within local communities and encourages attention to local cultural practices as resources for change”
what is FGM/FGC
FGM - Female Genital Mutilation
FGC - Female Genital Cutting
FGM/C is considered child abuse and a human rghts violation.
- Products if pervasive social injustices and harmful gender norms
- It has no health benefits. Instead, it has life-long health and psychological consequences
Islamic Family Law ACT 1984
- More difficult for women to secure divorce
- Weaker position in the division of matrimonial assets
- Fewer rights in child custody and maintenance
Sisters In Islam - Zainah Anwar
“Very often Muslim women who demand justice and want to change discriminatory law and practices are told “this is God’s Law” and therefore not open to negotiation and change”
Distinction between God’s Way and Human Understanding
- Recognition of human agency and fallibility in interpretation
- Diversity of opinion in religious interpretation
- Continuous evolution across time and place
Musawah
Spreads new knowledge about women’s rights in Islam.
- Seeks equality and justice within Muslim legal tradition
- Integrates Islamic teachings, international human rights principles, national guarantees of equalities
What is “universalism” and what is “relativism”? What are the key arguments supporting each of these perspectives, and what criticisms have been made of each perspective?
Key arguments:
- Universalism urges shared perspectives between each individual which creates unity
- Relativism highlights cultural diversity between individuals, emphasizing the importance of different values and beliefs in different cultural contexts
Criticisms:
- Universalism urges one dominant shared ideology between every individual, which eliminates the values and beliefs of minority groups. It also has an element of imperialism involved, as the Western dominant values will disregard the values of minorities.
- Relativism can make it hard to address issues of human rights since each area may have different perspectives on issues. It can undermine moral judgement, as it suggests all moral values are equal.
What is ‘culture’? And how do ‘primordialism’, ‘instrumentalism’, and ‘constructivism’ – as contending views about the nature of culture – differ?
Culture - Culture is a very broad concept that encompasses human behaviours, beliefs, practices, and values. It shapes the perspective of people and how they interact with one another. It commonly shares characteristics such as beliefs, values, norms, language, etc.
Primordialism view:
* Culture is ancient, natural, and fixed. It is rooted in historical and biological factors and passed down through generations.
Instrumentalism view:
* Culture is a tool to achieve specific goals, such as political power or economic advantage
Constructivism view:
* Culture is actively created and shaped through social interactions and historical processes. It is not fixed but rather constantly evolving
What does it mean to ‘translate’ global human rights norms in the contexts and terms of particular cultures? Why is this process of ‘translation’ important? What are some examples?
Translating global human rights norms into specific cultural contexts involves adapting global human rights principles to specific cultures, values, and legal systems.
The process of translation is important as it refers to helping these specific cultures realize the dangers and risks of these human rights violations that maybe they do not understand themselves.
An example in the lecture material would be Musawah. This group intitiative is to translate global women’s rights to parts of the world where they do not possess them due to religious interpretations against them.
Another broader example would be translating the right to free speech in places that do not have them, such as North Korea.
What are the different approaches that have been taken in global campaigns against FGM/C? And, what problems or criticisms are associated with these approaches?
FGM/C refers to female genital mutilation or female genital cutting. It is a tradition for females that has been passed down througout generations. The problem is that it has no benefit and can pose life long health risks and psychological consequences.
Some approaches that have been taken in global campaigns against FGM/C include: Legal and policy interventions, community education, Health services, and empowering females.
Legal and policy interventions:
* Many countries have mqde the practice a criminal act. This deters others from participating in it.
Criticism: This is not enough to stop FGM/C, especially in areas where it is deeply rooted in cultural and social norms.
Community Engagement and Education:
* This approach includes working with communty leaders and religious figures to raise awareness of the harmful effects of FGM/C.
Criticism: This approach can be very time-consuming and face resistance from traditionalists.
* The effectiveness an be limited if they do not address the cultural and social factors that lead to FGM/C
