Description
Book SynopsisThe idea that respect for cultural diversity conflicts with gender equality is now a staple of both public and academic debate. Yet discussion of these tensions is marred by exaggerated talk of cultural difference, leading to ethnic reductionism, cultural stereotyping, and a hierarchy of traditional and modern.
Trade Review"[Phillips] draws attention to a whole new set of questions about the relationship between gender and culture and provides directions for future research in this area."
Political Studies Review "Anne Phillips's work demonstrates the exhilaration and importance of sustained critique. This insightful work is the latest contribution in her deft and decisive critiques of multiculturalism. It lays out the moral, philosophical and practical grounds at stake in tackling the intractable Gordian knot of gender and culture. It raises all our hopes and forces us to rethink the most settled of positions."
Henrietta Moore, London School of Economics
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements vi
1 Introduction 1
2 Multiculturalism, universalism and the claims of democracy 16
3 Dilemmas of gender and culture: the judge, the democrat and the political activist 38
4 What is ‘culture’? 57
5 What’s wrong with essentialism? 69
6 When culture means gender: issues of cultural defence in the English courts 83
7 Free to decide for oneself 107
8 Consent, autonomy and coercion: forced marriage, public policy and the courts 124
Notes 142
Bibliography 157
Index 165
