Summary Of Is Multiculturalism Bad For Women By Susan Okin

In Susan Okin’s book, “Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women”, the main argument lies in the idea women are endangered by certain group rights. She uses the example that in France, during the 1980s, male immigrants were allowed to practice polygamy even though many of the wives opposed it. Okin then proceeds with the idea that if the public agrees that women should not be put at a disadvantage because of their gender, then group rights that tolerate oppressive practices just because “they are fundamental to minority cultures whose existence may otherwise be threatened” should not be allowed. Thus, allowing polygamy creates tension between feminism and multicultural concern for protecting the diversity that exists within cultures. Overall, Okin’s view is that feminism and multiculturalism clash because it places certain danger on women. On the other hand, Kymlicka, in his article “Liberal Complacencies”, expresses a different view of feminism and multiculturalism. Unlike Okin, who saw multiculturalism as a “threat” to feminism, Kymlicka says that both fight for several common purposes, such as the idea that awarding formal rights to minorities (including women) is not enough to ensure equality. Thus, in Kymlicka’s eyes, multiculturalism and feminism are “allies”. To further add to the debate, in her article “My Culture Made Me …show more content…
In fact, I agree with Okin’s viewpoint in that both feminism and multiculturalism are opposites. Since feminism calls for women equality, feminism goes against most, if not all, cultures because multiculturalism calls for respect for all traditions and feminism does not. So if feminist and multicultural concerns reconcile, certain beliefs of multicultural groups would have to change to fit with the beliefs of women, or vice-versa. Overall, reconciliation would mean a change to feminism or