anatomy of an outrage: female genital cutting and the challenge of building multicultural...

Female Genital Cutting and the Challenge of Building Multicultural Democracies

Anatomy of an Outrage:

Lisa Wade, PhDlisa-wade.com • @lisawade •

facebook.com/lisawadephd

Susan Moller Okin:Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?

In the name of justice, multiculturalists advocate tolerance of differences between groups.

Susan Moller Okin:Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?

In the name of justice, multiculturalists advocate tolerance of differences between groups.

But they often pay more attention to the differences between groups than those within them.

Susan Moller Okin:Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?

In the name of justice, multiculturalists advocate tolerance of differences between groups.

But they often pay more attention to the differences between groups than those within them.

E.g., some groups are (more) oppressive to women (than other groups).

Susan Moller Okin:Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?

In the name of justice, multiculturalists advocate tolerance of differences between groups.

But they often pay more attention to the differences between groups than those within them.

E.g., some groups are (more) oppressive to women (than other groups).

Tolerating differences, then, may mean tolerating the oppression of women.

Susan Moller Okin:Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?

In the name of justice, multiculturalists advocate tolerance of differences between groups.

But they often pay more attention to the differences between groups than those within them.

E.g., some groups are (more) oppressive to women (than other groups).

Tolerating differences, then, may mean tolerating the oppression of women.

So who’s justice is really being served by multiculturalism?

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it?

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures.

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures. Done for a wide range of reasons.

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures. Done for a wide range of reasons. Under a wide range of conditions.

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures. Done for a wide range of reasons. Under a wide range of conditions. Occurs in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle

East.

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures. Done for a wide range of reasons. Under a wide range of conditions. Occurs in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle

East. Considered “mutilation” and a “harmful

traditional practice” by the United Nations.

Case Study:Female Genital Cutting

What is it? Range of genital cutting procedures. Done for a wide range of reasons. Under a wide range of conditions. Occurs in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle

East. Considered “mutilation” and a “harmful

traditional practice” by the United Nations.

Why female genital cutting?

An American Judge:

“This court attempts to respect traditional cultures… but this is cruel and serves no known medical purpose. It's obviously a deeply ingrained cultural tradition going back 1,000 years at least.”

– Los Angeles Times (Mar. 27th, 1994)

Narayan:Dislocating Cultures

“Bride Burning” in India happens because India is a bad place. Cultural explanation

Spousal Murder in the U.S. happens because there are some bad people. Individualist explanation

Narayan:Models of Culture

REIFIED MODEL DYNAMIC MODEL

Narayan:Models of Culture

REIFIED MODEL

Membership is straightforward.

DYNAMIC MODEL

Membership is unclear.

Narayan:Models of Culture

REIFIED MODEL

Membership is straightforward.

Groups are homogeneous.

DYNAMIC MODEL

Membership is unclear.

Members differ.

Narayan:Models of Culture

REIFIED MODEL

Membership is straightforward.

Groups are homogeneous.

Content is unchanging…

… and universally embraced.

DYNAMIC MODEL

Membership is unclear.

Members differ.

Content changes… …and is contested.

Narayan:Models of Culture

REIFIED MODEL

Membership is straightforward.

Groups are homogeneous.

Content is unchanging…

… and universally embraced.

Culture is superautonomous. People are cultural dupes.

DYNAMIC MODEL

Membership is unclear.

Members differ.

Content changes… …and is contested.

People are reflective about their cultures.

Wade:The Conflict

Harborview Medical Center Prides itself on “culturally responsive

healthcare”

Wade:The Conflict

Harborview Medical Center Prides itself on “culturally responsive

healthcare” Large population of Somali

immigrants “yes, and my daughter too”

Wade:The Conflict

Harborview Medical Center Prides itself on “culturally responsive

healthcare” Large population of Somali

immigrants “yes, and my daughter too”

Response Focus groups Ethics committee Formal proposal

Wade:The Conflict

Harborview Medical Center Prides itself on “culturally responsive

healthcare” Large population of Somali immigrants

“yes, and my daughter too” Response

Focus groups Ethics committee Formal proposal

Opposition Emerges

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Symbolic persistence

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Symbolic persistence

Somali obedience

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Symbolic persistence

Somali obedience

Impossibility of consent

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Symbolic persistence

Somali obedience

Impossibility of consent

A DYNAMIC MODEL

Wade:The Arguments

PROPONENTS

NOT “genital mutilation”

Bridging procedure

Symbolic change

Somali reflection

Gender equity

OPPONENTS

DEFINITELY “mutilation”

Slippery slope

Symbolic persistence

Somali obedience

Impossibility of consent

A DYNAMIC MODEL A REIFIED MODEL

Wade:What Happened?

Wade:Who Was Right?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS

Overconfident; romanticized cultural adaptation

OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS

Overconfident; romanticized cultural adaptation

Perhaps undersold cultural resilience

OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS

Overconfident; romanticized cultural adaptation

Perhaps undersold cultural resilience

Dismissed the input of other experts

OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS

Overconfident; romanticized cultural adaptation

Perhaps undersold cultural resilience

Dismissed the input of other experts

Trivialized their worries

OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Wade:What Mistakes Were Made?

PROPONENTS

Overconfident; romanticized cultural adaptation

Perhaps undersold cultural resilience

Dismissed the input of other experts

Trivialized their worries

Can a group be socialized to a new way of oppressing women?

OPPONENTS

Reproduced ugly stereotypes

Underestimated the Somali women

Didn’t listen to them Trivialized the

abandonment of infibulation

Does this leave any possibility for meaningful cultural change?

Questions?

Lisa Wade, PhDlisa-wade.com • @lisawade •

facebook.com/lisawadephd