On Rights And Dialogue: Minority Culture Women’S Lives In Diaspora

Tragic events such as the terrorist siege in Sydney and the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris reignited the questioning of efficacy of multiculturalist policies in the West. Questions about compatibility of other cultural values with those of our (Western) ways of life were once again put to scrutiny. At the centre of these debates is the claim that some cultural (and religious) groups ‘subjugate women’ and are thus incompatible with our ways of life. In this paper, I address the concerns with women’s rights violations stemming from tolerance of multiculturalism. Instead of considering multiculturalism and cultural rights as problematic and detrimental to minority culture women, I advocate the need for inclusive multiculturalism. I argue that we need to retain but re-define multiculturalism so it includes greater participation of women at all levels and promote that this can be done via a dialogic approach. I promote dialogic approach for two reasons. Firstly, because one of the dangers of speaking on behalf of the minority culture women is that it often results in the essentialist theorising about them. Secondly, advocating dialogue amongst women is a part of my stance as a multicultural feminist. Multicultural feminism promotes a dialogic approach, which recognises that any knowledge based on just one positioning is unfinished (Shohat, 2001). My research supports the above proposed arguments further. I conducted a qualitative study including perspectives of seventeen Afghani and twenty six Liberian women. It investigated how women negotiate the multiplicity of rights experiences in the areas of education, work and family in their countries of origin and in Australia. My research findings highlight that women make autonomous choices about their rights entitlements but they also value their culture. Thus, I propose that any pursuits of gender equality concerning minority culture women need to include engaging in dialogue with them. When promoting a dialogic approach, I also highlight the importance of working within the structures in order to facilitate authentic conversations and link this to an effective action. I argue that a dialogue amongst and between women is the platform for action and for formation of alliances sustaining that action.