Feminism and Multiculturalism

I agree with Okin's argument that tension can and does exist between feminism and multiculturalism. While I think striving to preserve many types of cultures that exist in our world today, if we wish to give women an equal voice and protect the lives of over half the people in our world, we cannot expect to that allowing certain aspects of many generally very patriarchal cultures to continue. As Okin states, pretty much every cultural group has a strong basis in a patriarchal society that often "aim to control women and render them, especially sexually and reproductively, servile to men's interests and desires" (5). If we want to give women equal opportunity and equal rights, these issues must be addressed.

I do not think that the extinction of these minority groups is typically necessary, nor do I think that Okin makes that argument. As Okin argues, "to be encouraged to alter itself so as to reinforce the equality of women", I would argue, is the best answer. But what becomes difficult for me and what I think that will always be a difficult question to answer is how to go about doing this. When does the state have a right to intervene? What should be pubic and what should be private? Much of the abuse and discrimination that women face is in the private sphere- how can we recognize and address these tragedies if we can't even see them? I would ask the same question Sunstein poses: "What is the appropriate domain of secular law insofar as government seek to control discriminatory behavior by or within in religious institutions?" This and others like it are the hardest questions to answer, and can differ so dramatically from culture to culture. But what is completely clear, at least to me, is that women are repressed and abused at a level in our world today that is alarming and upsetting.