Justice, Gender, and the Politics of Multiculturalism

Justice, Gender and the Politics of Multiculturalism explores the tensions that arise when culturally diverse democratic states pursue both justice for religious and cultural minorities and justice for women. Sarah Song provides a distinctive argument about the circumstances under which egalitarian justice requires special accommodations for cultural minorities while emphasizing the value of gender equality as an important limit on cultural accommodation. Drawing on detailed case studies of gendered cultural conflicts, including conflicts over the ‘cultural defense’ in criminal law, aboriginal membership rules and polygamy, Song offers a fresh perspective on multicultural politics by examining the role of intercultural interactions in shaping such conflicts. In particular, she demonstrates the different ways that majority institutions have reinforced gender inequality in minority communities and, in light of this, argues in favour of resolving gendered cultural dilemmas through intercultural democratic dialogue.

• A fresh perspective on multicultural politics, examining the role of intercultural interactions in shaping gendered cultural conflicts • Features three detailed case studies which demonstrate the theory developed in the book • Written in a clear and accessible style

1. Introduction; Part I: 2. The concept of culture in political theory; 3. Justice and multiculturalism: an egalitarian argument for cultural accommodation; Part II: 4. The \'cultural defense\' in American criminal law; 5. Tribal sovereignty and the Santa Clara Pueblo case; 6. Polygamy in America; 7. Epilogue.

‘Professor Song convincingly demonstrates that the numerous multiculturalism problems require analysis of both the interactions between the majority and minority culture, as well as debates internal to the minority culture. Her analysis of cultural defenses, polygamy, and other matters successfully challenges conventional wisdom and merits broad attention.’ Mark A. Graber, Professor of Law and Government, University of Maryland