Conference: Gender equality, cultural diversity: European comparisons and lessons

Across multi-ethnic and multi-cultural Europe, tensions have emerged between recognising cultural diversity and defending the rights and autonomy of women, in minority as well as majority cultural groups. The points of tension have included the legitimacy of 'cultural defence' in cases involving violence against women; how to respect practices of arranged marriage while still ensuring that young people are protected from forced marriage; how public authorities should respond to requests for surgical hymen repair or female genital cutting; and whether the hijab should be permitted in schools or courts. The issues that have captured public attention vary considerably from country to country, reflecting in part their different philosophies of integration/assimilation, but also the 'accidents' of what catches media attention. But while both issues and policy responses vary between countries, most parts of contemporary Europe face some versions of these concerns.<br> <br> The challenge in addressing these supposed tensions is to ensure that public authorities intervene effectively against practices that are harmful to women, whilst remaining sensitive to the cultural identities and interests of minority women, and continuing to respect women's autonomy.<br> <br> European debates on gender and cultural diversity take place in the context of a Europe redefining itself in relation to the enlargement of the European Union; responding to global migration flows; and grappling with the role of Christianity in a future European identity. Questions of multiculturalism and national identity are likely to become increasingly prominent in future years; and matters of cultural diversity will be largely debated by reference to practices involving the family, marriage, sexuality, and gender roles. But while the literature on multiculturalism has generated some useful cross-European comparisons between models of cultural accommodation, there is rarely a consistent gender focus. Work on the relationship between gender equality and cultural diversity proceeds mainly at a country level, and language barriers mean that findings from one part of Europe are not easily available for researchers in another.<br> <br> The conference is designed to address this problem and to bring together leading figures from across Europe: (a) to explore the normative and policy issues posed by the relationship between gender equality and cultural diversity; and (b) to develop a comparative analysis of the way these are being addressed in different countries in Europe.<br> <br> <b>Speakers</b>: i.a.<br> Haleh Afshar<br> Halleh Ghorashi<br> Baukje Prins<br> Julia Szalai<br> Riva Kastoryano<br>