Questions of Autonomy : Feminist Perspectives on Multiculturalism and Possible Solutions to Okin's Dilemma

Due to immigration most European nations are multicultural societies. The tensions between multiculturalism and feminism were famously introduced by Susan Moller Okin (1998) in her essay, “Is multiculturalism bad for women?” Okins dilemma shows that there is no consent among feminists of all generations on what constitutes autonomy. The main question that is promising to resolve Okins dilemma is: What is autonomy and how can it be determined? An increased inflow of refugees to Europe in 2015 to 2016 has translated the discussion onto the public stage. According to Lébinard (2011), in the current political sentiment, the link between minority cultures and gender inequality can easily be transformed into an immediate political currency by populists. Thus, this may frequently have legal effects, such as the “Burka ban” in France. Also, the discursive frame of gender equality may be used to cover up racist motives, especially when it comes to integration policies. This thesis therefore places emphasis on the lessons learned from post-colonial studies and questions the power of discourse: Is the perspective of women targeted by these laws even taken into account? Can the migrant speak? Additionally, different theories to form a new account of autonomy are introduced. These accounts can be categorized in ‘Authentic Choice and ‘Participation models. Since conflicts that can be categorized as instances of Okins dilemma can cumulate a sheer variety of perspectives and interpretations, this thesis argues that there is no ‘one size fits all solution. The lessons learned from this discourse give important insights as it relates to the solution of these societal conflicts. Thus, when integrative measures are taken, politicians in charge should consult these lessons. Since these conflicts usually integrate inter- as well as intracultural aspects, policies should be aimed at both minority and majority cultures.Author Karoline BerghuberAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersUniversität Linz, Masterarbeit, 2018(VLID)328439