Task 2: Equality and Cultural Practices
In thinking about the issues of citizenship and culture, it is crucial to come to an understanding about the nature of cultural groups and what it means to belong to such groups. [Click picture on left]
Multicultural political thinking ‘needs to find ways of reconciling the legitimate demands of unity and diversity, of achieving political unity without cultural uniformity and cultivating among its citizens both a common sense of belonging and a willingness to respect and cherish deep cultural differences’ (Biku Parekh)
Sometimes, extending equal citizenship and equal opportunities to individuals who are members of different cultural groups may means exempting them from regulations that are binding on all citizens. In other words, granting special rights to cultural groups to accommodate certain cultural practices. Consider the following cases, in your mind are they deserving of special group rights or not? Give your reasons .
Case A
A Sikh boy is excluded from a school with a strict uniform policy because he insists on wearing a turban. The school argues that in order that individual pupils are treated equally, no head coverings of any type are allowed to be worn in school. Should the boy be granted the right to wear his turban at school?
Case B
Two brothers of Middle Eastern origin deny murdering their sister. They argue that killing her was justifiable because she had dishonoured her family by wearing short skirts, going to clubs, drinking alcohol and having a boyfriend. Should the brothers’ cultural defence of ‘honour killing’ stand against the charge of ‘murder’ in court?
Case C
A Muslim employee who works for a large company requests time off at specific times to observe her daily prayers. Should the employer grant or refuse this time off?
Case D
An Animal Welfare organisation demands that the method of animal slaughter used for Kosher and Halal meat (a ritual single cut to the throat) should be banned immediately because it causes severe suffering to animals. Should
Find out how these cases would be treated under contemporary British law .
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