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Essays on Multiculturalism, Nationalism and Gender THE DARK SIDE OF THE of Canadian nationalism found in balization with a mode of analysis NATION: ESSAYS ON the popular press, or the work of she refers to in some instances as MULTICULTURALISM, organic intellectuals such as political antiracist feminist Marxism, in oth- theorist Charles Taylor. She con- ers as antiracist Marxist feminism. NATIONALISM AND nects this "elite" Western project The slippage in naming her position GENDER with the increasingly reactionary serves to accentuate what I perceive cultural essentialism of third world to be the principle feature of Himani Bannerji. Toronto: rulers and "visible minority" "com- Bannerji's work: she has rewritten Canadian Scholar's Press, 2000. munity" leaders. the oft-chanted "intersectionalities" In "A Question of Silence," the refrain as an inter-constitutive set of BY LORRAINE HUSSEY final essay of this collection, she fo- social relations of power. Through- cuses on the powerful effects of the out she insists on contextualizing discourse of essentialized and present conditions with reference to racialized "difference" on non-white their historical development. This is women in Canada. She begins by her invaluable contribution to anti- Although many feminist, Marxist, examining the complex reasons for oppressive politics. The significance and anti-racist activists and scholars public silence on this issue, includ- of this paradigm lies in its ability to continue to stumble uncertainly ing women's understandable reluc- resolve the ongoing crises ofarticula- through the maze of the "inter- tance to speak out given that they tion all fragments of the left appear sectionalities" of class, "race," eth- have little control over the "public to be undergoing. nicity, sexuality, andgender, Himani and political domains of speech or I would like to highlight the role Bannerji has once again pulled on ideologicalconstructions." The com- "experience" plays in Bannerji's work her analytical hiking boots and got- plex pressures for silencewithin these since the place ofexperience in theo- ten the job done. In this latest com- communities, as shedeftly illustrates, rizing has become a highly contested pilation of her work, she focuses her are related to the actions and policies site, particularly among feminist aca- attention on official multiculturalism of the Canadian State as much as demics. Once again, she is insisting in Canada, on the white-suprema- they are to the much-touted role of on her own experience as the starting cist undercurrents in the politics of "tradition." Carefully deconstr~ctin~ point ofcritical engagement and the recognition for "diversity" and on the notions of"community" and "tra- locus ofpolitical agency. She models concomitant appeals to liberal toler- dition," Bannerji reveals the com- a self-reflexive and deeply engaged ance. plex external and internal power re- praxis of political conscientisation. lations that have contributed to the The power of this collection resides [Dliversity discourse portrays constructionofnaturalized, common not only with her incisive analysis, society as a horizontal space, in sense meanings for these terms. At but also with Bannerji's remarkable which there is no theoretical or this historical juncture, she asserts, ability to remind her readers, again analytical room for social rela- women and their bodies become and again, that the subjects of the tions of power and ruling, of "valuable" as reified signs of "au- oppressive conditions she illuminates socio-economic contradictions thenticity"-a gesture that merely are living, breathing, and deeply hu- that construct and regulate Ca- disguises the "containment and con- man beings. Without the methodo- nadian political economy and trol of women through the norma- logical deployment ofher own expe- its ideological culture. tive mechanism of femininity." riences as integral to her theorizing, Demonstrating both her own flex- this knowledge could not transmit Bannerji exposes the inherent as- ibility as a theorist and the versatility itself so convincingly.-. sumptions and the implications of of her approach, Bannerji exposes For feminists who wish to edit state-sponsored national imaginings, the rootedness of sexist-racism, materialist analysis out oftheir inter- as well as the supportive articulations heterosexism, and imperialismlglo- pretive models, or for antiracist ac- VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 149 tivists whose relation to reform is answering her directly; other times different directions. Sunstein sup- limited to lobbying the state for lim- developing a particular strand of the ports the contention that the same ited gain, Bannerji's work presents a debate in a thought-provoking and laws which govern other areas of challenge to reconsider the assump- extremely readable collection of es- sexual discrimination should also be tions underlying their praxis and its says. Following their responses, Okin applicable to religious institutions. efficacy. For self-styled revolution- replies to each and further defends Others take umbrage at her claims, aries Bannerji points to a clear path- her position. with Honig- and Post, for instance, way out of the dilemma of how to Many of the questions surround- pointing out that many women may incorporate antiheterosexist feminist ing the interface of special group feel privileged by the position and and antiracist politics with revolu- rights for minority cultures and the protection accorded them by reli- tionary socialism. In her own words, right to freedom from discrimina- gious practices. Al-Hibri attacks "If we can frame our critique and tion by individual female members Okin's inadequate understanding of create organizations that challenge ofthese groupswill be familiar to the Islam, claiming that the basic tenets patriarchy, heterosexism, class, and reader. What gives this work its par- of Islam, as laid out in the Qur'an, do "race" with even a semblance of in- ticular vitality is the sense of a lively indeed guarantee gender equality and tegrity, we will create the bases for an debate afforded by the format of a that more restrictive attitudes are a embodied social revolution." forum. This assemblage of different result of later, jurisprudential inter- Bannerji compellingly argues this voices allows us to compare points of pretations. Nussbaum also reacts to claim, with great flexibility and in view and test our own opinions Okin's blanket condemnation of re- diverse contexts, in each of the five against those spread out before us. ligion, claiming that she should give essays in this volume. Susan Moller Okin's fieryarguments a more balanced picture of the good, certainly cause the sparks to fly. as well as the bad, aspects. A number of the provocative as- Okin responds to these criticisms, IS MULTICULTURALISM sertions that Okin makes in her es- accusing both Nussbaum and Honig BAD FOR WOMEN?: say, which first appeared in Boston of having weak support for their Review, are bound to offend and arguments. She acknowledges the SUSAN MOLLER OKlN outrage even some who are basically strength of al-Hibri's appeal to the WITH RESPONDENTS in agreement with her position that Qur'an, but points out that current gender discrimination, carried out practice often does not support gen- Joshua Cohen, Matthew Howard, in the name of preserving the cul- der equality. In her response to Post's and Martha C. Nussbaum, Eds. tural identity of minority groups, claims that Orthodox AshkenaziJew- Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univer- should not be permitted to infringe ish women feel that they have equal sity Press, 1999. upon the individual rights of female dignity with men, Okin states that members of those groups. Many "surely theywould be deluded." One BY COURTNEY strong claims can be made to support may argue that she here exhibits the FAIRWEATHER this position and Okin certainly fo- kind of offhanded insensitivity to cuses on some of the more contro- the position of "the Other" which versial customs, such as clitoridec- her critics accuse her of. tomy, polygamy, forcing children Indeed, Bhikhu Parekh, Homi K. into marriage, and other forms of Bhabha, and Nussbaum find her at- In posing the question, Is Mufti- coerced wedlock. But she also makes titude patronizing and disrespectful, culturalism Bad for Women?, Susan sweeping generalizations about the both in regard to religion and to her Moller Okin opens the door to many inherently patriarchal nature ofmany assumption that liberal values are complex and controversial issues. At religions, basing her argument upon necessarily applicable to all cultures. the core is the crucial discussion a somewhat superficial reading of Okin ably defends herself, but in about how areas of conflicting in- what she sees as the "foundingmyths" response, for instance, to Parekh's terest arise between multiculturalism of Greek and Roman antiquity, defense of the limited practice of and feminism, specifically how spe- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. clitoridectomy. by. adult women who cial group rights, ganted to protect None ofthe respondents commented wish to focus on motherhood or minority groups from the domi- on her interpretation ofthe Classical make a religious sacrifice, she sug- nance of majority cultures, may per- myths, but challenging those of con- gests that they "go talk to a psychia- petuate discrimination against temporary religions hit a nerve with trist or marriage counselor." women within those groups. Fifteen such people as Cass R. Sunstein, One statement which Okin makes leading thinkers on multiculturalism Bonnie Honig, Robert Post, Azizah toward the end of her essay had a and feminism respond to Okin's Y. al-Hibri, andMarthaC. Nussbaum. seismic impact on many of her re- thought-provoking essay, sometimes Those responses took a number of spondents: CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME .
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