Women, Law and Culture: Conformity, Contradiction and Conflict

Description

This book explores cultural constructs, societal demands and political and philosophical underpinnings that position women in the world. It illustrates the way culture controls women's place in the world and how cultural constraints are not limited to any one culture, country, ethnicity, race, class or status. Written by scholars from a wide range of specialists in law, sociology, anthropology, popular and cultural studies, history, communications, film and sex and gender, this study provides an authoritative take on different cultures, cultural demands and constraints, contradictions and requirements for conformity generating conflict. Women, Law and Culture is distinctive because it recognises that no particular culture singles out women for 'special' treatment, rules and requirements; rather, all do. Highlighting the way law and culture are intimately intertwined, impacting on women – whatever their country and social and economic status – this book will be of great interest to scholars of law, women’s and gender studies and media studies. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Introduction....Pages 1-14 Front Matter....Pages 15-15 ‘It’s Time to Go!’ ‘You’re Fired’: Australian Big Brother (2005) and Britain’s The Apprentice (2014)....Pages 17-33 Modern Laws, Human Rights and Marginalisation of Courtesan and Transgender Performers in India....Pages 35-50 Targeting Muslims Through Women’s Dress: The Niqab and the Psychological War against Muslims....Pages 51-68 The Asymmetrical Representation of Gender in Islamic Family Law....Pages 69-87 War, Conflict and Gender Ideologies: Middle Eastern Images and Realities....Pages 89-106 Woman as Cabbage to Women as Prime Ministers and Presidents: Demanding Women’s Rightful Space in the Film and Television Industry....Pages 109-126 Accessing Urban Public Space for a Livelihood: India, Thailand and Philippines in Comparative Perspective....Pages 127-140 ‘No Place like Home’—The Human Rights of Women in Aged-Care....Pages 141-159 Defending Your Country…and Gender—Legal Challenges and Opportunities Confronting Women in the Military....Pages 161-180 No Place for a Woman: Harmful Practices, Religion and State Responses....Pages 181-202 Front Matter....Pages 203-203 ‘For the Husband Is the Head of the Wife’: Ephesians 5....Pages 205-220 Why Does He Abuse? Why Does She Stay?....Pages 221-238 Commodification of Women and Girls at Home: The Festering of India’s Male Violence....Pages 239-262 Seeking Equality—Justice and Women’s and Girls’ Human Right Not to Be Subjected to Non-State Torture....Pages 263-281 Conclusion....Pages 283-301 Back Matter....Pages 303-319