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Do Muslim women really need to save? Anthropological reflections on cultural relativism and its others by Abu‐Lughod explore the theme of Muslim women, feminism, and a narrow Western view of the Muslim world. Abu‐Lughod shows how historical colonialism has shifted to ethnocentrism and currently transforms into cultural relativism. The article raises awareness of the necessity to accept differences and builds an understanding of colonialism, ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism.
Colonialism is the cultural and political domination of one society by the other. Abu‐Lughod relays the topic using French and British colonial histories as an example. British colonialism was justified by colonial feminism, which mostly revolves around the notion that colonized countries’ women need to be saved from their domestic cultural practices (Abu‐Lughod, 2002). Similarly, French colonialists were obsessed with Muslim women and unveiled them, believing they saved said women from barbaric customs (Abu‐Lughod, 2002). The author then proves the absurdity of such colonial rhetoric, showing that colonialism is nothing more than a cultural and territorial conquest.
Ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s culture is better than the other, is common to many Western influencers, feminists, and politicians. Abu‐Lughod (2002) states that they constantly try to impose Western culture on Muslim women without questioning their cultural views. The rhetoric that Muslim women need to be saved is ethnocentric in nature and comes from the idea that Western culture is somehow superior while Muslim culture discriminates against women.
Finally, cultural relativism is the idea that one’s culture should not be used as a ‘benchmark’ of other cultures. Although relativism is much better than colonialism and ethnocentrism, it does not consider Western “responsibilities for the situations in which others in distant places have found themselves” (Abu‐Lughod, 2002, p. 789). Abu‐Lughod (2002) argues that it is too late for relativism, while a more personal approach is needed: respect for differences and consideration of how the Western world can help Muslim women. Cultural relativism is a bystander approach to the issue, while people should strive to create a peaceful world without imposing their culture on others.
In conclusion, Abu‐Lughod’s article proves that Western colonialism and ethnocentrism are partially responsible for the situation in the modern Muslim world. As such, cultural relativism is not an answer to the problem. The Western world should embrace Muslim culture with respect for its beliefs, traditions, and practices. Then, and only then, people can make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of country or cultural background.
Reference
Abu‐Lughod, L. (2002). Do Muslim women really need to save? Anthropological reflections on cultural relativism and its others.American Anthropologist, 104(3), 783-790. Web.
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