Cultural Relativism and Gender-Discriminating Norms

Abstract

Cultural relativism and feminism represent unique yet different and opposing views on the universality of human rights described in the UDHR (the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and CEDAW (the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminations against Women). In general, cultural relativists consider meanings, values, freedoms, capabilities, and functionings to be defined only within a cultural context. In contrast, feminists seek to widen the applications of universal human rights to affirm gender equality in all practices pertaining to human capabilities and functionings.