Cultural Norm Analysis

A Call for the Desired Treatment of Women to be Achieved Her face is covered which hides the dark purplish bruises that start to form and the long scars on her arms from acid burns. Underneath her clothing - whatever form of dress she wears depending on her culture - you would never know she underwent female circumcision. But her husband knows. And he brutally beat her. As Americans, we view this as a form of abuse and certainly not permissible. Yet, in some countries, this is the cultural norm. This difference in views begs the question of where is the line drawn between “the cultural norm” and inhumanity? For society, the difference between abuse versus merely demonstrating the traditions of one’s heritage is all too fine of a line

Nevertheless, global intervention, in the form of policies instituted by the United Nations or the granting of rights for women can help relive such sustained social burdens for them. In the case of female circumcision, women feel obligated to have this procedure done to them in order to achieve womanhood. Although this is their culture, they do not have an opportunity to opt out because everyone in their community would come down on them and they may be excluded from community activities. In addition, Source A’s cartoon suggests that woman cannot state their opinions in fear of saying something wrong. They must “check” with their superiors, commonly their husbands, because they know if they say something that their husband disagrees with, they may receive punishment. Therefore, this fear diminishes women’s voices in society, which amplifies the pressure under which they live because they cannot speak

He claims in his speech that “…[he is] told: It’s a family affair, or you don’t understand our cultures you don’t understand our religious practices, you don’t understand we’re different. You have no right to trespass on our cultures…” but asserts that “there is NEVER, never, a religious, a cultural, a societal, justification for inhumanity…and we have an obligation to speak out” (Source B). In his statement, Joe Biden voices the approach towards achieving rights for women and improved treatment. When a person disagrees with the idea of global intervention and granting rights for women, it should be said that the violence and discrimination that women must endure from others is “a stain on the moral character of society” (Source B). The idea is to get others to understand that their actions and behavior are not allowed and are not justified because of their cultural views since it really only reflects a lack of morality on their