Imperial Sexism - Why Culture and Women's Rights Don't Clash

In Imperial Sexism, Denise M. Walsh challenges the notion that gendered practices like the full-face veil and polygyny are inherently at odds with women''s rights. By centering the voices of the women most affected by these practices, Walsh reveals that the root problem is imperial sexism--a legacy of colonial-era racism and sexism. By comparing three policy debates--the French "burka ban," the legalization of polygyny in South Africa, and Canada''s "marrying out" rule--Walsh demonstrates that a clash between culture and women''s rights is never inevitable, examines why this presumption endures, and highlights the harm it causes. Ultimately, Imperial Sexism develops a framework to promote justice, reject colonial prejudice, and strengthen the indivisibility of human rights and pluralism.