SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN, SOCIAL CAPITAL AND MULTICULTURAL (MIS)UNDERSTANDINGS

Abstract

This paper explores issues about the concepts of social capital and multiculturalism, and how their use impact on the lives of South Asian women. The aim of the paper is to contribute to current research on ethnicity and social capital by providing insights into the lived experiences of South Asian women in minority ethnic communities. It raises questions about power and structural inequalities based on gender and race, and points out how the two concepts are fraught with difficulties. It is suggested that multiculturalism simultaneously encourages and erodes relations of trust, obligations and reciprocity that feature prominently in definitions of social capital. Social capital and multiculturalism can therefore be thought of as existing in a relationship of tension. The paper begins by asking whether social capital is enabling or disabling and outlines the ways in which it has been conceptualized and its applicability to ‘the community’ and women in general. It directs us to the gender-blind analysis of social capital which has been contested by feminist scholars who point to the inherent paradox it generates. It is argued that multiculturalism operates at different levels, and in the context of minority ethnic communities multiculturalism can result in compounding structural inequalities and the oppression of women. On a more optimistic note the paper suggests that women, even under the most oppressive conditions, are able to create networks and organizations to challenge unacceptable cultural practices.

Cet article examine les enjeux relatifs au capital social et au multiculturalisme et la manière dont leur utilisation influence la vie des femmes originaires du sous-continent Indien. Le but est d'apporter une contribution aux recherches actuelles sur l'ethnicité et le capital social en donnant des aperçus des expériences vécues par les femmes du sous-continent Indien des groupes ethniques minoritaires. La question du pouvoir et des inégalités structurelles fondées sur les concepts de race et de genre seront examinées; on démontrera que ces deux concepts sont remplis de difficultés. Nous suggérons que le multiculturalisme encourage et mine à la fois les relations de confiance, les obligations et la réciprocité éléments majeurs dans la définition du capital social sont à la fois encouragées et minées par le multiculturalisme. On peut donc penser qu'il y a une relation de tension entre le capital social et le multiculturalisme. D'emblée, nous posons la question de savoir si le capital social est positif ou négatif; et précise les modalités de sa conception, utilisation et de son applicabilité à la communauté et aux femmes en général. Ceci nous amène à analyser le concept du capital social sans différenciation sexuelle, concept contesté par les féministes pour qui il comporte un paradoxe inhérent. Nous soutenons que le multiculturalisme opère à plusieurs niveaux et, dans le contexte des communautés ethniques minoritaires, il peut mener à une accumulation des inégalités structurelles et à l'oppression des femmes. Sur un ton plus optimiste, l'article suggère que les femmes — mêmes sous des conditions des plus opprimantes — sont capables de créer des réseaux et des organisations pour contrer les pratiques culturelles inacceptables.

capital social, multiculturalisme, femmes, communantés, ethniqnes minoritaires, oppression, agence politique

Keywords:

• Social capital, multiculturalism, women, minority, ethnic communities, oppression, political agency

Notes

1. The Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group (Families Group) at London South Bank University began research in 2002. It has received funding over a period of five years. The areas of research are Ethnicity, Employment, Education and Intimacy. The research team has worked closely with the Cultural Capital and Social Exclusion project at The Open University and Manchester University.

2. Stephen Baron (2004) notes and interrogates the following government initiatives on social policy: Simon Szreter's paper Renewal (1999), who argues that social capital could provided the new political economy for New Labour, underpinning its politics with a technical economics; in 2002 a cross government working group was set up with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit to explore social capital; the Social Capital Dialogue Day organized by London South Bank University in 2003 was attended by representatives of the Cabinet Office, the Sure Start Unit, Office for National Statistics and HM Treasury; the Office for National Statistics has developed among other things a Social Capital Question Bank.

3. For a discussion on Third Way politics and communitarianism see Jane Franklin's ‘Looking at Beyond the Third Way’, a paper for Anthropolis, http://www.anthropolis.de/franklin.htm

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shamindar Takhar

Shaminder Takhar is Senior Lecturer in Sociology, London South Bank University. Her current research interests are in gender, race, sexuality and political agency