Question

Which statement(s) correctly explain(s) why feminists and women’s rights activists are uncomfortable with the term ‘honour killings’?

• A. It has been defined variously across disciplines from law to sociology to philosophy.
• B. It has become associated with the ‘uniqueness’ of Asian societies and cultures.
• C. The idea that women embody male honour makes violence against them and even their murder justifiable.
• D. It has become associated with communities that retain archaic patriarchal practices and refuse to modernise.

Hint:

Feminist critiques focus on how language can legitimise violence and reinforce cultural stereotypes rather than challenge patriarchal power.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B, C, D

Step 1: Understanding the critique of the term ‘honour killings’.
Feminists and women’s rights activists argue that the term ‘honour killings’ is problematic because it implicitly legitimises violence by associating murder with the notion of honour.
Step 2: Explanation of correct statements.
Option (B): The term has increasingly been framed as a cultural peculiarity of Asian or non-Western societies. This culturalisation stereotypes societies and obscures the fact that gender-based violence exists globally.
Option (C): The idea that women embody male or family honour directly legitimises violence against them. This framing makes extreme violence, including murder, appear socially justified.
Option (D): The term is often used to portray certain communities as backward or resistant to modernity, reinforcing stereotypes rather than addressing structural patriarchy.
Step 3: Elimination of incorrect option.
Option (A): While the term may be defined differently across disciplines, this is not the primary reason for feminist discomfort with the term.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, statements (B), (C), and (D) correctly explain feminist critiques of the term ‘honour killings’.