Relating to the Subjects of Human Rights: The Culture of Agency in Human Rights Discourse
The notion of agency is deeply enshrined in human rights discourse. This chapter argues that human rights discourse, particularly with reference to women, relies on a particular understanding of agency. It seeks to promote women's agency at the same time as it establishes borders beyond which consent is impossible. By discussing several empirical cases where agency is restricted because vulnerable victims must be protected, the chapter seeks to winnow out the subjectivity that is under construction. It does not argue that every society has the right to its own values, in a relativist way. Instead, it views human rights discourse as culturally productive, aiming to foster a certain kind of personhood through its practices of protection.
Keywords: human rights discourse, women's rights, women's agency
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