Who's right? Human rights, sexual rights and social change in Barbados.

Full Abstract

Currently, in a number of public and semi-public forums in Barbados, the idea of 'sexual rights' is being discussed and debated. However, different meanings are attached to 'rights'. This paper examines how these meanings demonstrate that different interpretations of sexuality, society, and morality are circulating through Barbados today. It also addresses whether or not sexual rights discourses are the best way to advocate for social justice or bring about changes to socio-sexual attitudes in the Caribbean. It is argued that framing justice and equality through rights talk may have deleterious effects for its advocates, as there is no 'clear' or transparent universality as to what rights means. It is suggested that it may be more efficacious for groups who are stigmatized based on sexual orientation to develop vernacular strategies with values and/or logics stressing elements of justice, equality, dignity and respect for personhood, which include but also move beyond sexual orientation as a principal identification.

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Author information

Author/s: Murray, David A B (DA);

Affiliation: Department of Anthropology, York University, Toronto, Canada.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Culture, health & sexuality (Cult Health Sex), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 May-Jun; vol 8 (issue 3) : pp 267-81

Dates: Created 2006/06/27; Completed 2006/10/19; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16801227, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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