This thesis investigates how heritage is constructed in ways that disadvantage and exclude women. This heritagization process has tremendous effects on the everyday lives of women. Through a...Show moreThis thesis investigates how heritage is constructed in ways that disadvantage and exclude women. This heritagization process has tremendous effects on the everyday lives of women. Through a feminist human rights approach, I have examined in what ways this heritage-making process infringes upon the rights of women, taking Japan as the context for this study. Japan is a global player in the international community, promoting culture as a form of cultural diplomacy (soft power), and brands itself as a modern and peaceful nation state. At the same time, they claim to promote women’s empowerment and fund several international programmes. However, their heritage practices serves the purpose of consolidating their national identity, often to the detriment of women. The issues surrounding the memorialization of Comfort Women is discussed, an issue that is highly political and controversial. Heritage managers are made aware of the impact decisions have on what to preserve as heritage, and whose interest it serves, and how to be inclusive in representing heritage. The second case study contextualizes the practice of excluding women from sacred sites, and names the effects of elevating the pilgrimage Kii Mountain range to World Heritage Status, thereby legitimizing the exclusion of women as tradition. The study shows that the actual heritage practice is more nuanced and doubt is places on UNESCO’s commitment to gender equality. The importance of applying a gender lens to heritage analysis is stressed, guided by the International Women’s Convention (CEDAW), and heritage managers are made aware of their responsibility in promoting just and diverse narratives and engaging women at all decision-making levels.Show less
This thesis researches the nuances in the wording of the official English version and the Dutch translation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)...Show moreThis thesis researches the nuances in the wording of the official English version and the Dutch translation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW imposes obligations on the States Parties, but it is unclear how these obligations are legally enforced. This thesis first investigates the enforcement mechanisms of CEDAW and secondly it analyzes the differences between how the English version and the Dutch translation express obligation, both lexically and grammatically. This research is based on the following thesis question: How strong is the expression of degrees of obligation within CEDAW’s official English version and its Dutch translation, and has this strength changed in the process of translation? The findings led to a dichotomy between legislative obligations and the linguistic obligations, where the former is less strong than proposed and the latter is equal in both version.Show less
