Chapter 6 Answer guidance

Q6) How can we explain conventional integration theory’s silence about gender?

See section 6.6

• Both theoretical and policy discourses are highly gendered.
• Think about:
• 1) the focus of conventional analysis, and
•  2) the dominant concepts used
• 1) Integration theory focuses on the public domain of the state.
• As such, the private sphere and the gendered power relations therein are overlooked and are unchallenged.
• 2) Also, conventional theory uses heavily masculinist conceptions of rationality.
• This re-affirms the gendered self-narrative of public institutions.
• Taken together, the silence on gender is perpetuated.