The forced marriage debate and the British state

In recent years, the British government has increasingly sought to intervene to prevent forced marriages and `honour killings'. But its new-found concern for the plight of South Asian women belies a deeper structure of racism, particularly against Muslims, and collusion with South Asian patriarchy. It is argued that initiatives such as the recent proposal for legislation on forced marriages are not empowering to women but are driven by the state's need to police South Asian communities, an approach that has colonial roots. The lack of support given to grassroots South Asian women's organisations and the continuing deportation of women at risk of violence reveal the partial nature of the state's commitment to supporting victims of domestic violence and other forms of oppression. 10.1177/0306396807080065