Abstract
The social world is complex and ever changing. However, to function, we need shared common knowledge for social relations and social interaction. We need categories of people, and assumptions about collective identities. While this is necessary to manage social interaction, it also leads to debates that question the essentialism of collective attributes and identities. In this article we argue that advocacy groups campaigning for the rights of women and migrants can sometimes reinforce an understanding of these groups as static and unchanging and this impedes their development. The article contends that advocacy groups, can, unintentionally, reinforce stereotypes. Two different data sets, both drawn from Northern Ireland, are used to explore this question. Our case studies raise global questions about the need for critical analysis and reflection on the strategies used by advocacy groups to advance social equality.
Highlights
It is generally recognised that advocacy groups are often important advocates of human rights and can regulate and moderate unfair practices (Skocpol 2004; Chetkovich and Kunreuther 2007; Mosley 2012)
In this article we examine two groups that we argue are described in essentialist terms by advocacy groups which in turn impacts on policy and legislation: rural women and migrants
Most importantly it proposes major reform of the Race Relations Order. This reform is strongly advocated by many groups as it would bring it in line with the unified approach of the Equality Act (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office 2010) that is found in other jurisdictions in the UK and importantly it would include institutional discrimination (Wallace Consulting 2011; Equality Commission Northern Ireland 2011; Northern Ireland Council for Ethic Minorities n.d.)
Summary
It is generally recognised that advocacy groups are often important advocates of human rights and can regulate and moderate unfair practices (Skocpol 2004; Chetkovich and Kunreuther 2007; Mosley 2012). More recent reform of the Racial Equality framework brings with it measures that have been welcomed by many lobby groups Most importantly it proposes major reform of the Race Relations Order. This reform is strongly advocated by many groups as it would bring it in line with the unified approach of the Equality Act (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office 2010) that is found in other jurisdictions in the UK and importantly it would include institutional discrimination (Wallace Consulting 2011; Equality Commission Northern Ireland 2011; Northern Ireland Council for Ethic Minorities n.d.). Many flaws have been identified not least is the timing of the consultation as one advocacy group has pointed out that the legal and policy framework has been operating without an underpinning strategy, making it difficult to realize racial equality and rights (Northern Ireland Council for Ethic Minorities n.d.). Implicit in this is that a stable society exists in which there is a common sense of belonging, a matter that is not reflected in the region’s recent history
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