Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
2-2024
Abstract
This article engages the views of PRC Confucian scholars who responded to the United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's citing of Confucius in his majority opinion on same-sex marriage in 2015. It questions their separation of tolerance for homosexuality from legalization of same-sex marriage and argue that tolerance is not enough. The arguments in the mainland Confucian discourse about same-sex marriage highlights the historical and persistent entanglement of Confucianism with patriarchy. Instead of reviving traditional patriarchal society, further entrenching and increasing gender inequality, contemporary Confucianism could shape its own unique modern society that aspires to (and hopefully one day achieving) gender equality together with sexual inclusivity by deconstructing the patriarchal Confucian family and reconstructing a different Confucian family ideal. Accepting same-sex marriage would lend weight to the latter, and there are Confucian reasons for legalizing same-sex marriage and recognizing its ethical value.
Discipline
Asian Studies | East Asian Languages and Societies | Philosophy
Research Areas
Humanities
Publication
Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy
Volume
39
Issue
1
First Page
159
Last Page
176
ISSN
0887-5367
Identifier
10.1017/hyp.2023.100
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Citation
TAN, Sor-hoon.(2024). Confucian family ideal and same-sex marriage: A feminist Confucian perspective. Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy, 39(1), 159-176.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3931
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1017/hyp.2023.100