November 13, 2024
What Minorities Are
Democracy proclaims equality of rights for minorities, but this refers to ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities. However, categories such as the differences between men and women do not fall within these definitions: for centuries, democracies allowed the institution of dowries, which belonged to the wife but were managed by the husband because women were considered incapable. Similarly, homosexuality was once regarded as a dangerous degeneration for society, whereas today it is accepted as a simple variant that does not harm society.
The conception of women and homosexuality has changed over time, and this is not necessarily tied to democracy itself.