The widespread idea that norm-breaking is radical and will lead to change is based on an idea of norms as autonomous and without connections to that which is marginalized. It is part of a more general discourse of liberal inclusion where identities are seen as existing as free entities with no constituting relationships, histories or desires. My point is that today’s norm-breaking discourse suffers from a problematic moralism and will run the risk of reproducing the already prevalent political order, where social inequalities become a matter of personal responsibilities of doing “the right thing”, rather than a collective and democratic demand.

She is a associate professor in History and Gender Studies at Umeå University, Sweden. Her fields of research are critical philosophy of history, critical policy analysis and feminist theory. Currently, she is working on a project, financed by the Swedish Research Council, concerning the political implementation of tolerance and its impacts on possible alternative democracies. She has published in both scientific and public contexts, and teaches at Umeå Centre for Gender Studies.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx