Official anti-forced-marriage policy blames coercion on minority parents’ ignorance of Norwegian values.

Evidence

The Action Plan is forgiving of parents who coerce, believing that such problems arise because minority communities lack information about the laws and values of Norwegian society and assume that their own cultural practices can be followed. Further, the lack of suitable marriage partners makes it difficult for those parents of minority youth who need ‘help and/or support in order to resist the wider family’s demand that they should follow the tradition of forced or arranged marriage.’ Resources should therefore be deployed to make pamphlets and videotapes outlining Norwegian values. — Sherene Razack, Casting Out, 306

Categorization

• QUESTION: Could interrogate how ‘educating parents about Norwegian values’ itself presumes Norwegian values are the standard — the information-deficit framing.