Official, institutional bigotry and discrimination against atheists used to be much more prevalent in America. There was a time when the testimony of atheists would not be accepted in courts of law. Several states technically bar atheists from elected office right in their constitutions, though these provisions are no longer enforceable. Atheists today continue to encounter personal bigotry and resulting discrimination, but not so much in the context of social institutions enforcing official policies.

 

Read Article: Boy Scouts Must Be Prepared to Fight Godless Atheism: Bigotry & Discrimination are Needed for Christian Society

Apologists for the efforts of some Muslims to get women to cover their heads will sometimes argue that if the women choose it, then it doesn't matter because it's analogous to a fashion choice. Why not allow them to choose to wear veils or headscarves like they choose to wear rings or high heels? What such arguments ignore is how the clothing a person wears can affect a person's self-image. Women who are pressured to "choose" head coverings can end up seeing themselves as unequal to men and thereby cease to be assertive, fully autonomous individuals.

What this means is that any government interested in the autonomy and equality of women must make it possible for women to develop as autonomous, equal citizens. This, in turn, means creating spaces where it's possible for them to refuse to adopt religious or cultural traditions which inhibit that development. That's not easy to do, and it's probably not possible without making some trade-offs that are less than desirable on some level. Read more...