played out

Hello everyone,
I wonder if anyone can advise me on the meaning intended by "played out" in the following sentence:

"..in so far as multiculturalism may be said to be in crisis, more often than not, it is being played out on the bodies of women."
('Multiculturalism: A Very Short Introduction', by: Ali Rattansi)

Thaks in advance

Tricky to be precise on this.
"played out" in this context here means something like:
acted out
performed

O, maybe even: evolving?

From this little extract it seems that the crisis in multiculturalism is visible in matters relating to women's bodies. Maybe the rest of the paper will make it clearer to you!

suzi br said:

Tricky to be precise on this.
"played out" in this context here means something like:
acted out
performed

O, maybe even: evolving?

From this little extract it seems that the crisis in multiculturalism is visible in matters relating to women's bodies. Maybe the rest of the paper will make it clearer to you!

Thank you for your help. I shall try to explain the context a bit, if it might be of use.

The sentence actually comes in the context of countering crticism of 'multiculturalism' as being "bad" for women since it, supposedly, defends cultural practices such as FGM, forced marriage and polygamy. The author explains that such practices are in no way advocated by multiculturalists, and therefore multiculturalism could not be bad for women on this basis.

However, I am still puzzled concerning the meaning intended by the entire sentence. Here's a bigger extract:
"The position of women in any multicultural framework has become something of a litmus test for the acceptability of multiculturalism. Ironically, even many social and political conservatives, not especially noted for their sympathy for women'srights and advancement, have often opportunistically used the gender issue to bolster their case against multiculturalism.

It has reached the point, as some commentators have noted, that in so far as multiculturalism may be said to be in crisis, more often than not, it is being played out on the bodies of women."

Lots of ideas mixed in there.

In short, it means the merits of the case for or against multiculturalism have been discussed with close reference to what happens to women's bodies, as opposed to other areas where you could focus a multicultural debate, such as art or food or religion or equal opportunities in the work-place.

I agree with you, it IS quite complex. But your explanation is very enlightening. Thank you so much.