Globalizationhas lead to a condition of an ever increasing role of the Multinational Corporations(MNCs) acting on the global arena. This development has further resulted in thecreation and wide recognition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). WhileCSR is thought to enhance quality of life and promote human rights, at timesthe norms which is often referred to as universal and that are building up thefoundation of CSR clashes with culturally manifested practices. This study aimsat providing a discussion of how we can address CSR and thus norms consideredas universal when they clashes with practices regarded as culturally embedded.This study will conduct the practice of guanxi – a Chinese custom oftenconfused with corruption – and explore the possibility to think outside the boxby making use of postcolonial theory when approaching the problem of culturalrelativism, ethnocentrism and moral dilemmas.

More than half of all the girls in India today are married before the age of 18. This derives from gender inequality and discrimination, which has lead to several health issues. At the same time, the Indian state has passed legislation prohibiting the practice of child marriage and made it possible for girls to void their marriages. The law gives the girls more empowerment even if they are minor, which poses some further issues related to age, consent and substantial freedom. The contradiction in the law’s implementation depends on a disparity between the state and customary laws as well as modern versus traditional norms. With the help of Martha Nussbaum’s Capabilities approach, this study tries to understand the law prohibiting child marriage in India and its restrictions, focusing on girl child empowerment and individual choice. The findings show the limitations in the law in regards to parental consent and children’s rights against their parents. The reason why theories like ours, promoting universal norms should be justified, is contingent on the belief that child marriages are harmful to girls’ health. This is furthermore knowledge that should be taught through education for children and adults, which then might alter the gender inequalities developed within the realms of social customs.