Gender Politics - Essay Example

Gender politics

Society may have been traditionally patriarchal.  Patriarchal is a male-based society where aspects and dimensions of life are dominated by men.  This has been the case in most societies because men were traditionally perceived as stronger than women.  Until recently when the definition of strength and wisdom was broadened in the 20th-century women now are not just confined to their homes attending to their husbands and children but are now also an active players in society already making a big impact and contributing to the same manner that men could do.
Early societies used to value and respect physical strength only because it was the characteristic that was necessary for them to survive.  Thus the early warrior society underscored physical strength where brawn mattered because it was perceived to be necessary for survival.  This emphasis on physical superiority relegated women to domesticated duties that made them look weak and inferior.  They were boxed and stereotyped as mothers and wives whose use was only limited to attending the home, taking care of children and husbands, and not making any significant impact in society.
The advent of universal education and along with it the maturing society has changed this perception and attitude towards women albeit slower.  When schools and universities were opened to women, it was found that they are as capable as men.  They have also proven that they are more than capable to handle responsibilities beyond the confined of their homes.  Slowly, the perception of women transformed especially when society no longer put so much emphasis on brawn and physical strength to survive and prosper.  And while many women today may still prefer the comfort of their homes, they now have the option to pursue professional endeavors outside of their homes.   Today, women can be found in almost any endeavor contributing and making a significant impact in our society just like men.  More and more societies are now blurring the distinction between men and women in terms of the impact they are making in their respective societies.  They now also occupy positions of power that were traditionally confined to men.  We can now see them as political leaders, business leaders, social leaders, and artists, and they are now even combatants in the military which was traditionally exclusive to men.  Had this been old age, it would have been tantamount to having women as warriors, leaders, artisans, and entrepreneurs which used to be unthinkable.
Women’s positions in their respective endeavors were not merely given for the sake of accommodation.  Women occupy what they are doing now because it had been proven that they could be as effective as men and they can contribute significantly as much as men could do.  The proof can be seen in the list of the world’s most powerful people where Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany and considered as the most powerful person in the EU is placed at number five (Forbes, 2013).  Her case is not isolated.  There are other women who also occupied positions of power who are making a significant impact not only in their respective countries but also in the world.  Amongst is Dilma Rousseff who is now the President of Brazil and Geun-hye Park the President of South Korea.  In business and technology, one of the most prominent technology makers IBM also has a woman as its Chief Executive Officer in the person of Virginia Rometty.   The list can go on and this extends to other endeavors as well.  
The maturing society has discovered that women have distinct strength that is not apparent to men.  Old societies found them to be weak but with proper understanding, they were after all as strong as men.  For example,  women’s predisposition to be emotional was used to be perceived as a weakness that they could not be trusted for a position of responsibility because their being “emotional” would make them easily panic.  Experience and study found this not to be true.  This higher emotional sensibility is in fact a strength, especially in the 20th century where people need to work with people to get things done.  Especially in a globalized environment where institutions and people have to link with each other in order to be effective.  And effectively working with other people needs sensitivity and emotional intelligence which women were naturally good at.  Today, men and women in schools and businesses are taught about emotional intelligence which used to be perceived as a weakness of women.
Indeed women have evolved in the 20th century and are now seen as a partner towards progress that holds equal power and responsibility as men and have proven themselves to be more than capable. Read More