The role of women in the society - Essay Example

no. The role of women in the society Gendered nature of the public private dichotomy and its effects on outcomes for women In Scott’s opinion, the public sector is dominated by men, whereas women are more likely to be found in the private sector (151). As such, Scott blames the theory of classic modernization for placing men at the helm of the public sector and subordinating women. In addition, Scott writes that the split between the private and public sectors means that the state is not concerned with the former, thus neglecting the household and women working therein (151). Sen is of the same opinion stating that traditionally, the role of women in the society and particularly in the household has been regarded as contributory to that of men (130). Essentially, the activities performed by women are viewed as “unproductive labor”. This can explain the reason why it is not uncommon to find women earning less pay than men, basically because the roles of women are seen as secondary. In the gendered division of labor, since the roles that are perceived challenging and more productive are assigned to men, the latter, thus get to earn more than women (Sen130). Scott chooses to focus on state policies affecting women issues and states that the state is more concerned with class struggles; the issue of gender exploitation is not well addressed. The lack of state policy means that women remain in the distant feudal past, while men enjoy the public sphere as it is today. Scott puts blame on the use of traditional approaches in structuring the work place, such that men are still favored over women (151). The international system for social progress leaves women out, thus forcing them to remain in the household taking care of families. The issue should be dealt with not just by planning a to-do-list on women affairs, but by actually implementing policies for equating the role of women in the private sector to that in the public sector. Sen is of the opinion that most writers of private/public dichotomy choose to concentrate on the issues affecting the family as a whole unit, other than those than those that specifically affect women (123). Sen argues that women hold inferior positions, both inside the household and outside. The idea here is that even in deprived households, the issues that affect females may be very different from those that affect the males, thus sometimes making the consequences of such poverty harder for the woman (123). As a matter of fact, Sen writes that in developing countries, where poverty levels are high, the mortality rates for women are higher than those of women (124). In Sen’s opinion, most women faced with poverty find it hard to claim a personal identity and often refer to themselves in relation to their family. This lack of personal identity translates to low levels of personal welfare for the women (124). Accordingly, it is common to find households in which women get the least amount of food, medicine, and other kinds of services needed for survival (125). This means that most of the time, women sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of the family’s welfare. In the end, women become less economically stable as compared to men. 2. Reexamining the role of women In as far as women redefining their role in the society, Pearson’s main point of argument is based on the relationship between women and economic empowerment. Concerning paid work, Pearson is of the opinion that most women seek employment in search of money needed to enable them fulfill their gendered functions in the society (201). Pearson, however, challenges the idea that women can only be empowered through paid labor, a system advocated for by capitalist ideologies. The contentious issue, here, is that the kind of paid labor that most women are incorporated into is often left out of the formal economy. This is to mean that most women in the paid workforce do not enjoy the associated benefits such as flexible working hours, social protection, fair pay, and protection of reproductive health, among others (202). Thus, many women end up falling in the informal employment bracket, where they are involved in numerous income-generating activities, as opposed to a particular profession. It is also, according to Pearson, a common phenomenon to find micro-credit institutions that lend money to women to start up money-making activities, and then later repay the institutions at a small profit (206). However, when these women become empowered economically, it is often assumed that this translates to power shifts in the household (Pearson, 207). This assumption is flawed since, although the women become empowered, in most cases she bears the burden of the loans alone, while the husband remains the head of household operations. In addition, some women are subjected to domestic violence in case the husband feels like the woman has become too powerful in and outside the household. Therefore, Pearson challenges the notions that incorporating women into paid labor and the giving of loans to women by micro-credits, have served to fully empower women (206). For example, if a woman is given a loan by a micro-credit to set up a business, then the business does not work-out; the cost of repaying the loan will put a strain on the woman and the entire household. According to Escobar, the notion that third world women are needy and in constant problems, and that these women have no options out of such problems, is defective (8). Escobar argues that women from third world countries are portrayed as poor, illiterate, bound by traditions, and victims of societal structures (8). On the other hand, western women are viewed as educated, smart, and empowered. This way, western women are perceived as superior to women from third world countries in what Escobar refers to as western patriarchy of women from third world counties (ibid). The western view of women from third world countries is that they are still stuck in the 1970s period in which women were by-passed by developments. Basically, the western idea that third-world women are not developed is what Escobar challenges, since this idea is not formulated by writers from the third-world countries (19). For example, it is unfair to claim that all women from third world countries are illiterate, using statistics from just a few of those women. Mies challenges the use of the term “exploitation” in referring to the oppression of women, as used by socialist feminists (36). The socialist feminists choose to use exploitation in relation to the economic sector only. However, Mies argues that exploitation can be used in as far as the relationship between men and women is concerned (36). In the analysis made by Mies, women can be said to be exploited by men if the latter exercise any form of dominance, economic or otherwise, on women. In addition to exploitation, Mies argues that the division of roles in terms of sexuality was a violent process, other than evolutionary (74). The exploitation of women in their gendered roles was aided by a patriarchal society in which women and men were separated, and the former subordinated. Mies argues that the acquisition of means of production was not based on regular subsistence, but on robbery and violence, by men, activities that women could not carry out (74). Therefore, exploitation can occur in any social setting, not necessarily the economic sector. For example, a woman working as a paid laborer being expected to perform all the duties within a household, can be perceived as a form of gender exploitation. 3. Women using their bodies to enhance global dreams In regard to women using their bodies to enhance global development, according to Mies, is enshrined in the history of the human body being the first means of production (53). The use of the body in production between men and women is very different, especially in terms of consequences. Women do not only use their bodies for economic production, but also for reproduction and in that way ensure the continuity of families and communities. Mies writes that the bearing of children has come to be considered as work by women, in addition to any other work that women do in relation to being of service to the globe (53). Fertility is a valued function in the society and as such, women are very important in their role as contributors to global population. When women give birth, they have to look for food to feed themselves and the baby, and that is why there exists various methods of controlling births incase a woman cannot be able to cater adequately for a child (Mies, 55). According to Mohanty women use their bodies to ensure the achievement of global dreams, thus ensuring god life for all (26). Mohanty writes that African women, apart from being politically and economically dependent, these women use prostitution as the only work option. In other third world countries the body of a woman is more valuable to the society. Among the Bemba women of Zambia, for example, the initiation of a girl into womanhood is a very important social ceremony that binds the society (26-27). In a non-sexual context, Mohanty writes of the women from Narsapur India are involved in the production of lace doilies, thus using their body parts to make money and satisfy their families (31). The sexism exercised by capitalism on women and the way in which women contribute to consumerism in the global economy (235). Works cited Escobar, Arturo. "Anthropology and the Development Encounter: The Making and Marketing of Development Anthropology." American Ethnologist 18.4 (1991): 658-682.Print. Mies. Maria. Patriarchy & Accumulation on a World Scale: Women in the International Division of Labor. London: Zed Books. 1998. Print. Mohanty, Chandra. "“Under Western Eyes” Revisited: Feminist Solidarity Through Anticapitalist Struggles." Signs 28.2 (2003): 499-535. Print. Pearson, Ruth.  “Reassessing Paid Work and Women's Empowerment: Lessons from the Global Economy”, Feminisms in Development. Eds Cornwall, Andrea, Harrison E, &Whitehead A . London: Zed Books. 2007. Print.   Scott, Catherine. Gender and Development. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1995. Print. Sen, Amartya. Gender and Cooperative Conflicts. Helsinki: World Institute for Development Economics Research, 1987. Print. 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