A Theoretical Framework - Case Study Example

Strengths and Weaknesses of a Theoretical Framework Centered on Universal Notion of Gender A theoretical framework that is built around a universal notion of gender has both strengths and weaknesses. Theoretical perspective may be focused on politics, structural functionalism, education and social reproduction, structure and agency. A theoretical framework that is built around a notion of gender has negative and positive effects on each of the above perspectives, to start with, the strengths of such a framework is that it strengths unity among members of the different genders. Because of the situations presented to them by such a framework, members of the same gender learn to love and help each other in the society. For example, men may learn to work together and help each other as they strive for financial resources to help their families. On the other hand, women also learn to help each other in carrying out household chores. A theoretical framework that is centered on universal notion of gender has strength of helping the society maintain law and order. Once a belief concerning a certain gender becomes universally known, those concerned, that specific gender, tends to abide by what that theory states. Women for example naturally respected men and effectively take care of the family. In this case, gender roles in the society are strictly observed thus maintaining law and order. From birth, each child learns what is expected from him or her in the society. If such children learn that, that is what is universally expected of them, or that is their status in the society, they easily accept and practice it. In most western countries, though women are engaging themselves in professional jobs, they still uphold the universal believe that they are their family’s caregivers. Therefore, they ensure, at all costs, that they observe their roles at home as expected. After work, they go home to take care of children and cook for the family as men go out to enjoy themselves in bars. The weaknesses of a theoretical framework that is built on universal notion of gender include gender discrimination. In this case, if a certain gender, male or female, is universality viewed as weak, for example females, such a gender will be discriminated universally in every society because such a notion is usually believed to be a fact. The other weakness of a theoretical framework that is built around the notion of gender is that, it hinders self expression and individual strengths. In this case, individuals may fear to come out publicly and express themselves because of fear of the way the society might perceive them. For example, the African woman is believed to be inferior to the man, and is only supposed to care for the family. Such a woman may hardly express herself, and interests in the society, especially political ambitions. In Africa, women rarely stand out in the society for political or educational reasons because they can rarely succeed as almost everyone believes that that is not their role because of gender. Domestic labor among girl children has also had a negative impact on school performance among girls. They are expected to help their mothers as they learn the roles of motherhood instead of fully concentrating on education. Kinship and the Understanding of Gender Kinship is the study of links between different people that is based on descent, adoption or marriage (Vigdis, n. d.). Kinship has been a domain of definition in anthropological investigations since it was incepted in the late 19th century. Major paradigmatic changes in anthropology like feminism, cultural turn and political economy made kinship to undergo many restructuring phases. Detailed complexities in the system of kinship were considered important in the understanding of societies that were not from the west. Anthropological studies of kinship have been used to help in the understanding of gender as well as new forms of family, genetic development, lesbian and gay movements. In anthropological history, kinship is seen like a social institution that identifies the earlier steps of organization in the society. However, kinship is not central in modern societies on issues of gender understanding. Territoriality, the state and social contract dominated the modern society. Consequently, the economy and politics, as different social action’s fields, regulated significant aspects of modern men’s and women’s lives. Kinship also determined the understanding of primitive societies (spring, 2000). One main trend of kinship traditions is represented by study of the theory of descent that played a major role in understanding of gender. This approach is well explained by classic examples of African Political Systems of the Nuer and the Anuak. The place that one occupies in the society depends on his position within the system of kinship. For example, among the Nuer Anuak, kinship determined inheritance and other social status between males and females. Men enjoyed more inheritance rights while females were easily incorporated into kinship through adoption and marriage. The principles of descent, according to anthropology, is either patrilineal (father’s line) or matrilineal (mother’s line). However, non-western societies viewed patrilineal descent as more important than that of matrilineal. In matrilineal societies, the position of a father was generally seen as marginal. Meanwhile, a child’s mother and brothers to the mother were seen as very central to the social life of a child, which then determined his or her prospects in the future. Kinship has ensured the human society foundations by men marrying other men’s sisters, but not their blood sisters. However, kinship in many societies has made women to be seen as the inferior gender. For example, kinship in the African society codes not allows women to inherit children from their husbands or other people. This is because; kinship dictates that children belong to men and not women. In case of divorce or separation, children are left to the father. On the other hand, when a woman is married, she joins the husband’s kinship through marriage. She is free to enjoy equal rights as other members of that kinship, something that does not apply to males. Men remain in their kinship and are never considered as kinship members in the woman’s kinship. This African perspective of kinship helps us understand gender in the African societies and how it affects its members, based on gender, in terms of superiority, roles and inheritance. Does Recognition of Cultural Norms and Practices have a Place in Contemporary Debates about Circumcision Rites? Historically, Remondino (1981) observes that circumcision was mainly viewed as a right of passage, from childhood to adulthood. It was also a type of sympathetic magic that ensured fertility or virility so as to enhance sexual pleasure. Moreover, it helped to maintain hygiene because bathing regularly was impractical. Another importance of circumcision was to mark those of higher status in the society. It also humiliated slaves and enemies, who were usually castrated, and discouraged masturbation. Additionally it made3 men more attractive to women and ones ability to pain endurance like women endure pain of hymen breaking, menstruation and childbirth. Historically, circumcision made the communities that practiced look superior to those that were not practicing circumcision and therefore, more and more communities adopted it, thus its fast widespread. However, in the contemporary society, circumcision is being practiced and is fast spreading because it is believed to reduce chances of contracting deadly diseases like HIV and AIDS. Recognition of cultural norms and practices has a place in contemporary debates about circumcision rites. Many people are still practicing circumcision as a sign of adulthood. Contemporary debates about circumcision are however mainly focused on its effectiveness to prevent contracting HIV and AIDS, but its cultural norms and practices are still prevalent, for example sexual pleasure, to be attractive to women and for social status among others. Therefore, it is true that its norms and practices have a place in the contemporary debates about circumcision rites. Different communities differ about the significance concerning its roles of status and adulthood. Such roles are determined depending on the age at which circumcision was carried out. There is a contemporary debate about circumcision, which does not recommend infant circumcision. This also gives room to the recognition of norms and practices of circumcision in contemporary debate because traditionally, infant circumcision was not practiced. Apart from medical and religious reasons, infant circumcision is unlawful in many nations like US and South Africa. Studies show that circumcision among males reduces chances of contracting HIV virus among heterosexual men. However, this has been criticized by because it is only a reductive rather than a preventive measure, which may make those circumcised to engage in unsafe sex that might further spread the virus. Contemporary debate about circumcision discourages the norms and practices of traditional circumcision that involves many teenagers being circumcised using a single knife. The debates call for medical circumcision to ensure hygiene as well as reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS. This is a critical issue, especially in Africa where mass circumcision is widely practiced in masses. With the contemporary debate concerning the issue on circumcision rites, this practice and believe is changing and many men are now being circumcised in hospitals alone and by medical professionals. This debate has transformed the circumcision practice, but leaving its significance still strong. References Remondino, P. C. (1981). History of Circumcision from the Earliest Times to the Present. Philadelphia and London; F. A. Davis. Spring, J., (2000). Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality. U.S; McGraw Hill. Vigdis, B. D. Kinship. Retrieved on 1st September, 2011 from Kinship - Bibliography Read More