Change and Development of the Role of Women in Society - Essay Example

Change and development of the role of women in the society In project, I intend to interview Kate - a Jews woman, who has since migrated to Canada with the aim of furthering her studies as well as working. I first introduced to Kate by one of my college friends, since we were in the same college, though she was ahead of me. My friend introduced her to me as a passionate and an independent minded woman, and little did I know she would become one of my best mentors in college. It is her unique character that attracted me so much, that she was my best choice for this particular interview. The interview process was such a good experience because Kate was so cooperative and she was more than ready to share even the weirdest experiences in her life. The key theme in this interview is the change and development of the role of women in the society. Thumbnail of the interviewee: Ethnicity – Jews Age – 45 Class – middle class Motherhood – mother of one daughter Marital status – married to a Canada husband Migration – from Israel Arabia to Canada Occupation – social worker Kate recounts that, during her childhood, some of her background group’s values and identity includes conforming to kosher laws, the importance of raising a family, identifying with religious values and adherences, as well as male chauvinism. The identity value, which was anchored in her traditional Jewish family set-up that she was brought up, was the key determinant of her ego as well as her sense of identity. She adds that her childhood sense of identity was particularly influenced by the Jewish values and beliefs, which for example, are associated with the female inferiority complex (Gould 43).. This behavior can be associated to gender identity, which significantly dictates how individuals perceive themselves, both as a person and in comparison with other individuals. For example, as a result of the preference offered to male children when Kate was growing back in Israel, she told me that she developed a sense of inferiority for being the ‘weaker sex’ (Hochman 46). Apparently, many of the values that were associated with the Jewish society defined her identity in a distinct manner. She disclosed to me that, although she has upheld some of the group and background’s values, she has since withdrawn from those that do not match with the needs of the current society, as well as those that she perceives worthless. Some of the personality traits that I can attribute to her reference cultural group and background include her observance of kosher, her identification with Jewish religious values and adherences and the centrality of the family as a social circle. Therefore, her exposure to the English culture seems to have influenced her departure from some of the personality identity traits that she had developed as a result of her association and upbringing within a Jewish group. Other factors that she said have played a role in her withdrawal from such personality identity include education and the changes that have occurred in the society. As a result, Kate says she no longer believes in the superiority of the men over women, and that she does not regard men as being more equal than women within the society. She added that she no longer believe that the man is supposed to be the sole breadwinner within the family. As it pertains to the roles of different groups of people in the society, such misplaced values had been fostered by the acting out of the socially defined roles within her social circles, including her family, the school and the society in general (Hochman 46). For example, the reasons that fostered her belief in the man as being the superior gender include the fact that men should be educated, so that they can provide for their families. In addition, the fact that Kate noticed that all leadership roles and family upkeep went to men and not women mean that the above-mentioned values are fostered within the social circles. With reference to ethics identity, the values of the traditional Jewish community emphasize a male superiority complex, which is evident from the traditional division of labor and chores (Hochman 46). There are some choices that Kate told me that she consciously made, regarding her identity, including the fact that both sexes are entitled to education to enhance their career development, so they can be able to become the breadwinners in their families. It is through the different conscious choices about her identity that she decided to go back to school at the age of 10. Thereafter, she has been very vocal in championing the education of her daughter. After moving to United Kingdom to pursue her education, she witnessed women undertaking leadership roles and taking care of their families, which significantly changed her perception over the role of women in the society (Hochman 45). In addition, she told me that the support of a Canada husband was a major force in the changes that she adopted later in life, mainly because the husband supported her and accepted her financial help as well as educating their daughter. The social comparison theory is a model based on the belief that there is an internal drive for self-evaluation, which allows individuals to evaluate their abilities and opinions, by comparing themselves with others. The aim of the evaluations is the reduction of uncertainty and improving self-definition. The application of the theory in Kate’s life became evident after she moved to Canada, when she started questioning the beliefs developed earlier about the inferiority of women, the insignificance of their education and the role of the man as the sole breadwinner. Through the evaluations, Kate sought to reduce the uncertainty of her life by getting educated and nurturing her career. Even more importantly, Kate has entrenched similar modern values in her daughter by educating her. Furthermore, she says that she believe in educating her child, so she can become her own breadwinner, since her conviction is that a man should not be the only bread winner. In view of this interview, the social development and the education Kate gained while living in Canada has allowed her look at education and life, in general, in a different way. For example, during her childhood years, she told me that she believed that education enabled men to take care of their families, but that changed, and now she believe that education is a means to getting a better life and higher living standards for men as well as women. The dominant aspects of her identity include that she believes in the education of both girl and the boy child. She believes in the significance of education, and identifies with the changing society, since she espouses the fact that the best in life comes from accepting change (Toshiko 45). Therefore, the environment plays an important role in shaping the identity of a person, for example, after coming to Canada the life-style of the people changed Kate’s outlook about education; which made her go back to school (Toshiko 45). The influence on identity is evident through the efforts she is channeling towards her 15-year daughter’s education, which exemplifies her renewed belief in education. The experience that I gained from my Friend, Kate, is with no doubts momentous and has changed my opinion regarding the role of women. Although I was brought up in a society that respects women and accords them almost the same rights as men, I must say that I did not particularly recognize the diversity of culture, and the importance of people interacting so they can share values. I have, in a better way, recognized the importance of educating a girl child, because I have realized that education can empower them, so they can become more productive in the society. I have also been amazed by the manner in which some societies from different parts of the world condemns the girl child as a ‘weaker sex’, and goes to an extent of not giving them the right to education, just as the boy child. I am a proponent of the girl child being given an opportunity to pursue the career of their choice, since what men can do, they can do better. In this respect, the story of Kate has really inspired me, especially because I know her as a very talented and hardworking woman, and it would be very unfortunate if such potential was not exploited by her not receiving formal education. I subscribe education of the girl child, so that women are given an appropriate platform to become bread winners, as well as leaders in the society. Although women in Canada enjoy the same rights as men more than in Israel, I think they still hold more traditional jobs and are compensated poorer that their male counterparts. With continued lobby, I believe that one day they will be able to enjoy equal treatment with their male counterparts, in all aspects. Read More