Struggle of Women's Sexuality - Research Paper Example

Struggle of Women's Sexuality Introduction When it comes to matters of woman sexuality, this topic is dealt with under different considerations. Women sexuality not only does it vary from state to state but also one domain to the other. Women sexuality is normally is viewed from various perspectives; socially, physically, politically and culturally (Alexander et al. 4). In many societies globally, women normally identify themselves as a rather weaker gender than their male counterparts. This is normally evident due to a number of factors such as involvement in gender roles such as cooking and other household chores (Mottin-Sylla, Palmeri & Jagne 88). Women were normally to remain loyal to their husbands since signs of infidelity normally carried heavy punishments such as honor killings. For women’s sexuality to be fulfilled, it was necessary that they meet certain requirements such as undergoing FGM. Some of the reason that portrayed women as weak compered to women was the tasks assigned to them. For instance, whereas men roles were fighting in battles, women were to remain behind and assist in the home. The study will relay more information concerning women sexuality in addition to the struggles they normally undergo in a move to achieve their sexuality fulfillment. How Women Struggle To Be Sexually Fulfilled Just like men, women also crave for sexual fulfillment. However, unlike men, they normally have to go through many experiences in a move to be sexually satisfied. Since men are the dominant gender, women are ever striving to impress the men for their sexuality desires to be fulfilled. Many developing nations practice Female Genital Mutilation (FGM); this is normally the process of removing vital sex organs from the women. Women normally opt to undergo FGM due to many myths and taboos associated with them. For instance, women that undergo FGM normally reduce their chances of ever cheating on their husbands with other men (“AINA”). Apart from FGM preventing women from cheating, it also source of beauty since most men in developing nations prefer women that have undergone FGM (“AINA”). This is because women that have undergone FGM know how to treat their husbands in addition to doing household chores. This is because after one has undergone FGM, she normally goes in to the next stage, which is seclusion. In this stage, girls learn necessary requirements one ought to know before qualifying for marriage. How Women View Their Sexuality Most women never talk about their sexuality since they have this believe that such topics are not for women. A topic on sex is normally a taboo in some domains hence women shunned from it. Due to this taboo, it is evident that women normally view themselves as the inferior gender compared to their male counterparts. From childhood, women grow into adulthood with the perception that men are more dominant than they in matters related to sexuality (Kaschack & Tiefer 180). Therefore, even in marriage, women still hold the same perception. It is because of this perception that women are submissive to their husbands to the extent that they cannot do anything without the husband’s approval. For instance, it is always a taboo for women to take contraceptives without the man’s consent. When a woman takes contraceptives without the knowledge of the husband, she is always accused of infidelity (Paludi 17). Apart from birth control pills, women are also in no position to determine the number of children the family should have since this is normally the man’s decision. Women have no say about their children since in many nations children belong to the man and not the woman. This implies that the man can decide to marry off his daughters without seeking opinion from his wife. This is clear indication that women normally view themselves as inferior and submissive since they have no control whatsoever over their sexuality. Women Are For Men's Sexual Pleasure Most women grow up with the perception that their main role in marriage is ensuring that the husband is satisfied since he is the head of the house. The main reason why men dominate more on matters of sexuality is that they have paid dowry hence making the girl a man’s property. Therefore, according to many societal taboos, the main role of women was to ensure that the man’s sexuality is well taken care of (Babcock & Laschever 100). While still in their parents’ homes, women learn how to maintain their body so that they appear beautiful in front of their husbands. For instance, girls are always restricted from involving themselves in pre-marital sex since this normally brings embarrassment to the family once the girl’s future husband realizes that the girl was not a virgin (Paludi 17). Therefore, in order to make their husbands happy, women were to maintain their virginity until marriage. Apart from making the husband happy, maintaining virginity until marriage also resulted to more wealth in terms of dowry to the girl’s parents. Some women usually undergo painful ordeals in the name of making their husbands happy. For instance, in some cultures, girls wear rings in their private parts so that they may appear more pleasing in front of their husbands. Men's Standard of Beauty While still in their parents’ home, girls are normally asked to ever appear beautiful and clean since it is always a form of preparedness for the marriage life (Chambers 179). Although appearing beautiful is normally the intention of any married woman or girl planning to get married, men have their own ways in which they define beauty. In some society’s, especially in developing nations, men normally prefer women that have undergone FGM. According to them, such women are usually beautiful unlike if they had not undergone the cut (Chambers 179). One of the reasons why men prefer women that have undergone FGM is because these women know how to treat a man and make him happy since this is one main reason why men marry. Apart from FGM, men also see women’s beauty in terms of their virginity. According to them, women that maintain their virginity until marriage are more beautiful than those that were involved in pre-marital sex practices. Conclusion Women sexuality normally comes in number of categories such as socially, physically and culturally. Studies show that many women normally portray themselves as a weak gender compared to the men. It is because of this that women are ever submissive to their husbands. This is because they have little or no say at all to their husbands since their main role is to satisfy the man. In some societies, men normally prefer women that have undergone FGM compared to those that have not. This is because such women usually have more knowledge on how to make their husbands happy. Apart from FGM, men also prefer women that have maintained their virginity compared those involved in pre-marital sex relationships. Work Cited The Myths About Female Genital Mutilation. AINA. 8 June 2009. Web. 30 April 2014. http://www.aina.org/news/20090608140352.htm The article talks about some of the most common myths and misconceptions that used to portray women as a weaker gender than their male counterparts. The article was useful in the study because of the role it played in showing most common myths used to diminish the female gender. Alexander, Linda L., LaRosa, Judith, H., Bader, Helaine, Garfied, Susan & Alexander, James, W. New Dimensions in Women's Health. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2010. Print. In this book, Alexander et al. brings forth various ways in which women were perceived in the society. It gives detailed information on not only cultural dimensions regarding female sexuality but also social, physical and biological dimensions as well hence suitable for the study of female sexuality. Babcock, Linda & Laschever, Sarah. Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003. Internet resource. The book depicts some of the problems that women normally undergo in the name of pleasing not only their husbands but also the entire society in which they are married. The book is essential in the study for it brings into light struggles and predicaments purposely meant for women to go through in addition to the rift of gender inequality in societies. Chambers, Clare. Sex, Culture, and Justice: The Limits of Choice. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008. Print. In this book, Chambers talks of some of the most common cultures that women go through in order to appear beautiful in to attract future husbands or suitors. One of these cultural practices covered is FGM and how women that have had the cut are considered beautiful and worth marrying. The book in this study offers information regarding how male and society generally subject the female gender to practices that dictate their sexuality. Kaschack, Ellyn & Tiefer, Leonore. A New View of Women’s Sexual Problems. London: Routledge, 2014. Print. The book relays information on how women rate themselves as the weaker gender in the society. This by holding onto perceptions men ought to dominate, hence underrating women by subjecting them to lesser roles as well other ordeals, which lower their integrity. The book is of great benefit to the study for it shows various ways in which women endure utter mistreatment due to these perceptions. Mottin-Sylla, Marie-Helene, Joelle Palmieri, and Mamsait Jagne. Confronting Female Genital Mutilation: The Role of Youth and Icts in Changing Africa. Oxford: Pambazuka Press, 2010. Print. The book majors on FGM, which is a common practice especially in the developing nations. It further states on some of the myths associated with FGM in addition to why women that have to undergone the cut whereby in some cultures this is an acceptable thing for women to add on their beauty. The book’s role in the study encompasses depicting some of the plights women experience but viewed as normal. Paludi, Michele A. Feminism and Women's Rights Worldwide. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, 2010. Print. In this book, Paludi stresses how feminists are ever advocating for gender equality in the society. The book also gives examples of ways in which women are mistreated because of their gender in addition to their position in the society. The books if helps in the identification of the roles that women do because of their gender and the position the hold in the society. Read More