Gender Roles Changes in India - Essay Example

How Gender Roles have Changed in Middle East How Gender Roles have changed in India Gender roles refer to sets of behavioral and social norms that are regarded as appropriate for either a woman or a man in an interpersonal or social relationship. Differences of opinion prevail in personality or behavior between genders because of cultural or social forces as well as due to the nature of a person. Gender roles differ based on cultural-historical perspective (Arber, Davidson, & Ginn, 2003). This paper will discuss the changing gender roles in India and the Middle East. In the Middle East, gender roles are expressed in terms of prayer and worship, marriage and family. On Fridays, Muslim congregations set children, woman and men in distinct groups. While at home, men are regarded as the heads of households, and they are the ones that lead the prayers (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). Within a marriage context, mothers are highly appreciated, and the greatest achievement for a woman is motherhood. While in the family, a believer is not permitted to treat his wife in a harsh manner, even if he does not like her. Today, most scholars stipulate that husbands are supposed to treat their wives based on societal norms, and emphasize on mutual agreement while making family decisions (Moghadam, 2003). In the Middle East context, the role that each gender plays is guided by religion and culture, which creates room for a cruel tradition. The factors that contribute to the oppression of women in India consist of religious, economic, education and the various geographical locations in the country (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Women are associated with low social status, though most of the practices that Hindus engage in are dedicated to them. However, most of the laws in India do not treat woman fairly like men (Nanda, 2009). Therefore, it is evident that the diverse roles that genders play are associated with the different cultural practices and the geographical location of a particular society. The history of women has not been well documented prior to 1500 because the word “man” stood for both men and women. As a result it was believed by most student scholars that history only comprised of men. In Middle East, just like men women revolved around the normal activities of war, diplomacy and industry. According to the Middle East history, there are some activities that women have played a greater role than men (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). These activities include: healthcare, childbearing, cloths production, arts and religion. In the current society, women are engaged in vast activities that they were not allowed to engage in the past (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). It is clear from historical documentation that there is documentation of numerous works done by men more than women. In the Middle East society, gender imbalance has always existed where women being many than men in Country, they are still underrepresented in their affairs (Nanda, 2009). This is based on the belief that men are more important compared to women (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). In the current Middle East society particularly South African nations, women do most of the farm work but they are not allowed to own the land. This practice has deep roots in the African traditions since man is the head of the family and is thus entitled to authority over all the resources (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). In some Middle East countries like Qatar there is a legislation that requires women to be entitled to land inheritance just like men but the practice is just ceremonial as it is not implemented fully. The current society has changed to include the homosexuals in the struggle to identify their gender (Okkenhaug & Flaskerud, 2005). The homosexuals are discriminated and stigmatized in trying to find their gender identity. For a long time, the African society has defined males and females based on their physical attribute (Nanda, 2009). In the developing countries gender roles negatively affect women as they less access to educational opportunities (Nanda, 2009). Women are not able to receive quality education to guarantee them a quality life and in turn they will need to look for a husband to fend them. These shows that women are weak in the society and man are portrayed as dominants (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Women are not allowed to come out of their prescribed gender roles in the Middle East society to challenge men (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). If they challenge men they are pushed back to their initial positions. The developing countries where virtually all Middle East countries lie can be generalized as to be patriarchal (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Most women in the Middle East society are left with the roles of child-bearers and homemakers. In the youth ages, women spend most of their time under the care and authority of their fathers after which they are married (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). As a result, it can be argued that male dominate the Middle East society and they limit the abilities over women (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). There has been a notable progress in the Middle East society in relation to gender roles where women are now more optimistic (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Gender inequality has hindered community progress and this can explain why males are dominant in the Middle East society (Nanda, 2009). There are some countries that have defied male domination like UAE which has had a female president since 2006. Country such as Rwanda also has the highest number of women who are parliamentarians than in any country in the world (Nanda, 2009). Women can make good leaders as this can be justified in some families they are the head. Women holding political positions are a liberalization that promotes political equality in the Middle East society (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Political activism among women is a key element in ensuring that there is general equality among men and women in the society (Nanda, 2009). In Qatar there is formation of a women group that aims at influencing the politics of Qatar. The group of women is involved in reconciliation, peace talks and influencing political decisions in the country (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Despite this effort in Qatar, women still hold limited political positions in the country. Female Genital Mutilation is very predominant in the society where this limits educational attainment among girls in that society (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). After undergoing the female genital mutilation, the young girls get married at a tender age and they become a burden to physical labor. Just like In many Middle East cultures, sons are more valued than the daughters and as a result they are educated at the expense of their sisters (Nanda, 2009). Qatar is just an example of the Middle East countries where there is educational inequality among boys and girls because parents opt to send boys to school rather than the girls with the hope that the girls will be married off and also because of financial strains (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Gender equality is one of the prerequisite for a nation to be developed economically. Gender inequality is associated with poverty where it the poverty is manifested unequally (Nanda, 2009). This is the case when you find that most women are poorer compared to men (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). According to the United Nations report, seventy percent of the poor people are women. It can thus be argued that nations that promote gender equality benefit economically from the practice (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). This explains the reason as to why the representation of women in education and public service is less as compared to that of men. In the Middle East society gender roles vary between the rural and urban communities. The urban communities provide an environment that is conducive for development and liberal views (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Gender roles as they were manifested in the Middle East societies placed women under the servitude of men. Men were dominant and they limited the abilities of women to make decisions and influence their lives (Nanda, 2009). Authority was and is still entitled to men. If this trend is to continue, the consequences would be dangerous (Nanda, 2009). According to this argument the practices on gender roles that are practiced in the western world should not be extended to Middle East but rather the Middle East indigenous culture should be considered to avoid denying people their rights (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). The discrimination and unfair treatment of women did not start in Middle East but it was also practiced in the developed nations before they became civilized. In the current Middle East society gender inequality has resulted in sexual coercion, being married to older partners and reduced power of negotiation that has resulted in the HIV/AIDs high prevalence rate among women (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). Also, women do most of the charity works in the community that helps in eradicating problems but have little or no political authorities in the communities (Nanda, 2009). Women in the Middle East societies are the majority yet they have got no leadership positions in the churches or other roles that fall under the traditional leaders (Chakrapani & Kumar, 2002). To promote gender equality in the Middle East society, women must continue campaigning for increased positions in political offices and also a change of their attitudes in relation to legal matters (Nanda, 2009). Middle East also needs some institutional reforms that should come from within the Middle East context (Nanda, 2009). References Arber, S., Davidson, K., & Ginn, J. (2003). Gender and Ageing: Changing Roles and Relationships. London: McGraw-Hill International. Chakrapani, C., & Kumar, V. (2002). Changing Status and Role of Women in Indian Society. Mumbai: M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. Moghadam, V. (2003). Modernizing Women: Gender and Social Change in the Middle East. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Nanda, S. (2009). Gender Roles in India. Mumbai: Safra Project. Okkenhaug, I. M., & Flaskerud, I. (2005). Gender, Religion and Change in the Middle East: Two Hundred Years of History. London: Berg. Read More