Rituals And Gender: Considering Gender Roles - Essay Example

Rituals And Gender: Considering Gender Roles Children become acquainted to daily course of the family at an early stage. They become active participants in the family during childhood years considering their gender roles. The society ensures that family routines based on gender occur naturally provided by meaningful rituals. The rituals develop a predictable structure that children fit in depending on their gender differences. Variations in practices of family routines based on gender and meanings decoded by children from their early stages are linked to differences in socio-emotional language, development of social skills, and academic levels all of them operating within the cultural context of the community in question. Organizational characteristics of a particular community’s routines as well as the symbolic structure of rituals closely connect with other important elements of developmental processes among them working relationships within the family, efficiency of parents, and ability to monitor behavioral changes. Just like Shahrazad’s role in The One Thousand and One Nights, as a teacher is neither declared, nor predefined, nor articulated in the process, but hidden behind her role as an entertainer and a storyteller (Naddaff, 1980). Families play a crucial role of constructing role settings for its members compatible with their gender specifications. In most cases, the roles are consistent with family values, norms, and goals that are sustainable over various generations. The rituals make the transactional process of instilling family routines among its members easy. Cultural practices have a responsibility of regulating gender-specified roles, which is an essential component of development in the society. Rituals conducted in the society together with routines of daily chores gives parents and guardians a chance to develop knowledge and skills that enhance gender-based autonomy covering the relationships with other members of the same gender and across the genders. The relationship between Telemachus and Odysseus in Odyssey proofs the extent of how rituals can teach people how to relate (5.387-389). However, rituals and cultural traditions differ across different ethnic groups causing differences in independence and engagement. This means that a specific behavior may draw varied meanings across different ethnic groups depending on the cultural setups and rituals within them. It is important to note that although variations in rituals and cultures exist, their differences do not reflect in the ability to acquire or develop social skills. The known effect may come from the family beliefs some of them common stereotypes concerning what members feel are appropriate channels and mechanisms applicable in gaining particular social skills. In other circumstances, the society embeds such beliefs and stereotypes in the people’s cultural values. Family routines and rituals provide children with an appropriate chance to participate in community activities either in groups or individually following their differences in gender structures. This opportunity contributes a lot to the development of language, academic performance, and construction of social skills (Cowan, 2000, p. 67). Pure and social science as well as natural science are yet to proof that rituals and routines that exist among various communities influence largely the outcomes of live. Furthermore, the effect of a single-family component on wide ranging effects remains unknown. What is clear is that family rituals and routines form part of the organizational, institutional, and predictable elements of daily family chores charged with responsibility of supporting child development under normal circumstances. Family gatherings result in emotional connections creating opportunities for both negative and positive exchanges. The gatherings are the basis for the development of rituals in the family, which separate roles following gender differences among members of the family. Various scholars study two aspects in which the ritual elements and emotional connections exist in the family and the role they play. The first is the relationship existing between family rituals and the satisfaction of the relationship during the transition to parenthood. Differences in family association patterns at gatherings meant for ritual purposes with respect to the socio-emotional functioning of the child are the other aspect under study. Members of the society learn many gender-based things during their early stages of parenthood. These functions include among others bathing, feeding, naptime routines, and farming that ought to be in calculated into existing patterns surrounding family daily chores. The story of Odyssey justifies the teaching of courage among members of the society the same way Odysseus arrives at the palace disguised as a begger, enduring abuse and insults from suitors. The nurse, who is the only person to recognize him shows elements taught through rituals and routine gatherings and vows to keep the secrete (6. 211-212). Rituals supported by a cordial relationship in marriage makes the process of integrating these roles into members of the society easy. The well-being of marital statuses offers an environment for socio-emotional adaptability of the learners. Parents for instance, need to adjust to new roles of taking care of a baby once they get one. It is challenging and sometimes cumbersome to fit into some of the gender roles provided by rituals and changes in the family or society setup. Change in rituals and routines are part of the entire life cycle. The two processes evolve, which is different from rising to appear in full forms. The process entails lengthy works. A case in point is the vulnerability exposed to the transition from couple hood to parenthood considering the important duration it takes. The process remains consistent with routines that draw meaningful rituals. It is also important to note that relationships in marriage directly relate to the healthy adjustment of the child’s socio-emotional adaptability. Professionals proof that rituals as well as family routines influence the quality of the marital relationship. In situations where rituals exist, mothers of preschool going children feel more satisfied compared to those in circumstances where there are no rituals. The absence of emotional meaning in rituals is an indicator that other components of family life are not safe. Divorce for instance, carries the potential to disrupt family life to a higher degree. The trauma on children goes to an extent of them living in two houses all the time. Routine gatherings have always formed the basis for rituals for long developing from emotional connections. The forums provide an opportunity for members of the family to share news on daily happenings increasing the bond among them due to the emotional support received. Similarly, Shahrazad in thousand nights uses such gatherings to teach the King lessons, given her productive character. However, her tales do not have the feminist motivation(Naithani 88).This increases the self-esteem of members, as they feel valued. On the other hand, if the routine gatherings are acrimonious and full of conflicts, they break the family ties harming the relationships at their worst. The relationships between their parents in marriage are tenuous. Rituals protect children from the effects of marital transitions that include divorce and separation (Cowan, 2000, p. 67). In the case of repeated mealtime gatherings, the meaning of family rituals may become associated with a family identity that centres on either group belongingness or emotional disconnectedness, which in turn is associated with children’s mental health. Again, we do not mean to indicate that the emotional climate created during ritual gatherings cause children’s well-being. We have presented several examples from the early intervention literature that support the integration of routines and rituals into early intervention services. All have in common the collaboration between professionals and parents to design plans that are sensitive to the child’s developmental ecology. However, as we also stressed earlier, it is important to consider the transnational nature of family relationships when assessing and designing interventions because of family routines and rituals. Work Cited Cowan, Peter. When partners become parents. Mawhah, NJ: Erlbaum, 2000. Print. Sandra, Naddaff, Arabesque: Narrative Structure and the Aesthetics of Repetition in the 1001 Nights.London:Pearson publishers, 1980. Print. Read More