Gender Beliefs and Self Concept - Term Paper Example

Socialization, Gender beliefs and behaviors and self concept Socialization is the process by which an individual is provided with the skills, norms and belief that are part of his or her community, thus enabling the cultural continuity. Gender beliefs and behaviors are the convictions that held on the different genders and their expected behaviors in accordance with their society or culture. Self-concept is the self evaluation and how one thinks about themselves (Harris, 1995). The global difference in civilization is as a result of the differences in culture. Although some cultures may be similar in their beliefs and activities, most of them vary in many ways. Each culture has its own unique socialization, gender beliefs and behavior and roles. Individual self concept may also result from the influence from the culture. Socialization, gender beliefs and behaviors of a female Hindu culture In the Hindu culture, women are held in the highest regard compared to most cultures. However, this does not mean that they are held in equality with men. It is quite the opposite. While in the cultures the women are allowed to work in the same fields like the men, the Hindu women are supposed to remain in the men’s shadows and support their husband through their achievements. They were also allowed to be equals in the religious practices with their husbands and the men have to practice these ceremonies accompanied by their wives since they were seen as goddesses. The qualities traditionally admired in a Hindu woman are modesty of manner, shyness and self-effacement. Self assertiveness and bold tendencies are regarded with suspicion (Sarkar, 2001). From a young age, a woman is never fir for independence. At a young age, the father is the one who protects her. This ends at the time she is married off and the husband takes over the role of protecting her and her old age, her son protects her. During her childhood, a woman was brought up to be a quiet and modest girl. They were associated with beauty and taught how to dance since they believe that it was a way to attract more suitors. At a young age, she was completely under her parent’s care, where she was taught to be a hard working lady so as not to disappoint her husband when she is married off. Once she is married, the woman becomes the property of her husband. Payment of dowry is influenced by the caste system. For those that are high in hierarchy, women are the ones that are expected to pay dowry to their husband’s family while those that are of the lower class practice the opposite. Once the woman is married, her husband is expected to take care of her needs. She is supposed to be his servant (dasi), his minister in decision making (mantra), the mother to his children (mata) and his lover in bed (rambha). (Hinduisim and Women, 1998) A woman’s refinements were expected in some of the following situations: A woman’s reservation in mixed company, especially that of strangers, a woman was expected to stay in the background and she was not supposed to mix freely in the conversation. This however did not apply to family and close friends (Sarkar, 2001). She was expected to walk a step or two behind her husband. She was also supposed to serve men first before their own meal. A woman had to be chaperoned when she leaves her home. A woman was not expected to talk to a stranger especially a casual conversation. When widowed, most of the times women were not expected to be married but instead they were dressed in white and some even became expelled from the families. They survived on begging and were expected to follow a religious path. Muslim culture Women in the Muslim culture have always been treated as unequal to the men. From a young age, women are taught to respect the men in the lives. They are taught to be hardworking and also that they should be humble and respectful towards the men. They are not allowed to look directly at the men especially those that are strangers. Though their religion is clear in demanding that women should be given the opportunity to pursue their education and careers, most of the cultures did not follow this. The women were prepared for marriage at a young age and mostly ended up in arranged marriages. The women had to practice chastity, and there was little tolerance to premarital sex. If one was married and then found out to be no virgin, she could be divorced and would face severe punishment which could even include being banished from the community. They were not allowed to marry outside their religion since they were believed to have little influence on the conversion of their husbands to their religion (Imani & Charlie, 2008). On being married, the women became their husband’s sexual property and were expected to be totally dependent on their husbands. The wife was entitled to two types of dowry from the husband, the mahr, which was paid to the bride at the time of marriage and the muakhr, which is given upon death of the husband or divorce (Imani & Charlie, 2008). Women were expected to be obedient to their husbands. They had to be submissive and were to mother many children. Women were also expected to be fully covered when they are in public. They were to adorn head- coverings that covered their bosom and could only display their adornments to their husband, father or brothers. They weren’t also supposed to show their feet nor any skin when they are in public and had to lower their gaze and restrain from any sexual passions. In some instances they were not even allowed to be in a place where there was the presence of the opposite sex. This was to ensure that they avoided any kind of temptation since a woman was believed to have influence on creating the image of the family. They were not allowed to marry more than one husband and although some got remarried after being divorced, it was not widely practiced. Men had the permission to punish their wives in cases where they believed that the wife was sabotaging the family name, with some even beating them up. Socialization, gender beliefs and behaviors and self-concept in men The socializing of men in these two cultures was almost similar. In both cultures, men were brought up in the belief that they are the stronger gender. When a male child was born into a family, it was seen as a double blessing from their gods since he could become the heir and thus could carry on the family heritage. In Hindu culture, the son never moves out of the parent’s home and when he marries, the wife is expected to move into that home and take care of his whole family. He was to be the provider of the family and he was the head of it, with him having the ultimate say in everything. The man was expected to take care of his mother at her old age (Hinduisim and Women, 1998). The men in the Muslim culture however made a home for themselves. Though he had the choice in the say of who they wanted to marry, they could also let their parents arrange it for them. The men are allowed to marry their relatives since it was believed that it maintains strong alliances. Their culture also allowed them to marry as many as four wives but on condition that they could take care of them. Unlike the women, they were free to engage in premarital sex and were allowed to marry out of their religion since they were believed to have more ability to influence the woman to converting to Muslim. References i. Harris, R. J. (1995). Where is the a childs environment? A group socializtion theory of development. Psychological Review, 102(3) , 458-489. ii. Hinduisim and Women. (1998). Retrieved July 7, 2012, from HINDUWEBSITE: www.hinduwebsite.com iii. Imani, J.-M., & Charlie, L. (2008). Womens Rights in Islam Regarding Marriage and Divorce. Journal of Law & Practice . iv. Sarkar, T. (2001). Hindu wife, Hindu nation: Community, Religion and Cultural Nationalism. New Delhi: Permanent Black. Read More