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GENDER ROLES IN MARRIAGE ABSTRACT In no developing region do women experience equality with men. This clear-cut statement from the World Bank, the reputed international monetary institution, relays one of the most apparent yet often overlooked realities of our time gender inequality. Gender inequality is a significant social concern that deserves to be analyzed with the utmost diligence using both empirical and scholastic evidences. This paper aims to discuss the facts of gender inequality as experienced by ordinary men and women, many of whom live in relative poverty and deprivation in societies that maintain inequitable and unproductive practices. Specifically, this paper aims to answer the question of whether the presence of gender inequality reduces growth and development of an economy. Investigating this question, however, calls for an understanding of the roots of gender inequality.
Gender inequality is deeply entangled in the fabric of the everyday lives of many men and women, and it has been in existence since time immemorial. Gender inequality, from its very name, implies an uneven treatment based on ones gender. Essentially, gender inequality is the prejudice that one gender, usually the female, is secondary and subordinate to the more capable and hence superior male gender. Many societies practice gender inequality, with the men reinforcing it and the women passively receiving it, because it is considered part of an enduring patriarchal culture. Deviating from this norm means that one runs the risk of being branded a weak husband or a bad, undeserving wife. Both cases are an embarrassment to the individual and the family.
Introduction Women were historically subjugated to inferior roles, tasks and perceptions by society, even by the Holy Church. WIC described how St. Jerome, a 4 th-century Latin father of the Christian church, pointed out: "Woman is the gate of the devil, the path of wickedness, the sting of the serpent, in a word a perilous object Womens History in America). The struggle of women for their rightful place with men from the confines of their homes to the highest steps of economic and political ladders began in the 19 th century.
Women Power in the 19 th century In the 19 th century, the civil rights movement was in full swing, while Industrial Revolution started in the cities (Encyclopedia Britannica, Women in American History: The 19 th Century). During this time, men and women left their rural homes to engage in industrial work of the urban cities. Women from other countries migrated to America, hoping for better opportunities. This transfusion of multiethnic human resources overcrowded industrialized cities. However, since women were stereotyped for certain jobs, many of them have worked only in textile, garment shops, household responsibilities, and education. The rooms of the factories and textile or garment shops were jam-packed with busy women and children.
These rooms were called sweatshops because women and children toiled for 12 hours or more in these poorly ventilated, unhygienic and congested places (WIC Womens History in America). Factory owners preferred women and children because their labor was cheaper than men, and they worked long hours without complaint. There were no labor laws at first that took care of the welfare of women workers, nor were there anti-child labor policies. Women also labored in mills and mines (Dawson Women and Children in Industrial Revolution). The work was harder for women because they worked even when they were pregnant. Aside from harsh working conditions, they had to go back home at the end of the day to work for their families, thus, women experienced multiple burdens.
Women adapted to these work conditions for a long time before reformers in the industries created policies, called Factory Acts, where working hours for women were limited to twelve hours, and not earlier than 6 am or no later than 6 pm (Dawson Working Conditions in the Industrial Revolution). How women adapted and survived in the 19 th century showed their inner strength amidst all odds. They were viewed as inferior being, second-class citizens, the weaker sex, temptress, and other demeaning labels (WIC Womens History in America). Yet the same women being looked down were the same women, who performed domestic duties to the dot, after toiling for 12 hours or more in factories, mines, households, farms, or anywhere they could work for a payment much lesser than what men get. Despite the uncanny ability to work amidst harsh conditions, and the docility to accept women discrimination, scores of women still remained as progressive-thinking individuals. Many, especially the middle-class women, knew that they were overworked at their homes and workplaces, and yet enjoyed few political and economic freedom and opportunities.
By 1948, a group of women gathered to talk about their suffrage at Seneca Falls, New York (NWHM Motherhood, Social Service and Political Reform). They were called Suffragists, as their main demand was suffrage. This was one of the signs of women awakening to change their roles and rights in society. Through this convention, women recognized the need to organize and lobby for their rights. They lobbied for their right to vote, birth control, property rights, equal opportunities to work and equal salaries to that of men, and formulation of legislation surrounding these rights (Feminism and Womens Studies The Womens Movement: Our History). Not only that, they also vied for the emancipation of slaves, whom they could relate to.
Women after all were treated much like slaves, treated as objects, and discriminated at every abominable aspect. Women abolitionists, like the Grimke sisters, voiced out their dissent over slavery and argued for the freedom of all slaves (WIC Womens History in America). Women intended that through lobbying publicly and openly discussing women issues at the home level, and abolishing slavery, the women and the rest of the society would radically alter perspectives on women stereotypes, and thereby, work collectively in responding to women concerns in the 19 th century. Women Power During and After World War I (1914 - 1919) This was the first time the government deliberately hired women in the military.
Many of the suffragists joined and served the government, hoping that somehow through this contribution in a national event, womens concerns would also be highlighted (Goldstein War and Gender). However, not all women supported the war, as some advocated to stop war and initiate peace. The womens rights movement gained something from being involved in World War I directly, and even indirectly: the right to vote by 1920, a step toward equal employment opportunities, and the rightful place to work side-by-side men in national affairs. There were short-term gains however on changing women roles and perceptions (Goldstein War and Gender). After the war, the Army and the Marines stopped enlisting women in their ranks. The struggle for women rights continued until the World War II and after the Great Depression.
Women Power During and After World War II (1917 - 1945) After World War II, particularly during the 60 s and 70 s, the womens movement was revitalized. The National Organization for Women was formed in 1966. This organization fought not just for the equality of men and women in the fields of employment, education and others, but also a national change in gender thinking and gender roles. They lobbied and were successful in enacting laws that prohibited discrimination of any form to women in any field, especially that of education, employment and credit access.
This movement coincided with the Afro-American race revolution that advocates the equality among men and women, with no discrimination between races or ethnic origins (Womens Movement 386; Womens Rights Movement 109; Feminism and Womens Studies The Womens Movement). Those who truly understand the psychological importance of home life do not treat it lightly, do not take for granted or denigrate its importance. They never dismiss as mere habit what is really deep emotional attachment. Too many are surprised at how badly they feel after divorce and suddenly miss the security they had.
The person one has been for so long, whose bed and life one has shared, with one fought and made up, had children, planted gardens, taken walks, means more than one perhaps realizes. It is a fact that un disrupted, harmonious home life is best for ones psychological and physical health. To preserve ones marriage requires sensitivity to ones partner. If one, as the books advice, focuses exclusively on how to make the most of oneself, the union will fail.
It all boils down to the values of each person in the union. Speakers who talk on married life advocate realistic goals for marital relationships. They say that a couple should know where they are going and who is going with them. Marriage may ease and comfort life, but it is not a salvation. People in a marriage need to be more realistic to improve ones marriage. Gender Inequality: Its Manifestations and Ramifications Gender inequality is present in almost every aspect of human endeavoring education, employment, consumption of goods, political agency, and the ability to acquire property.
These are just some of the areas that gender inequality may be observed, but regardless of the venue, it is almost always the female who is disadvantaged. Gender-inequality, hence, is tantamount to discrimination and oppression of women. Efforts to control the practice of discrimination have long been underway. According to the United Nations, Equal rights between men and women are enshrined as a fundamental right in the United Nations Charter (2004, p.
iii). The UN manuscript, Trade and Gender: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries (2004), reminded readers that in the 1979 Convention, the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was launched. The effort of the UN and its member states has paid off in some ways. The result of its persistent advocacy throughout its history, which were reflected in the 1979 Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, include increased access to education across all levels and improved labor participation among women.
Furthermore, the wage gap between men and women workers shows signs of reduction. Despite these significant achievements, much is yet to be done, since many more women are still discriminated against, oppressed, and not given equal opportunities in most countries (United Nations 2004, p. iii). Men and women play different roles in this theater stage called life. Men are believed to be the breadwinners, while women are supposed to stay at home and take care of their children, and the men when they come home from work. Men are more physical especially when "verbalizing" their emotions, while women are more emotional and more vocal about what they feel.
But in our time, are men and women still confined to their so-called stereotypical boxes? Nowadays, the roles of men and women are interchangeable, interdependent, and independent all at the same time. People have learned that they should not let society define who they are and what they should become. Though there is still apparent gender discrimination, equality between the two sexes has now advanced since the olden days. Conclusion Based on the research conducted for this essay, gender inequality remains pervasive in many different nations today, and its effects have never been as adverse given the compounding factors of globalization, trade liberalization, and the feminization of poverty and agriculture.
Indeed, there is no doubt that gender inequality is tied to the stagnation, or worse, reduction of growth and development of an economy. This is understandable, as one of the most important resources today the talent and skills that the female workforce can potentially offers left unutilized, untapped, and especially unappreciated. Women can accomplish so much more if given the chance to fully develop their capabilities without the hindrance of conventional gender-based prejudices. Women encounter inequalities in almost every aspect of their lives, and many of these are reinforced by the social structures and organizations in which they live.
Though a great number of women have already proven that they have achieved equality in education there is still a larger group that incessantly encounter roadblocks to quality education. In fact, it may be the case that society is under-investing in the education of women, without realizing that the price for such negligence is slower economic growth, poverty, and poorer quality of life. A consensus among researchers who have studied the relationship between gender-equality in education and economic growth and development states that gender-equal education leads to better performing economies, which in turn, reinforces gender equality. Even if their abilities put them on par with their male colleagues, women remain the lower earner... Occupational segregation and vertical segregation continue to hold women back; the former form of discrimination keeps higher-earning employment from women, while the second prevents women from reaching top management positions. Once again, according to the research, gender-diverse firms that have welcomed women in their managerial positions are more successful than those with the glass ceiling.
Indeed, a large part of the world is still submerged in gender inequality, poverty, and the marginalization and oppression of women. It would take sincere, dramatic, and all-encompassing change to transform the pervasive unequal culture. As cited in The World Bank Research Program 2001, the eradication of gender inequality requires a strong economic development plan along with a long-term strategy for gender equality. More importantly, societies are likely to be more effective in reducing gender disparities in an environment that supports the attainment of both equality and development.
A tradition that is as pervasive and as enduring as gender-inequality entails an equally pervasive and persevering action, not only from the women themselves who repeatedly have to overcome great odds, but also from persons and groups who have the authority and power to create change. Yet the civic society may also have to face the fact that inequality inevitably exists among humans, that is why the Geert Hosted contains the Power Division Index as one of its Cultural Dimensions as recognition of the fact that all societies are unequal, though some are just more unequal than others. Perhaps there will always be the need to check and correct gender inequality, but what is integral is that inequality does not reach the point that it unjustly limits the potentials of a human being, confine him or her into harsh and exploitative environment and insults his or her self-worth. Nevertheless, the world must still celebrate the significant steps undertaken to improve the welfare of women and children through the advancement of more equitable distribution of means particularly in areas where scarcity of resources abound. Such success cases as the one mentioned about Sub-Saharan Africa and Thailand are commemorative to the efforts of both men and women who study and act on gender inequality. Indeed, organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations and its multifarious research arms, as well as the academic and cause-oriented society have all made their actions apparent, and the results often do not disappoint.
Many suffering were alleviated, still, much work remains to be done. Women fought for equality in the society with men and freedom for all slaves. They struggled for equal opportunities and privileges, and radical transformation of gender roles and stereotypes. They wanted to be respected, as women and as great contributors in building up their homes and the whole nation.
Altogether, the womens movement, with the rest of other feminist and gender movement struggles, showcased that social transformation could never occur without the active participation, energies and imagination of women. The journey for nurturing the female psyche, challenging the gender roles, and adapting, while transforming the society proved to be a formidable vision and mission that women of all ages and ethnicities hurdled, and continues to hurdle. REFERENCES Dawson, I. (July 2004). Women and Children in the Industrial Revolution. Schools History. web Dell " olio, A.
The Sexual Revolution. Readers Companion to US Womens History. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. < web > Faragher, J. Build, Mari Jo, Czitrom, Daniel, and Susan H. Armitage.
Out of Many: A History of the American People. 3 rd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. Feminism and Womens Studies. The Womens Movement: Our History. Feminism and Womens Studies. < web >. Goldstein, J.
S. War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice-versa. Cambridge University Press, 2001. In War and Gender website.
web United Nations. (2004). Trade and Gender: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Nations. web
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Research essay sample on Gender Roles In Marriage
