Roots of Gender and Inequality in Our World - Paper Example

Gender inequality has been a major problem facing the world which has been linked to various platforms, for example, religious, political and cultural platforms. Through a definition of some core terms concerning roots of gender and inequality in our world, sex can be defined as the biological features that differentiate two kinds of humans particularly a male and a female (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). On the other side, gender is "the value and attitudes that people have of men and women" (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). Sex and gender are both biological terms and also culturally applied to distinguish and describe the two kinds of humans. From the biological difference, gender values and attitudes on humans have created the interest to source the roots of inequality in the world. Also, many theorists have tried to describe both biological and cultural values and attitudes on men and females. This paper will focus on the roots of gender and inequality in the world through evidence-based scenarios by focusing on three themes which are: - the interplay of culture and biology concerning gender categories, the source of gender power in the societies across the world, and the process of gender-role construction, reproduction, and change.

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The interplay of culture and biology in producing gender categories and sexual subjectivities

Through the study of anthropology and particularly ethnography, one can describe the existing differences between male and females depending on their different abilities and inabilities. Both sex and gender have been described to be cultural whereby sex "is a construct" and gender "is a product of the relation of power" (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). In a biological dimension, males are stronger than female not because they are born so but due to their aggressive adaptation to the environment (aggression theory) (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). In the existing differences, males and females can only be differentiated by their primary characteristics. In the male aggression hypothesis, it is biologically based that men develop their secondary characteristics because of their aggression and hormones (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). Another difference in the roots of gender and inequality in the world is the masculinity which can be described as a homosocial achievement according to the principles of manhood (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). From a cultural perspective, both men and women have been seen to reproduce patriarchy. The cultural depictions of headship in families and clans has a lot to do when defining gender inequality and liking this scenario to patriarchy.

The sources of gender power in societies across the globe

Men are believed to be the head of the household through a social system and based on different cultures although women can also reproduce patriarchy through their feminine drive and being masculine (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). Another cultural modification of gender is matriarchy which gives the image of a woman as being fashionable and with the ability to stand up for herself (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). The matriarchal system has opposed the biological nature of gender characteristics of strength and masculinity. Rituals are part of cultural practices associated with roots of gender inequality (Gramsci 1968 in Fournier class notes, Nov. 15, 2016). Through the ritual practices, both men and women are empowered. During the past cultural practices like FGM, females possessed power after the ritual, but after the withdrawal from the norm, the possession power is no longer there. The Cultural buildup of gender has therefore created the inequality among men and women.

Process of gender-role construction, reproduction, and change

The social construction of gender from different perspectives like manhood, maleness, and masculinity is never neutral. The above attributions to gender have given men more power over women in different institution. From a study done on a policing institution, where equal representation was done during their recruitment by offering male and female equal shares as well as black and whites, there is a real personal experience to be attached with this experience concerning gender difference (McElhinny, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). According to Bonnie McElhinny, the policing narratives regarding their experiences are valid logics that there is gender inequality. In the policing skills and any other place where masculine ability is needed, you get to find out the difference between males and females. What entails to say that some jobs are meant for women and others left for men is because of such experiences. From the narratives, it is true that females have challenging encounters on some jobs, but this doesn't mean a total disqualification. For gender equality purpose, everyone is given an equal chance (McElhinny, 2013: Brettell & Sargent).

"Gender is socially and culturally constructed and therefore to understand this, a comparative, relational concept must be used" (Rasmussen, 2013: Brettell & Sargent) About the Tuareg case, the social and cultural construction of gender can be understood depending on the cultural practices. In the Tuareg pastoral nomadism, the environment is suitable for men because of their aggressiveness and their easy survival (Rasmussen, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). This experience has now illustrated what gender construction is according to the cultural practices. In the Tuareg case, there are factors like defense needs and warfare practices of herders that influence gender. The Tuareg also experience a patriarchy headship in the families which is cultural norms (Rasmussen, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). From the above experience, the process of gender-role construction is a major root of gender and inequality in the society.

Another gender-role construction is the Cross-Cultural perspectives on women's political experience by Josephine Caldwell. In the political arena, most of the nations across the globe are ruled by men (Caldwell, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). Linking this kind of kingship to that of cultural norms where patriarchy has dominated in most of the cultural practices, the gender-role in leadership has the root from social-cultural construction. The national political arena has adopted the customary law which gives males more privilege over the women (Caldwell, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). The statutory law has been neglected in many cultures thus locking behind the women's rights concerning the political access and democracy (Caldwell, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). According to Josephine, women have even been denied rights to vote according to their will and choice (Caldwell, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). There is no simple description of the nature of the political power of women, and therefore the global social, economic, and political change can be associated with the gender-role construction. Other gender-role constructions include division of labor. Concerning, division of labor, women have been given responsibilities like gardens, and home chores while men get allocated to chores like woodworking (Lepowsky, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). Additionally, women also participate in the activities that men do like hunting game animals (Estioko-Griffin & Bion Griffin, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). Women participation in some activities like hunting is a different scenario according to gender construction-role. Another argument on gender inequality is the power of possession. Wealthy regarding women do not relate them with kinship or particularly leadership. "No matter how wealthy a woman is, she cannot become an oba (king) or Balogun (war commander) (Falola, 2013: Brettell & Sargent). Power and reward are in general distributed by a male hierarchy, concerned with articulating its interest" (Falola, 2013: Brettell & Sargent).

Conclusion

The roots of gender and inequality in the world can, therefore, be associated with the social-cultural construction of gender. From the discussion above starting with the interplay of culture and biology in producing gender categories, it is clear that cultural practices have given gender two distinct definitions regarding role played by every gender. The social construction of gender is another aspect that illustrates how gender and inequality have dominated the world. Through the narratives and social-cultural explanation, gender and inequality have to be linked with cultural construction since most communities around the globe have displayed what it entails in patriarchy and matriarchy.

References

Caldwell, J. R (2013). Gender, Property and the State. Encountering the state: Cross-cultural

Perspectives on Womens Political Experience. (pp. 241-248)

Estioko-Griffin, A. & Bion Griffin, P. (2013). Equality and Inequality;Woman the Hunter: The

Agta. (pp. 124-130).

Falola, T. (2013). Equality and Inequality. Gender, Business, and Space Control: Yoruba Market

Women and Power. (pp. 148-156).

Lepowsky, M. (2013). Equality and Inequality. Gender, horticulture, and the Division of Labor

on Vanatinai. (pp. 131-137).

McElhinny, B. (2013). The Cultural Construction of Gender and Personhood; Gender and

the stories Pittsburgh Police Officers Tell about Using Physical force. (pp.189-194).

Rasmussen, S. (2013). Do tents and herds still matter? Pastoral nomadism and gender among the

Tuareg in Niger and Mali. (pp. 139-148).