Gender roles vary from culture to culture, and culture has many different contexts. Culture can be defined by language, tradition, or even appearance, and gender roles are an integral part of each aspect. From a sociological perspective, culture helps to shape social norms and beliefs by establishing set rules that are considered appropriate or inappropriate for human behavior. History and tradition tend to play a large role in creating these rules and sometimes make it difficult for these rules to change. However, recently women across the world have been taking strides to re-evaluate and re-work how society portrays them in order to be treated equally and with dignity.
Appearance and Culture
The appearance of a woman defines her role in society. In various cultures, clothing or modifications to the body symbolize status while also developing identities for females. In West Africa, the Kalabari tribe establishes a hierarchy and a system of gender roles based on attire. Typically, the more adorned the individual, whether male or female, the higher the status. For women in the Kalabari tribe, there has been an increase in independence and status due to better economic opportunities. After the Nigerian Civil War during the 1960's, women were forced to learn trades that were typically "male-dominated" in order to financially support their families. In learning these skills, Kalabari women were able to advance in the working field and earn additional money, much of which was used to purchase expensive textiles to create clothes. Before, the clothing of a Kalabari woman strictly symbolized her fertility and her dedication to marriage and family. Now, her clothes depict status and competency to compete with men in the workplace. The traditions of dress and appearance and the gender roles that are attached are capable of changing cultural norms. Women, especially those in the Kalabari tribe, are becoming less fearful of showcasing their strength and independence right on their sleeve.
This example mirrors the change of women's roles during World War II in the United States. Like the Kalabari women, American women were forced to enter the working field while the men were overseas fighting a war. In the factories, they learned skills that they had never yet used and in the end, it was beneficial. "Rosie the Riveter" became the poster icon for all working American women encouraging them to step out of the house and into other employment opportunities. Not long after women began working outside the home, pants and trousers, typically worn by men, became popular among females. They symbolized women's new found ground in the workforce and fostered a new era for the working woman.
Although cultures may differ, especially between the Kalabari culture and the American culture, it's clear that women are altering their dress and appearance in hopes of expanding their gender roles.
This example mirrors the change of women's roles during World War II in the United States. Like the Kalabari women, American women were forced to enter the working field while the men were overseas fighting a war. In the factories, they learned skills that they had never yet used and in the end, it was beneficial. "Rosie the Riveter" became the poster icon for all working American women encouraging them to step out of the house and into other employment opportunities. Not long after women began working outside the home, pants and trousers, typically worn by men, became popular among females. They symbolized women's new found ground in the workforce and fostered a new era for the working woman.
Although cultures may differ, especially between the Kalabari culture and the American culture, it's clear that women are altering their dress and appearance in hopes of expanding their gender roles.
Language and Culture
Language, an integral part of culture, shares a relationship with the reinforcement of traditional gender roles. Research has found that the meaning of words and their placement in religious text or cultural sayings affect how women and men view their roles and status in society. In Ghana, specifically within the Akan community, proverbs are seen as traditional, communal beliefs that are important in teaching others how to live a full and enriching life. They are essentially, what binds the Akan people to their culture. However, these old proverbs have established and reinforced traditional, stereotypical gender roles that have fostered negative views about women. Diabah and Appiah Amfo (2014) found that Akan women are still considered to be quite inferior to male dominance, engaging in submissive behaviors around the home, and tending to their children. These researchers argue that the emphasis on proverbs has reinforced male superiority and stifled Akan women’s progress toward more independence and participation in other roles within society.
The Akan proverb, “A woman is a flower in the garden, and her husband is the fence,” emphasizes the fact that a woman is vulnerable and needs a man for protection. In the Akan culture, women must seek protection, and only through marriage is that possible. Marriage is highly valued within this Ghanaian community and coincidentally, holds a more positive outlook on women. A married woman holds a higher status than an unmarried woman for the reason that a married woman can take on the important tasks of bearing children, raising a family, doing household work, and pleasing a man; all of which fulfills her “role” in the Akan society.
However, although a married woman might achieve a higher status, the proverbs convey that her status is given to her by a man. One proverb states that, “If a woman is successful, it is due to a man.” Thus, by default it seems that women must always be dependent on men. Numerous of other proverbs taught in the Akan society teach women that their role is to be seen and not heard, to stifle attempts to usurp men’s power, and to be attractive sex objects for the sole purpose of male pleasure.
Language reinforces cultural norms and shapes culture itself. Unfortunately, in most societies tradition triumphs new cultural change and women are forced to follow the strict gender norms placed by their ancestors. However, strides to alter how language is written and interpreted in the future might provide a gateway to increased independence for women around the world.
The Akan proverb, “A woman is a flower in the garden, and her husband is the fence,” emphasizes the fact that a woman is vulnerable and needs a man for protection. In the Akan culture, women must seek protection, and only through marriage is that possible. Marriage is highly valued within this Ghanaian community and coincidentally, holds a more positive outlook on women. A married woman holds a higher status than an unmarried woman for the reason that a married woman can take on the important tasks of bearing children, raising a family, doing household work, and pleasing a man; all of which fulfills her “role” in the Akan society.
However, although a married woman might achieve a higher status, the proverbs convey that her status is given to her by a man. One proverb states that, “If a woman is successful, it is due to a man.” Thus, by default it seems that women must always be dependent on men. Numerous of other proverbs taught in the Akan society teach women that their role is to be seen and not heard, to stifle attempts to usurp men’s power, and to be attractive sex objects for the sole purpose of male pleasure.
Language reinforces cultural norms and shapes culture itself. Unfortunately, in most societies tradition triumphs new cultural change and women are forced to follow the strict gender norms placed by their ancestors. However, strides to alter how language is written and interpreted in the future might provide a gateway to increased independence for women around the world.
The case to be made when evaluating culture and gender roles is that what is considered to be an "oppressive" trait against women in one culture is not in another. It is difficult to argue that certain societies that hold what seem to be "outdated" cultural standards are lesser than societies that hold more "modern" cultural standards. In some instances, societies that follow traditional norms have greater stability and structure, most likely because it has been that way for hundreds, even thousands of years. Nevertheless, there seems to be no clear solution to resolve "women inequality" present in gender roles across various cultures. However, we can begin by addressing the rights that every human has, no matter the ethnicity, and compare that to how women and men are currently treated in society based on their gender roles. If there are any violations to a basic human right, it would be best to start there in hopes of up-keeping humanity and fostering great change.