The world has for long been imbalanced in many factors ranging from profession to religion to cultural values even to the governmental responsibilities. The organs of leadership and the main professionals that are considered to the income generation have been dominated by the man while the women have been left to do chores that are considered less professional and of less integrity. Flinders addresses these inequalities in “Rebalancing the World: Why Women Belong and Men Compete and How to Restore the Ancient Equilibrium” (2003). This paper analyses some of the topical issues that the book covers narrowing down to the most ancient profession –agriculture.
The value of belonging is the factor that makes each and every member of a certain community feel attached to the community and feel accommodated. This usually comes with a mutual acceptance and recognition of every person as an equal partner of the community. On the other hand, the culture of enterprise is the tradition that is acquired of the human being of trading the goods and services and multiplying the wealth (Flinders, 2003). This is always aimed at profit maximization which in the end leads to the wealth creation. The culture of enterprise started with the introduction of batter trade where goods and/or services could be exchanged for goods and /or services. Batter trade gave way to the dispensation of legal tender that has come all the way to the twenty-first century.
Since the introduction of the culture of enterprise, the value of the woman in the society has become deprived by the days (Flinders, 2003). The male dominated the trade and thus became the bread-winners for their families. The trend became so severe that women started to fight for their rights in the economy and forced men to give way for them to take part in development.
Contrast between the Values of Belonging and the Culture of Enterprise in agriculture in today's culture
When man embraced agriculture, this was done for [personal consumption and not for trade. Thus both man and woman could do it together. This gave the sense of value of belonging to both parties. The chores were equally divided along the gender lines and none felt undermined (Flinders, 2003). As the culture of enterprise slowly crawled in, the male dominated the trade as noted above. This led to the deprived role of the woman in agriculture. In the current trade, the role of the woman is still minimal. Many of farms worldwide are registered under men while most if the international treaties that involve agricultural produce are done by men. In African countries, women take part as just mere laborers taking the bigger responsibility while getting the meager reward for their sweat (Flinders, 2003).
Gender inequities in agriculture and how they are moving toward the Values of Belonging to correct the gender inequities
In the current trade, the role of the woman is still minimal. Many of farms worldwide are registered under men while most if the international treaties that involve agricultural produce are done by men. In African countries, women take part as just mere laborers taking the bigger responsibility while getting the meager reward for their sweat. However, the trend is changing by the day (Flinders, 2003). The involvement of women in agriculture has become more recognized with most boards in agriculture related field accepting direct involvement of the women. This has lead toi the increase in the value of belonging to the woman in the field of agriculture
Other ideas beyond gender that would bring more of the values of belonging into agriculture
Other than gender involvement, the adoption computerized farming and education of the same to farmers would bring the value of belonging. The world is going that direction and thus every participant in the field should learn ho to operate computerized farming machines and feel a belonging to the modern farming (Flinders, 2003). The other factor that could increase the value of belonging in the agricultural sector of economy is empowerment of farmers; this can be done using grants, subsidies and educational seminars for farmers to increase their esteem in the economy.
Flinders, C., (2003). Rebalancing the World: Why Women Belong and Men Compete and How to
Restore the Ancient Equilibrium. New York: John Wiley & sons Inc
