According to Mooney, Knox and Schacht (1997) gender has been used as a basis of classifying male from femalewith regard to society roles and responsibilities. In some societies, males have continued to be the dominant gender. Stereotypically, the male gender is portrayedas more aggressive, brave, the main decision maker and provider. Contrary to men,the female gender isdelicate, gentile, nurturing, not required to be part of thedecision making and submissive to their male counterparts. In the developed western world, the situation has improved as females today work to provide for their families and are equally, if not more involved in decision making that affects them. There are other ways of classifying or categorizingthe male from female such as ethnicity, education, religion and age. This topic relates to society because gender equality or inequality is one of the primary factors defining the roles that the members of both genders play.
The article Sex Differences in Social Cynicism across Societies; the Role of Men’s Higher Competitiveness and Male Dominance says that the stereotyping played a significant role in assigning tasks to different genders in the society whether in the home or place of work. For example, according to the article, job advertisements began including notes to show that they would welcome female applicants. In some cases, the recruitment standards were lowered when it comes to females. Champions of gender equality have argued that this is a deliberate affirmative action. Such stereotypes are fertile grounds for categorization of women from men. It thus enhances separation of male from female. It is unfortunate, but this is the gender inequality is formed in the society. Tasks assigned to males and females in a society are not only biological, but also sociological. Women are made inferior not because they are not capable of excelling as men do, but because the men have instilled the idea in women’s minds that their duty is to prepare food for the family and bear and rear children. In fact in some African cultures, when a child misbehaves, the father says that the child goes to the mother as she behaves like her. On the contrary, if a child behaves well he goes to the dad. The whole idea of men dominance has been propagated and instilled in women’s mind for the sole benefit of man. Male domination has thus promoted feminization of poverty (Hawley, 2008).
Dominance is brought about by unequal division of power among husbands and wives in most of the societies. Gender inequalities in most societies give an edge to men over their wives in that they are able to make unilateral decisions in the family that has to be obeyed by their female counterparts. Such decisions may relate to one’s wife healthcare, household purchases and even when a wife may or may not visit relatives. A husband’s dominance over their wife, for instance, in sub Saharan Africa, has resulted in numerous wife abuse. In Nigeria specifically, it is normal for a woman to be treated by his husband as a punching bag. It is in their belief that a woman is inferior and, therefore, does not require equal treatment to a man. It is normal in some societies for a man to his wife in case they are engaged in an argument or the women refuse to have sex with his husband. This retrogressive culture is gradually becoming extinct in most of the African societies (Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 2014). The culture of gender intolerance and discrimination is lessening; it’s just invisible in most culture as little attention is attributed to it. Although it is still rampantly practiced in Arab world because of the religious believes. Gender inequality in developed western world persists. However, marriage is viewed as an association of equal partners who share responsibilities and decision making based on choice and not on the traditional believes about gender. In other words, marriage is moro-ogalitarian.
The societal norms and backgrounds make men feel that they are superior life forms than their female counterparts. They justify their position by saying that they are strong and capable; thus giving them a more upper hand over women in essential society roles. Women have been traditionally blackmailed into believing that they are inferior to men. These beliefs ensured that they did not excel in politics, education and other leadership positions. It is not true that women cannot excel in these areas because they are capable of succeeding just as men do. What is required is equal place ground and in some case, affirmative actions. Male dominance in society continues to elicit cemented and heated opinions that are controversial. Proponents of sexual equality point out that the equal platform in education and vocational opportunities between male and female is a proof that the female gender have become equal to men hence no need for men to dominate over women. It is also widely believed that empowerment of women is the development of the society in general. In the modern society, female is more empowered and thus, hold high ranking senior positions both in government and private sectors than men resulting in a stay at home dads. For instance, Condoles Rice has been the secretary of state in the US. It is a senior position that back in history was held by men only due to their position and dominance in society.
Male dominance has resulted into breakdown of various social norms and values. For example, it causes rape, as stated by Ingham (2008). Rape is not a natural act in men; it is associated with cultures dominated by men in the areas of economics, political structure and religion structures. In most of the contemporary societies, men dominate women in most sectors of life and, as a result, rape cases are very common. Young children under the age of eighteen are frequently abused, neglected and worse, but little is done because of the institutionalization of male dominance in most societies (Ingham, 2013). There are also societies that have put appropriate measures in place to counter the societal vice and bring the culprits under the rule of law. To eliminate deviance behaviors such as rape, some scholars argue that it is not necessary that gender equality is achieved in all spheres of life but by giving women equal power as men overall. In general, such scholar advocate for gender mainstreaming to eliminate the dominance of men. Male dominance has as well escalated early child marriage (Kallitechnis, 2008).
Ingham (2008) from the article Sexual Orientation, Gender Expectations and Patriarchy in the United States says that male oriented societies do not give their women independent rights to make decisions as they prefer it is best for the man to make most choices. They marry off their females to generate wealth for the remaining males in the family at will. In many countries, women don’t have a chance to voice out their thoughts and preferences. Men have the privilege of making laws that apply both to them and women, but women are never consulted. Male dominance erodes community and reduces development efforts. Male dominated societies especially; those that still uphold folkways traditions sexually abuse women, and it’s the women fault when their demands are not met. In such societies, women are excluded from governance and education because of the cultural believes and practices that only make women suffer because their gender. Women are prohibited from family planning as it is their role to bear children and rear them while the person is responsible for their upkeep. It is worst when the male in such societies turn out to be irresponsible and do not perform their duties as expected. The women have to take the additional responsibility of providing for the children. If a woman wishes to do something extra from being at home and raising kids, she has to get permission from the man who may either be a father, husband or brother. With modernization spreading around the world, western culture is being adopted almost in every corner of the world, and the situation is gradually becoming better for the girl child. Male oriented societies are kept in that place of dominance by use of male set laws and religious believes that only allow men to lead. Currently, there are many societies that have realized in cooperation of women in society issues is beneficial as they can work just as men do. Dominance does vary from society to society (Dahlstrom, 2013).
In conclusion, it is essential to emphasize that women are capable in regards to employment and other social roles just like men. It is the cultural norms, beliefs and practices that make them appear as the inferior gender. Developed countries recognize female as equal to male and, as a result, they have eliminated social groupings based on gender. Women are currently offered equal opportunities to men, which, as stated in the textbook is a positive sign of cultural development. As history has shown, as more time passes, more countries will further develop their beliefs and ideals that will lead to more gender equality between men and women.
References
Dahlstrom, B. (2013)Removing the mask: A study of male dominance in Brontë’s Jane Eyre, The Victorian Journal,Vol 1, No 1
Hawley, P.H. (2008).The myth of the alpha male: A new look at dominance-related beliefs and behaviors among adolescent males and females: International Journal of Behavioral Development,vol. 32 no. 1 76-88
Ingham, J. (2013). Sexual Orientation, Gender Expectations and Patriarchy in the United States; Cyron’s Journal Today
Kallitechnis, N. (2008), Male Dominance Causes Rape, Journal of Femist Insight, web http://journaloffeministinsight.blogspot.com/2008/12/male-dominance-causes-rape.html
Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (1997). Understanding social problems (8th ed.). Minneapolis/St. Paul: West Pub.
Sex Differences in Social Cynicism Across Societies; The Role of Men’s Higher Competitiveness and MaleDominance: Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (2014)Vol. 43 no. 7 1152-1166.
