An ideology is a unique way of looking at things. It is normally passed from the older or prominent members of society to the rest of the community. At times it is conscious while at other times the members of society accept ideologies without their knowledge. A myth is mostly a traditional story, or a story about a legend that is told trying to explain certain practices of a certain community . Myths use ideologies but in narrative form. They explain the way a certain people assume a certain way of life. They cannot be determined if they are true or false but they are normally exaggerated. Discourse is a generalization of concepts used in a conversation within all concepts. These are the concepts that are used to define a people or a society. They are passed down lineages from the elderly to the young ones to help the community identify with its culture.
Our forefathers believed that women were organs of the family that were supposed to take care of the house chores and bear children for them (picture 1 shows that). The African culture is a good example of this practice. Children (male) grew up to adulthood despising women and feeling that they were superior to them. This is a wrong idea that has been mythically implanted in the minds of men over the years.
On the contrary, discourse has been embraced by most of our communities over myths thanks to the education system. The oppressing beliefs are currently facing strong opposition since women have equal access to education and can even fight for their rights . It is not written anywhere that a woman cannot work to provide for the family needs as picture 2 of the comic strip tries to critique .The comic strip below generally illustrates how our women have been mythically viewed as homestead attendants while their male counterparts are viewed as sole bread winners. This is a good proof that women mean more than the kitchen and it should be the family’s responsibility to take care of house chores and not just the woman’s responsibility.
Over the years, people have become more educated to an extent of embracing intellectual empathy such that dependence on baseless myths is no longer tolerated. Matters are being viewed in a discourse manner. Women have now been empowered to scale even greater heights, and can work in the same positions as men (equity). They have proved to have the same intellectual capacity as men and should be given more chances to use their abilities to serve the community.
Myths are good and they define the past of the community but not the present. Some of the new generation believes in myths even without questioning. This is not right since these myths were formulated a long time ago and cannot be applicable at the moment . Everyone deserves a chance to think and decide for themselves. The myths and ideologies should be passed down but at the same time leave room for the young generations to make amendments on the ideologies and improve on them. This is why we have advertisements and posters that are meant to empower women in society and encourage them that today it’s not a man’s world. They have the same abilities and should be equally respected.
Bibliography
Leeming, David. Myth:A Biography of Belief. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
rejai, mostafa. ideology: Comparative and Cultural Status. new brunswick: Transaction Publishers., 2009.
