In the course of time the society has changed much – people are fighting for their rights and for the equality. This struggle has become prior in every sphere of life as everyone wants to be treated on equal terms with other people. Nowadays most people following the democratic principles have the right to express their position in the society. This issue touches the problem of gender equality which is commonly discussed in the world. In today’s democratic society women do everything for being treated equally with men.
It is quite difficult to break the stereotypes of the society where a man is the head of the family, earns money and provides his family with supplies, and a woman takes care of children and keeps the household. The world has changed so much that a woman can both earn a living and look after her child, and at the same time, a man can be a single parent for his child who must work and take care of a child simultaneously. In complete families women struggle for the equal division of the responsibilities as they want to become more that a housekeeper and a nurse, but to express themselves and have full rights in the society as their husbands. Okin believes that this is the problem of the gender-structured marriage when the responsibilities are sharply divided between the partners that has been historically and socially presupposed (Okin 218). Under these conditions a woman becomes vulnerable and this difference between male and female responsibilities is called gender by feminists. The notion of gender has become the main factor of rights differentiation that influences male and female behavior, position in the society, career achievements and so on.
For the feminist studies gender has become an ideology. The difference between a man and a woman does not mean the dominance of one of the genders especially in the family relations. The family cannot be based on the absolute equality between the husband and the wife, but this fact does not mean that one of the spouses may be predominant over the partner. Male and female differences must lead to the harmonious relationship (Fahey 36). In order to gain those relations, both spouses must feel love, respect and support towards each other.
Each culture has its own idea of the ideal man and woman, but there is always a separation of social roles that complement one another. In addition, such qualities as responsibility and reliability have always characterized a man, and tenderness and readiness for empathy are the characteristic features of a real woman. These peculiarities are not given at birth, but they come to everyone as a result of long and hard self-development.
The desire to completely establish the role of men and women reminds of an attempt at equalizing the amount of sugar and salt in cooking. Some dishes need more salt, while others need more sugar. Their value is absolutely identical, and it is quite difficult to consider which one is predominant. The same applies to men and women. Each of them possesses their own rights and obligations, and they should never forget about each other. Each of them plays their own role in the family and society. Men bring into our lives peace of mind, while women fill everything around with tenderness and warmth (Fahey 30).
Most modern justice theories tend to differentiate between domestic and public family life. The family is considered to be a nonpolitical unity, it is just because of it not having been discussed in the political sphere. The justice theories explain that male is the dominant element of the family household. Under such conditions the scientists raise the notion of work pointing out that a man earns a living, supports his family and dominates in such a way. Only because of performing paid work a man has more privileges. Still, a woman does a great deal of unpaid work nurturing and socializing the young, keeping the household, caring about the emotional conditions of the family atmosphere (Okin 227).
Every justice theory based on the work principle excludes women from the model of equal family. The solution to the issue of gender equality may be acceptable only when women will be included in al justice theories, both sexes will have equal opportunities for living and everyone starting a family must develop the sense of oneself that is the root of moral development of every family (Okin 226).
However, in terms of exploiting order it is not always possible to build good relationships between men and women. Poverty, oppression and darkness distort these relationships, push husbands to the unfair behavior in their attitude to women. Those men and women who know how to create great wealth of priceless spiritual marriage understand that mutual respect and love are the most important factors for a successful family. Extremely negative folk pedagogy refers to divorce, which is especially painful and traumatic for children. It teaches men to respect women, and women to honor their husband (Fahey 98).
Modern justice theorists pay little attention to the root of moral development of the family relations. Okin supports the idea that everyone must be in equal conditions and have equal opportunities for building and developing a family. Patricia Payette supports another idea that each of the spouses must be themselves (Okin 240). Usually people think that in a happy family all the members easily find common ground and solve problems together. In fact, when the family is called prosperous" it does not mean that it is perfect. Members of a happy family understand that they have weaknesses, and they work together to improve their relationships despite everything. Every family may become happy and successful when every member shares love, respect, support and attention with each other.
In a happy family, parents focus their energy on how to teach children correct principles and let them use free will. Sometimes parents take on the role of managers, trying to control children because they want to get the desired result. The disadvantage of this approach is that children resist coercion or pressure, especially when growing up. The main issue is to keep the balance in every action in order to gain the desired result.
In a happy family, parents intentionally strengthen their relations. This means that both partners regularly and privately ponder each other’s needs and compare them with the overall needs of the family. In a prosperous family, relationships between parents play a very important role. Of course, here the question arises: if someone in the family needs help in establishing relationships, it is necessary to devote time for solving this problem (Fahey 45).
In a happy family, parents actively teach. Adam and Eve showed a remarkable example of how parents can be excellent teachers. For example, Adam and Eve did everything for their sons and daughters. They taught children gospel principles, namely, the plan of salvation and the importance of keeping the commandments and how they bless. Both parents must be an example to follow and must teach their children everything best they know for their children to be a decent continuation of their generation.
Okin and Payette open the problem of family relations from two different perspectives. Okin explains that the core of this problem lies in the gender equality issue while Payette pays much attention to the moral development of the human beings. In fact, these ideas complement one another as equal rights of both family partners are the basis for the successful moral development of the family. If one of the spouses behaves in a dominant way, another one will fail in struggling for the prosperous and equal family.
Analytic analysis proves that feminist theory presents a woman as a strong human being who can struggle for her position in the society and equal opportunities for both sexes. Actually, it is not enough for the family relations. Family is a separate philosophy that demands a great deal of self-development and cooperation when both partners fill their relations with respect, attention, love, support and understanding. In this case, both a husband and a wife will appreciate each other’s rights, value and treat one another equally.
There is no justice theory that can explain all the nuances of the family relations, they only describe the most common cases with the most typical features. Still, every family works out their own theory of relations that helps only this very family to become happy and successful. Not every family can use feminist principles for building equal relations as well as not every couple follow the principles of moral development. That is why, every family is unique in their own way and requires unique approach to become successful.
Works Cited:
Fahey, Tony, Keilthy, Patricia and Polek, Ela. Family Relationships and Family Well-Being. Family Support. (2012): 108 p. University College Dublin. Web. 1 Jun. 2016.
Okin, Susan M. Justice, Gender, and the Family. Family Justice. (1989): 217-242. New York Basic Books. Web. 1 Jun. 2016.
