Discrimination
Nira Davis in his work looks at some issues that relegated women to the periphery on studying some concepts like power and dominance in the society. One issue the author wants to clarify is that, it is a wrong assumption that private social issues which are women related have no impact on the national political bearing, leaving the man to dominate the entire system. There is a tendency to categorize women on domestic issues overlooking the role they play at the national arena making them appear to be politically irrelevant. Women were excluded from the theories of socialization as the process depicts then happenings as being orchestrated by males alone. The classical theories of social contract attribute the transition of a society into an orderly out fit as having been propelled by the aggressive and macho male nature. The writer argues that the differences between the genders should not be looked from a biological point of view, but rather on a social one. These views constructed on chauvinistic beliefs can be transformed to attain more equality between men and women. There have been efforts to reverse this trend, feminist scholars have put consented efforts and now women are recognized in the national arena. The writer acknowledges that it is women who produce nations, biologically, culturally and symbolically, they are key to continuity and preservation of these elements. The role women play in any country’s national arena is as important as that played by bureaucratic and intelligent male dominated systems, Davis attributes this to efforts by a clique of feminists scholars whose critical writings have helped reverse this trend, she argues for women it is not entry into the national arena since they have always been there its only that they were being marginalized, though they should be recognized.
Division of labor
The writer’s argument is that in the modern liberal state, the system is transformed from patriarchy, a situation where man dominates, to fraternity; this way man dominate women in their private sphere while there is agreement on social order and equality on the public and political arena. Sexual and biological differences do not produce any special social effects that make males superior. It is important to look and study gender as a relation mode between the two sexes as opposed to the approach that capitalizes on their differences on social aspects like ethnic, racial and economic status. Proper understanding of the intrigues surrounding gender and sex discrepancies will go a long way in easing the misunderstandings about males and females. There are many misconceptions in the society that has led to wrong attitudes especially in division of labor, where women are denied chances. There is increased denaturalization of the way labor was divided along psychological differences between men and women; they are able to take up roles initially reserved for men. According to the writer, cultural values do not translate to specific gender roles. (Davis 1992).
Reproduction
There has been a struggle on the issue of women and reproduction rights, male dominance has for over a long period of time overshadowed the efforts to wrestle control of reproduction patterns and place the control in women’s hands. Pressure to have or not to have children mostly emanates from the nation as they seek to have desired populations. National control is sought on race basis as there is need to preserve their gene, foreign contamination is not welcome. One drop rule dictates that, if one drop of the inferior race is present, it contaminates and pollutes the superior race. This inhibits of women in choosing mates since there are choices the community will not approve. The proponents argue that culture, religion and language separates members and non members of a collective unit. There is need to get rid of such mentalities as they tie women to traditions while modernity is calling for change from such tendencies
Conclusion
Gender issues need to be looked from the biological and social aspects. There is need to separate the two since it is clear some beliefs are based on misconceptions. Women have roles to play in all spheres of life and should be accorded equal chances with their male counterparts.
Work Cited
Nira Yuval Davis. “Gender and Nation Politics and Culture.” Sage publications. Theory Culture and society series. 1992. New York.