Patriarchy and Traditional Gender Norms Essay

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Introduction

Patriarchy is a concept that is used to define the privileges that are enjoyed by men in comparison to their female counterparts. Patriarchy has mostly been considered to have traditional roots where it was believed that only certain roles be left to the male gender. There was a distinction between the responsibilities that were being played by both the male and the female which had to be adapted without any question. However, the trend changed during the industrial revolution (Bryson, 2007). There was a need for the females to be involved in economic activities that were been believed to be suitable only for the males (Farber & Foner, 1994). This was due to the rising need for labor and the realization that women had a similar capability to handle such activities. This served as an eye-opener, not only for the females who discovered their abilities but also for the males who had no otherwise but to appreciate their efforts. Despite these changes, there were certain leadership positions that remained exclusively for males. One of the reasons behind this was the unreliable nature of the women. Despite their involvement in economic activities, they still had to fulfill their marital obligations of giving birth and rising children. This hence rendered them unreliable especially when they were expectant.

Women in America and political leadership

The patriarchy concept still exists in the modern world despite the revolution that has been observed especially among women. It would have been expected that women hold almost equal positions, especially in the government. Census results reveal that there are many women in the United States, yet this is not reflected in the number of positions they hold in the government (Hatfield, 2000). This has brought the question of whether the women actually have absolute trust in their female counterparts to lead the nation or not. There could be a number of reasons to why most women cannot be allowed to hold high offices when they are into the fight of gender equality. When it comes to leadership, it is more about having the skills than the gender. It also depends on how influential a person is to gather the majority votes. Most women who enter into politics in America do so mainly because they believe they will receive favors basically because they are women. When you keenly listen to their campaign speeches, they emphasize on the need for them to be voted into government positions as a form of empowering the women folk. Most of them may not necessarily display their agendas to facilitate development but rather to represent the women folk. People are looking out for leaders that are development conscious rather than those out to make a name.

Conclusion

The fight on gender equality and the equal representation of women will only be reached if women display to the public that they have what it takes to hold certain responsibilities. Most of them are always looking for sympathy and recognition simply to prove to the world that they are equal to men yet they are not productive enough. People including women will vote for a leader that will take them to the heights they want to reach rather than just having a female representative in the government (Dye & Harrison, 2007). Women are also faced with the challenge of supporting their husbands who may be campaigning for higher positions and also supporting their fellow women for the posts. All in all, it is hoped that the trend will change as women realize what is required for them to make it and to maintain top positions.

References

Bryson, V., (2007).Gender and the politics of time: feminist theory and contemporary debates. New York: The Policy Press.

Dye, T. & Harrison, B., (2007). Power and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences. London: Cengage Learning.

Farber, D. & Foner, E., (1994). The age of great dreams: America in the 1960s. California: Hill and Wang.

Hatfield, S., (2000). Gender and environment. London: Routledge.

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IvyPanda. 2021. "Patriarchy and Traditional Gender Norms." December 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/patriarchy-and-traditional-gender-norms/.

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IvyPanda. "Patriarchy and Traditional Gender Norms." December 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/patriarchy-and-traditional-gender-norms/.

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