Gender refers to the categorization of female and male or it is the state of being feminine or masculine. Gender is socially constructed roles assigned according to biological characteristics. Society plays a vital role in gendering. Society influences the difference between masculinity and femininity. Women and men play exclusive roles that are functional to whole society. Women are not treated equal to men or women are not given equal treatment like that of men. Women are less privileged in today’s society then men. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” (Kapur, 1950). Therefore, I will be writing my assignment on the following thesis: women were treated inferior to men, women were not given equal opportunities to make living better and moreover, women are victim to sexual violence.
Firstly, women were treated inferior to men. Society believes that women are subordinate than men. If I talk about women’s treatment in Indian society, if a couple gives birth to a girl child, then there won’t be any celebration going on at their home but if a couple have male child, then the child is welcomed with grand celebration to their family. Family assume that the male child can bring peace and wealth to the family whereas; female or a girl child is assumed to take away prosperity. For an example, in India, the girl child is contemplated as burden especially during the time of marriage where the bride has to pay huge dowry to the groom. The bride family has to fulfil all the demands and wishes of the groom family. If the girl has to marry the guy she chose, then her family has to give whatever the guy family request for. Dowry is a kind of buying husband for a daughter which essentially contemplates women as inferior. This is the notion of the Indian society. When the women are on their monthly period, they are not only prohibited to cook and serve but also restricted to enter the kitchen. With the same concept, let me talk a bit on inferior treatment towards women in Bhutanese society. Even from Buddhist perspectives, women are restricted from entering certain sacred places like “Gyenkhang”. Only men are permitted to enter gyenkhang whereas women’s entry is extremely prohibited. It is mostly because men are viewed superior to women and mostly because of society notions of displaying women.
Secondly, women were not given equal opportunities to make living better. Men are considered courageous, dauntless, physically healthy and wise in decision making. Nevertheless society still believes in patriarchal system where there is a domination of men in a family. Men are believed to make wiser decision and often maintained as head of the family. “Researcher report that, at school, boys engage in more physical activities and spend more time outdoors, while girls often volunteer to help their teacher with various housekeeping chore” (Macionis, 2005). In most societies, men are more appreciated than women for their aptitude, intellect and ability. Women lack the opportunity to participate in political sphere because women have enormous roles to play. A woman has to play the role of a mother where she has to look after the child and home. A woman has to play the role as wife whereby she has to serve her husband. Women are not given opportunity to participate and because of this they lack confidence to join in the parliaments. Due to social stigma of a society that women are less privileged and they were denied education, a small number of women are educated that is why we don’t see large number of women in politics in this contemporary society. “Each action is the action of an actor, and it takes place in a situation consisting of object” (Seidman, 1990). Even women are paid less than men in workplace.
Thirdly, women are victim to sexual violence. Women face several circumstances on regular basis that men don’t encounter to the same extent. Women are victim to sexual violence, domestic abuse and gender bias. I am going to talk mainly about how women are victim to sexual violence. Sexual violence comprises of street harassment, undesired sexual touching, rape and all. If women are spotted on street, walking late night they are being catcalled and they are not safe to walk during night but if men are found roaming late night, there is no response from the society because boys are privileged so much in the society. In some society, women are forced into sex slavery. Why are women victim to sexual violence? It is because they are viewed as weaker section of the society and moreover, they are given less opportunity and are less privileged in the society than men. Men are provided with all the rights. Men can work late night at office whereby a women can’t, if women are seen working late night and if she is sexually abused then all the blame goes to her for not coming on time or working late for her family. “The principle of human rights further requires that no arbitrary law should be enacted, and no one should be subjected to inhuman treatment under false pretence of legal action” (Gauba, 2009). We don’t see large number of man who is victim of sexual violence; women are always a victim of sexual violence and it is because women are not treated like that of men. They are still less privileged then men in this contemporary society.
To conclude, women are less privileged than men in this society. Women have fewer rights than men because men are valued more than women for their skills, boldness and courageous. Women need more rights as they are also capable as men and they deserve equal treatment like that of men. If women are treated equally like that of men and given equivalent opportunity in any field then, society will operate smoothly and there will be prosperity in the community.
References
- Gauba, O. (2009). An introduction to Political Theory. New delhi: Macmillan Publisher.
- Kapur, D. A. (1950). principles of political science. New delhi: Nirja.
- Macionis, j. J. (2005). Sociology. New delhi: Pearson Education, Inc.
- Seidman, J. C. (1990). Culture and society. New York: Cambridge University Press.
