Gender Roles and Descent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gender Roles and Descent - Essay Example On the other hand, according to Stone (1997), there is a considerable difference between the sexual and reproductive roles of men and women in relation to time and location. Furthermore, Stone (1997) believes that the role of gender is culturally and socially constructed; therefore, the roles of men and women must be studied in a manner of understanding the sexuality and reproductive capacity of women. In the case study, Neur and Brahman societies, likewise, conceived the role of men as the head of the society. This patriarchal designation stems from their religious and cultural beliefs that men develop stability within the community (Stone, 1997). Hinduism teaches a significant gender and reproductive decision especially among women by encouraging a female child to be married before her first menstruation. Obviously, Indian females do not have the luxury to choose their own partners because it is assumed that parents are the ones responsible and more knowledgeable in choosing their daughters’ partner. This belief is actually a shared pattern among primates that highly emphasize on alliance and descent principles when it comes to marriage. These relational principles merely suggest that choosing a husband, as part of the many facets and aspects of gender roles, is actually not a freedom entitled to women in some communities because marriage is seen, not just a union of two souls, but an alliance formed between two families, as well. In other words, marriage between two families is coexistent with a male and a female union. ... ing a husband, as part of the many facets and aspects of gender roles, is actually not a freedom entitled to women in some communities because marriage is seen, not just a union of two souls, but an alliance formed between two families, as well. In other words, marriage between two families is coexistent with a male and a female union. The pros and cons in this kind of setup, which dominantly do not entitle women of free will, are obvious. From the perspective of a non-Nuer and non-Brahman member, arranged marriages only shatter the freedom of women to have control over their bodies. Kinship is more advantageous to the part of the male species because they are the ones not suffering from birth labors and risks in pregnancies. However, chapter 3 case study provides us a glimpse that Nuer women have full control over their sexuality, while Brahman women stick to their fidelity to their husbands because of the restrictions stipulated in the caste system. In the case of Nuer women, we se e that female oppression somehow happens only in terms of choosing the right man for themselves, but they have autonomy during the kinship part. Nuer women are even entitled to divorce their husbands if they see fit. On the part of the Brahman women, male domination does not count as the oppressing factor. It is the caste system that encourages wife's fidelity to her husband. Therefore, Brahman women are still empowered in this kind of setup because by being loyal to their husbands, they are rewarded through producing Brahman children. Still, the dominant perspective towards societies that encourages arranged marriages, is more on the harm this brings to the future of families. Women are said to be forced into a commitment where there is no emotional bond between them, which, on a personal