The Effect Of Gender Roles On The Eastern And Western Culture

            Humans are the most vital element in establishing a culture. Human beings are the elements that set up, consciously or unconsciously a certain culture that is somehow unique with that of the others. Influenced by many factors, human being, being the element that has a rational character, in time establishes the norms and cultures that are being accepted by their immediate members. Such norms and cultures then become the set of standards that are being passed from generation to generations. Norms may encompass the spiritual and moral aspects of man, social standards and anything that affects the everyday life of man. For centuries, the Eastern and Western cultures have been in two separate worlds, dividing the human race into two huge cultures: generally, the Muslims in the Eastern world and the Christians and Liberals in the Western world.  The biggest difference, if we are to compare, is the gender roles and their importance in the two cultures.

            Men and women, even centuries ago have been assigned in separate roles and responsibilities where men are dominant over women. This set up has played a great role in the development of each culture. It is therefore important to look into their roles and have them examined in different aspects in order to establish their contributions in their own cultures. “Gender is used to refer to the socially constructed roles and socially learned behaviors and expectations of women and men in a particular society” (World Bank, 2000). Their played roles in their own cultures changes over time with several influences such as technology and geographical elements. However, it is probably religion that separates these worlds. “The attitudes and values dividing the West and the Muslim world have more to do with Eros than with demos (ISR, 2003). The differing views of the East and the West on the issue of morality and gender equality have the greatest influence on the assigned roles of men and women in their cultures. In fact, the said difference is evident in the results of the World Values Survey conducted in 1995 to 1996 and 2000 to 2002.

The survey results published in the March/April 2003 issue of Foreign Policy revealed that 53% of the surveyed Western countries tolerate homosexuality while only 12% are in favor of the issue in the Islamic countries. Thus, the Western countries recognize the existence of the third sex and therefore are less concerned with the separation of the men and women roles in their society. As to gender equality, the same study revealed that the West favors gender equality with 60% support rate while only 55% are supportive of the issue in the Islamic countries. Relative to this aspect, we can clearly see that the Islamic countries are more strict in their preservation of the Islamic tradition and the teachings of the Quran with regards to the role of men and women. Overall, the said survey placed Finland, Sweden, West Germany, Canada and Norway on top of gender equality ratings scale while Morocco, Egypt, Bangladesh and Jordan at the bottom. The researchers concluded that “An Islamic religious heritage is one of the most powerful barriers to the rising tide of gender equality” (R. Inglehart and P. Norris).

            The Eastern world, being dominated by the Muslim traditions is centered on the teachings of Islam. “The wives of Muslim men are considered a sexual property of their husbands and are thus required to be totally dependent and obedient to their husbands” (truthandgrace.com). In this context, women in the Eastern culture are deprived of the freedom to do things according to their own preference. Since they are the properties of their husbands, they are bound to the limits of their own homes and the married life. Their lives are dictated by the will of the husband. They are therefore commonly confined to household chores, of taking care of their kids and of their husbands. Traditionally, Easterners consider it ideal for a society to have their women assigned in domestic tasks while men are suppose to be the one doing the public tasks. “Deviations from this ideal, especially in the case of women, tended to reflect adversely upon the reputation of the family (J.J. Lewis).

This tradition is still being maintained even by the contemporary Easterners. It is worth commending this attitude of reverence on the part of the women as they are willing to serve and give their husbands their due pride and respect as the breadwinner and the head of the family. On the other hand, Westerners are more liberated and lax on their treatment of their women. Women in the West are more open to opportunities and responsibilities outside the context of just being a wife to their husbands and mother to their children. Their women are not required to stay home but are openly give the chance to help their husbands in earning for the family. Since they favor gender equality, contemporary women, especially those who belong to the feminists groups fight for their rights on equal opportunities in the society in terms of education, business sector and in the political arena. Such efforts have been proven to be of benefit as evidenced by the growing population of women in fields where only men were previously have the opportunity like in the military and the police, in sports, business management and in the government seats. Islamic countries do not have that much of these opportunities since their religion require women to be of service to men and be obedient unto them. So women leaders are less likely to be found in the Eastern culture.

On the aspect of morality, available figures also show the big difference of gender roles in these two cultures. In Western countries, 60% are tolerant toward divorce while the Eastern countries had only 35% accumulated support (D. Swanbrow). Looking at the teachings of Quran on the marriage issues, Islam teaches that men can divorce and remarry the same women many times (Quran 2: 230).  There is the provision that men can only marry up to four women only if they can support them. In this regard, Eastern culture does not tolerate divorce and adultery but teaches men and women the responsibility of having been in the married status.

The conditions are clear and direct and so the lust of taking more wives is not at all tolerated. In this regard, women are still given their due respect and pride as valued properties of their husbands. On the other hand, most of the Western countries legalized divorce, although there are grounds before a divorce is granted to couples. It is however this divorce that reduces the value of marriage on their culture. Getting into marriage is less likely being prepared for and seriously taken into consideration by both parties. Divorce is being used as escape for anyone who gets disappointed and dissatisfied with their partners. Thus, the roles of men and women in creating a well-founded family is already taken for granted. The results are evident in the said countries which have growing counts of broken families and single parents.

Fashion is also one good point of comparison. As Easterners display, their women are still conservative as to their way of dressing. As Quran commands, childbearing women still conform to the tradition of having them fully covered in public. Although there were already countries who were too strict with this fashion, Easterners still practice far more conservative fashion. Western countries are evidently less conservative especially in the United Stated where women wear really short skirts, sleeveless or mid-rib tops. Having their bodies exposed in public is considered a pride for women. Women in these countries are no longer considered the sexual properties of their husbands since divorce and same sex marriage is an accepted norm. Women are no longer consider their roles in sexual reproduction important for the society since unwanted pregnancies and abortion are normal scenarios. Men no longer take the sole pride to rearing their own families are breadwinners since women are already allowed to participate in the labor force.

            Because of technology, religion and time, the world’s development trend had greatly influenced the vital roles of men and women in both Eastern and Western culture. We have seen however that Easterners had preserved their traditions on having their women maintain conservative attitudes especially on their fashion and reverence on their men. While West countries usually are developed countries, their liberal attitude has greatly shifted the norms on a less morally upright scenario. In both cases, the research must have been right in their conclusion that religion has the greatest influence on the changes in their cultures, making one still conservative and the other more liberal in terms of their consideration on the roles of men and women.

WORKS CITED

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Goldstein, Joshua. “War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice Versa”. Cambridge University Press, September 2001. Excerpt retrieved on June 07, 2007 from http://www.warandgender.com/wggenrol.htm

Lewis, Jone Johnson. “Iran-Gender Roles”.” Traditional Attitudes Toward Segregation of the Sexes”.Retrieved on June 07, 2007 from http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_iran.htm

Swanbrow, Diane. “Attitudes toward sex, not democracy, divide the West and Islam”. February 25, 2003. Retrieved on June 07, 2007 from http://www.umich.edu/news/Releases/2003/Feb03/r022503.html

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