Photo from last summer, 2021
Reading the study material in the Solid Gold 2 Studentlitteratur (2015), I became pretty emotionally disturbed. Precisely when the author of No Plans At All. Sue Townsend (p 29. ) exposed the extreme injustice in households and what society demands from staying home mothers, including the insensitivity to the mother's mental well-being. Yet, despite being sick, it did not stop her husband from seeing her as an object of pleasure. In “Cat In The Rain.” by Ernest Hemingway ( p 66 ), the author describes the female character as inexperienced and empty. It shows us perhaps the status of a woman in 1925. When women had to appear pretty and stay silent at the expense of their ambitions and desires.
Gender roles discussions are one of the most sensitive topics since they started in the early centuries and have increased now in the millennium generation. Because now, we are not only seeking to equalize women's rights with men. We are trying to achieve social balance by levelling up men's domestic-work proficiency. And including them to share carrying the heavy load of women's household and parenting responsibilities. If we aim for radical change in gender justice, we should certainly not underrate the significant gender role we have always dedicated only to girls and women since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, when we started giving men and women equal education and professions, we created “Modern parenthood.”. However, modern motherhood did not offer solutions to gender inequality but only raised the bar of expectations. Because a woman nowadays is not only expected to manage domestic duties, besides getting pregnant, giving birth, and raising healthy, intelligent children. In addition, she has to earn a living, has a career and stay financially independent. Although it will not stop her from being objectified and only valued for her weight, appearance and her excellence in domestic duties.
As a feminist raised in traditional religious ideology in Morocco and Libya, I became liberated in later years, started a cohabited relationship with a Swede, and moved to Sweden. I can reflect on women's statuses from both conservative and modern perspectives through personal experience, with the increase of women empowerment slogans and movements with the rise of women's collective consciousness. The Conservative world is convinced that the divine order of nature and things are being upset. Women have now been spoiled by over-education, and men's privileges are ruthlessly invaded. Our society's morals are suffering. And the good old ideals are being destroyed because women neglect their families if they have any, run things in their way, and imbalance the social order. All of which have been established since the beginning of the world.
We conclude; that we will only achieve real gender justice when we start adjusting and balancing our society's expectations of each gender. Unequal responsibilities and demands are the main obstacles to gender equality. And the root of the problem begins in childhood. Since most communities often expect girls to behave and follow a particular manner than boys. So for us to stop inheriting this gender role injustice and passing it on to future generations, we have to start from our homes by being role models and making daily lifestyle changes beginning with our children's toys and playgrounds.
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