Blog #2

The word patriarchy literally means "rule by men" and is applied to social or political situations where men have all or most of the power and women have little or no power. It is considered characteristic of a patriarchical system that women experience consistent and systematic discrimination. (About.com)

This document is about the differences amongst men and women and how consequently their roles as human beings and within a society should also differ.

Rousseau justifies gender inequality by stating that men’s and women’s roles are not man made presumptions or prejudices, but instead based upon laws of nature. The sex of a human being determines his or her role within a society as a parent, worker, and as a link between spouses and children. These roles are “chosen” at birth not laid upon us in adulthood and men and women should therefore be taught accordingly to their role so as not to allow any discord between the sexes and in essence mankind.

I believe that Rousseau’s arguments are valid though I do not agree with all of them. I do believe that men and women are created unequally, though I believe that we all, as individuals, are also created unequally; our inequalities are not solely based on sex. There is not a single human being that will literally be the same as another, which is what to be equal means. There are many differences and inequalities amongst men and women; however I do not feel that this is a problem! What I do have a problem with is inequality of opportunities. These are very different issues! What Rousseau acknowledges is the naturalistic differences amongst men and women. These are the processes of childbirth, the innate characteristics generalized among women, such as having a more nurturing ability, being gentler and ultimately more responsible for the child, since it is only she that can deliver a child to full term. I do believe that these are valid points. What I disagree with is that men and women “ought not to have the same education”. Realistically, in life, we do have very different educations (mostly socially), however, I do not think that a women’s education should be solely based on the needs of a man’s care. Although, I do think it is important to learn how to be there for others and care and console those we love, it should not be a duty, or a role left only for women. It is something I think we must all learn in order to grow as human beings, regardless of our sex.

Textbook

There are many generalizations we can draw about Native American women’s experiences during the ear of conquest. Before the era of conquest Native American women played many crucial roles in the development and survival of their tribes. They not only tended to food, clothing and children, they also served as highly respected members of their society to which men deeply depended upon. The men in these tribes also respected and acknowledged women and their integral part of Native American culture. During the era of conquest, most Native American women had to deal with changes not only geographically but also in terms of their own self worth and identity. Growing up with a positive view of their own sexual freedom, many Native American women were made to change ways of life in terms of relationships. They were now expected to maintain monogamous relationships and often relationships with those outside of their tribe. Sometimes, these were choices the Native American women made and other times they were not. Too often Native American women were forced to live outside of their tribes and within a completely new environment, no longer held in a respectable view by her captors. Native American women loss many aspects of their culture during the era of conquest including the matrilineal system which allowed the bloodline to be traced through the mother. The culture which deemed women so important and highly regarded seemed to be lost and this is probably the most difficult aspect of a new life the Native American women had to face.

The origin of slavery in North America is a sad and ugly story. Women seeking new beginnings in America traveled from England in the hopes of finding more opportunities. Instead they found themselves bounded legally into slavery. These women were abused both physically and mentally and endured many years as sexual and physical labor slaves to their masters. In the late 1600’s African men and women slaves were brought to North America. This allowed the white women to acquire slaves and used the African women and men to do both household and field work. Eventually men and women’s roles as slaves were defined sexually. Men were used to work in ‘skilled or semiskilled jobs or were assigned to plowing” (24). Women on the other hand were left to perform “other less skilled jobs such as spreading manure and building fences” (24). The power of men and women and the roles in which they played even as slaves, put men ahead of women with seemingly more to offer.

The most significant differences among European women colonists were the roles and respect they held in each colony. The women in the Carolinas were viewed as lesser than the men and also had much less freedom. In the Chesapeake colonies, even “married women had few legal rights” (25). But the New Englanders viewed women in a much higher light. They were also religious and this may be why women’s role within the family was seen as important; there was an equality and respect held for both sexes as they were bound in religious sacrament.