Chinweizu’s Assumptions of Women’s Power in Anatomy of Female Power: A Critique

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 51-76
Author(s):  
Emily Oghale God’spresence
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
African Woman ◽  
Male Counterpart ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
The Status ◽  
Women's Role ◽  
Female Power

Abstract Culturally speaking, the African woman is saddled with onerous responsibilities that perpetually put her at a disadvantage over her male counterpart. Ranging from the kitchen to child bearing, care giving and child rearing to the farm and market and many more, the African woman spends her life playing the motherly role with its numerous sacrifices attached. Meanwhile, she is acquired by her man through the customary “bride price” to become a wife, and more so, she is disregarded by society if she does not have children. When she is not educated, or she gets impregnated and drops out of school, she assumes the status of a house wife and child-breeder, while her male counterpart continues his education. Most women depend on their husbands for financial support and also some go the extra mile to assume the responsibility of breadwinning when their husbands are faced with financial challenges. Nevertheless, a woman’s educational training is a potent weapon for her liberation. Against this background, this study critically assesses Chinweizu’s assumptions of female power in Anatomy of Female Power in the context of prevalent cultural practices to ascertain the true position of today’s African woman viś-a-viś existing patriarchal hegemony in the Nigerian society. To this end, Feminist Theory serves as the theoretical framework for this discourse. This article examines the kinds or nature of female power that exists through Chinweizu’s evaluation of women’s role in their marital home which could transcend into political and cultural powers when harnessed. This study concludes by stating that women’s perceived powers are natural roles due to their biology which may not indeed be considered as powers however, if given favourable conditions, they can become a potent force in exercising female leadership in society.

The Mother Working Outside the Home

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 874-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Young Infant ◽  
The United States ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Care Giver ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Substitute Care ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
Sociocultural Background

Sixty percent of women (35% of mothers of children less than 18 years of age and 45% of mothers with preschool-aged children) in the United States work outside the home either of necessity or by choice. The pediatrician, who has an important role in helping such women find the best way of dealing with their multiple and demanding roles as workers, wives, and mothers, is often asked to address some of the questions posed below. 1. Is my working harmful to my child? The answer to this question depends upon (a) the provision of a safe, caring environment for the child; and (b) the mother's satisfaction in her outside work, the support and help of her family, and her vitality at the end of the day to nurture her children. 2. How do I evaluate a substitute care-giving situation? In addition to safety, sanitation, and the provision of proper nutrition, the kind of care giver to whom a young infant or young child is entrusted is the overriding consideration. This person must be warm, caring, responsible, and able to provide the child the stimulation of new learning experiences. In all cases, parents should talk frequently with the care giver about the child-rearing practices they desire, especially if the substitute mother is inexperienced or comes from a different sociocultural background. Although the needs of each child in a group setting vary with his or her age and personality, a ratio of one adult to three infants less than 2 years of age is advised, with the desired ratio increasing to 1 to 4 or 1 to 5 for older children.

Sikh Women Diaspora in Malaysia: The Reality of their Role and Status in the Religious Domain

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charanjit Kaur ◽  
Sarjit S. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
World View ◽  
Gender Ideology ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
The Status ◽  
Gender Specific ◽  
Women’S Views

This article aims to examine how the Sikh women diaspora from two generations exercised their rights within the religious domain in Malaysia. Sikhism has a unique world view of gender ideology; from a gender perspective, God is symbolically described as a husband to all of humanity, whereby all humans, irrespective of gender, are perceived as having the status of wives to God. Since the Sikh religion focuses on the concept of the spirit rather than the physical body; therefore, the position of God and mankind should be cognized from the viewpoint of transformation of spirit. Most significantly, every human being, be they male or female, is held in equal importance, with each individual being conferred the same position, status, rights and opportunity to live this life as God has ordained. In fact, tenets of life that define practices as being praiseworthy, or to be avoided, are not gender specific. This makes the philosophy of gender equality of the Sikh religion particularly interesting and worthy of academic scrutiny. To what extent is it true that women have equal status with men? The authors discovered that patriarchal cultural practices have clearly dominated Sikh women’s views about their roles in daily life, as well as in the perception of their own status. This article concludes with specific recommendations to uplift and strengthen gender equality among the Sikh community in the religious domain.

Roman Age Structure: Evidence and Models

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Scheidel
Keyword(s):  
Age Structure ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
The Status ◽  
To Come

For many Romans, life was short. In consequence, the young greatly outnumbered the elderly. Historians have long accepted these basic truths, even if they are only beginning to come to terms with the social implications of an alien demographic regime. But how short is ‘short’, and how many Romans were children, how many adults? Does it matter, and can we know?The importance of demographic structure is not in doubt. High mortality causes scarce energy resources to be wasted in pregnancies and nursing, and poses a disincentive to investment in education. It destabilizes families and households, exposes orphans and widows to risk and potential hardship, and shortens the time-horizons of economic activity. In the long term, average life expectancy is the principal determinant of fertility. Poor chances of survival trigger high birth rates to ensure genetic survival. High fertility, in turn, is negatively correlated with the status and well-being of women, and constrains female participation in economic and public affairs. Overall age structure, in conjunction with cultural practices from marriage to child care, determines the prevalence of orphans and widows, and affects the age-specific distribution of fertility. In sum, age structure is instrumental in framing and shaping expectations and experiences. For this reason alone, our understanding of life in the Roman world is critically dependent on our knowledge of demographic conditions.

Women and Climate Change

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-23
Author(s):  
Laura McKinney ◽  
Arianna King
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
West African ◽  
Political Organizations ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Women's Role ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Disproportionate Burden ◽  
Status Of Women

Abstract: This chapter aims to contribute to discussions concerning the global oppression of women by highlighting the ways in which the status of women intersects with climate change throughout the world. Empirical research shows that women’s representation in political organizations and their incorporation into decision-making processes are associated with lower contributions to climate change and overall improvements in sustainability across nations. These findings suggest that the status of women has a substantive bearing on the environmental and ecological future of the planet. Other research shows that women’s role as primary producers of food for the household results in a disproportionate burden of climate change for women, who leverage myriad strategies to adapt to changing conditions. In reviewing past qualitative and quantitative findings on climate change and women, the chapters focuses on the West African nation of Ghana, arguing that development and environmental policies would benefit from greater sensitivity to the ways in which climate change shapes women’s social, political, and economic opportunities. In doing so, the chapter utilizes ecofeminist theories to highlight critical links to achieving greater gender equality across social, political, economic, and environmental lines.

Ideologies of Gender on Television in India

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divya C. Mcmillin
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Prime Time ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
National Network ◽  
Content Analyses ◽  
The Status

Content analyses of Indian television programmes on the national network Doordarshan in the 1980s have shown that prime-time shows cast women as docile homemakers and as objects of male desire. This paper uses a critical postcolonial theoretical framework and narrative analysis method to detect ideologies of gender from programmes randomly selected from a month's menu of the transnational, national and regional television networks in the country. A broad conclusion is that Indian television in the late 1990s perpetuates, across channels, the 1980s' stereotypical images of women, images that have their roots in Vedic, colonial, and nationalist literature. The status quo is explained through a critical discussion of the framing of 'woman' in colonial and postcolonial nation-building efforts. The paper also points to the emerging genre of hybrid programming, where the greater incidence of female veejays and talk show hosts paves the way for the expression of female leadership and desire, and leads to more positive television portrayals of women in the 21st century.

Child rearing practices of the San communities in Botswana: potential lessons for educators

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-137
Author(s):  
Annah Anikie Molosiwa ◽  
Dipotso Galeforolwe
Keyword(s):  
School Culture ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Child Behaviour ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Failure To Progress

Several studies conducted among the San communities in Botswana have attributed failure to progress in school by the San children to inappropriate languages of instruction, insensitivity of the school culture and curriculum to their culture and learning styles. These studies have not really looked at all the contextual issues that influence child behaviour and development to the extent that they achieve their learning status. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate San’s child-rearing practices and how they transmit their cultural practices to their children. Data were gathered qualitatively through narratives, focus group discussions and interviews. The results revealed that the San are yearning for an educational system that is inclusive of their cultural practices and language, as well as having San teachers in their schools.

Body Performance and the Engagement within the City: Women Artists Reframing Gender Roles in Amman

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-202
Author(s):  
Marta Bellingreri
Keyword(s):  
Gender Roles ◽  
Women Artists ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Cultural Management ◽  
Creative Agency ◽  
The Status ◽  
Visual Artist ◽  
Female Presence ◽  
The City

Abstract This article focuses on women artists in the capital of Jordan, Amman, and particularly on their cultural practices as an expression of creative agency. Analyzing the work of visual artist and performer Samah Hijawi and of the co-founders of the art program Spring Sessions, Toleen Touq and Noura al-Khawsaneh, allows us to see the engagement in the city as the reframing of gender roles in neoliberal contemporary patriarchal societies. Their resistance to the codified norms affecting the female presence in public and in the field of cultural management is expressed and experimented with in the visual arts, within the contemporary cultural scene of Amman, the geography of the city and the political commitment, often in informal domains rather than in institutionalized contexts. Women’s creative agency in Amman challenges the status of the State’s monitorial and surveillance system within their city and their country. Artistic itineraries, performances, collective practices, urban cartographies, personal stories, individual or shared initiatives and artworks are portrayed in this article as one of the different modalities of creative agency that re-signifies feminisms today in the Middle East.

scholarly journals Telling our stories on the web: Canadian English-language web series and the production of culture online

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Zboralska
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Canadian English ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Web Series ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Web

This dissertation presents the first critical scholarly analysis of the Canadian English-language scripted web series industry, its cultural practices, industrial dynamics and texts. Through in-depth interviews with 48 individuals active in the production of Canadian online scripted content, participant observation, and a benchmark quantitative analysis of gender and race in key creative roles in 175 seasons of Canadian web series, the dissertation investigates the web as an alternative space for Canadian scripted audiovisual content, and the actors and forces that have shaped and are shaping its development, including its emergent patterns of inclusion. By developing a novel theoretical framework that combines the critical political economy of communication with entrepreneurship studies, the dissertation is able to mediate effectively between structure and agency to reveal how Canadian web series creators are interpreting, internalizing and resisting larger institutional dynamics and discourses in their cultural practices and texts. Through their entrepreneuring, Canadian web creators are reacting to a variety of rigidities within the contextual dimensions in which they are embedded, including the absence of meaningful opportunities to practice their crafts, the persistence of networks of exclusion, and inaccurate or missing on-screen representations of themselves or others in mainstream media. Through their work, they desire to achieve freedom from these constraints. The challenge of disrupting the status quo is then revealed through an examination of the domestic and extra-national structural factors that act as impediments to their agency. The dissertation problematizes ideas of participation and access on the web, and introduces new conceptual terminology through the Participatory Culture Paradox, to encapsulate the contradictory set of relations that on the one hand, enables creators’ activities in the online space, and at the same time, constrains their capacity to find audiences and monetize their work. The findings here demonstrate that as much as internet-based distribution has expanded opportunities for participation for regular users, who you are, and where you are based, continue to be salient mediators of both participation and success in the development of professional scripted screen careers in the digital age. The dissertation culminates in actionable priorities for Canadian policy that aim at change.

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