Gender Roles in a Patriarchal World

Although there are numerous matrilineal and perhaps one or two matriarchal societies in observed history, this situation is extremely rare. Most societies on Earth today are governed by patriarchal religions and patriarchal political bodies. Most decisions concerning family, work, religion and government are made from a male perspective. God, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Moses, Confucius: world religions are based on masculine revelations, needs, ambitions, visions and designs. Women in their struggle for equal participation have in many cases become cogs in the system, joining it, instead of changing it. In this way, they secure patriarchal systems and their secondary role within them. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with the way things are. Let's take a closer look.

In Japan, until recently, women walked behind their man. The first son in rural areas was killed so the first born could be a girl. She then would raise and foster the second son, who would inherit the household and farm. I lived three years in Japan. When visiting a friend, I watched his wife, mother and female children prepare our meal. The women cloistered in a separate room while the men ate the best cuts and portions of the meal. Later what was left was eaten by the women and children. Japanese men frequent bars, restaurants and cabarets ostensibly to entertain business associates. The truth is they drink, eat heartily of the most expensive and nutrient dense foods available: eel, salmon, tuna, squid and octopus. For dessert they have their favorite waitress or show girl sit with them, exchanging small talk laced with sexual coercion. It was not uncommon for Japanese businessmen to partake of there "dessert" later, in "discreet" or secretive places.

In communist China, female babies are adopted out in a numbers game. The patriarchal government has put "voluntary" restrictions on family size. Many first born girls are traded away.. A recent statistic showed that out of 200,000 adoptions emanating from China only ten of the children were males.

In India, to avoid expensive dowry's female children are sometimes sold.

Yanomamo mothers have killed there first born female child by stepping on both sides of stick placed across the infants neck. Women are sometimes punished or ostracized for having a first born female. Yes, males are mandatory for they are the warriors who secure the future of the tribe.

Most Muslim women cover their heads or wear veils. They lead restrictive lives to be socially distinctive, to be unique and closer to their patriarchal God.

Maring people of New Guinea, according to anthropologist Marvin Harris, have an average ratio of 15 boys to every 10 girls. Yet, both sexes are born in approximately equal ratios: one to one.

This is a glimpse of how the world is, not how it should be. The American perspective is unique and driven by cultural experiences. But what's right for us, isn't universally right. Each culture must reckon with their past and define their own future. No culture is "there" yet. All are evolving. All are moving from male dominance toward gender egalitarianism. Context is important. A short, spreading oak growing in a field looks different from a long spindly oak growing in a forest. But they are both oaks. We are all humans shaped by our gender ignorance.