
Apr 13 , 2019
By Michael G. Behailu
I came across Joseph Arrington Jr’s, also known as Joe Tex, song “Hold On to What You’ve Got” the other day. It is one of the singer’s well-known works, albeit with lyrics that have not aged accordingly.
He sang of a “woman who will stay right there at home and mind the children, while [the man] is gone to work” and a “woman who will have [the man’s] dinner cooked when he comes home,” clearly depicting what a woman is expected to do and be, a house wife.
Now, consider how societies are constructed and organised. While doing this, try to think of the roles and responsibilities “given” to women and the roles and responsibilities “taken” by men.
What do we have now? Are they different, proportionate or acceptable?
As we live in a very diverse world, societal norms are different from place to place and from country to country. Such discrepancy is created because of the agents of socialisation, which include family, peers, school, work and social media.
They play a significant role in shaping an individual into contemporary societal norms and values. They mold them to fit into society. These agents, however, being part of an ever-changing environment, will go through various and diverse changes due to discoveries, an improved way of thinking or life.
These agents, at some point in time, have defined and determined who will do what in a society and who will make decisions. Most societies, unfortunately, have allocated to men decisions they consider significant, and women have been relegated to the periphery. Gender roles is a manifestation of this.
Like any other society, Ethiopia has had a set of gender roles where there were distinct demarcations in which both sexes should proceed. This is describable in the daily encounters that manage to surprise us.
What will amaze us more, a woman or a man who cannot cook? Are we as much surprised by a woman that cannot change a tyre as much as a guy that cannot do the same?
When we think of the things that women and men should be able to do, we have a clear distinction in our heads that we have inherited from societies’ imposition of such roles.
The socialisation agents perpetuate these gender roles mostly without questioning them. Since childhood, boys are given “manly” tasks like playing football, changing car oil or farming out in the field, while girls are given “womanly” tasks such as making the bed, washing the dishes and playing indoors. They grow up with that set of mind.
This matter is all the more complicated by the fact few of us are a fan of people or groups that stray from the norms set by society. When and if an individual or a faction within the society starts deviating from societal norms, they are considered abnormal and are ostracised. This is one of the reasons why even some of the clearest cut backward cultural artifacts, such as female genital mutilation, are still prevalent. People have a hard time letting go of a culture in which they have been raised.
Thus, I was not surprised to hear when Joe Tex sang as such, as his words resembled the assumptions of his society. He only sang about what he saw and experienced growing up in his community. He always expected and viewed women as not more than what has been “given” to them, while men were adventurous and explorers of the world.
Yet cultures, traditions and norms only exist as long as we allow them to. We must be able to choose what is good for all of us and reject what we know to be counterproductive. Our effort should be focused in creating a fairer world, not one where half of the population thrives at the expense of the other half. It is only through a coordinated effort that we will be able to tackle the problems faced every day by women.
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 13,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
989]
Sunday with Eden | Jun 29,2024
My Opinion | Jan 16,2021
Life Matters | Feb 11,2023
Radar | Jun 11,2024
Editorial | Nov 19,2022
Life Matters | Nov 30,2024
Money Market Watch | Oct 13,2024
Advertorials | Feb 26,2024
Agenda |
Sunday with Eden | Apr 04,2020
My Opinion | 128206 Views | Aug 14,2021
My Opinion | 124432 Views | Aug 21,2021
My Opinion | 122532 Views | Sep 10,2021
My Opinion | 120380 Views | Aug 07,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Apr 26 , 2025
Benjamin Franklin famously quipped that “nothing is certain but death and taxes....
Apr 20 , 2025
Mufariat Kamil, the minister of Labour & Skills, recently told Parliament that he...
Apr 13 , 2025
The federal government will soon require one year of national service from university...
Apr 6 , 2025
Last week, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group...
Apr 28 , 2025 . By NAHOM AYELE
Key Takeaways: The Ministry of Justice's directive plans to enforce pro bono wor...
Apr 26 , 2025
Neway Magersa (Left), president of Sinqee Bank, shared a lighter moment at the Skylight Hotel on Africa Avenue and chuckled with Oromia Regi...
Apr 27 , 2025 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
A controversial decision to clear a large tract of land in Addis Abeba's Wereda 1, around Flamingo and th...
Apr 27 , 2025 . By AKSAH ITALO
Key Takeaways A federal court dismissed Zewdinesh Getahun's ownership claim as time-barred, requir...