Raosen Taj Raisani
Gender has been a natural bestowment as well as a calamity if viewed in modern social construct. The issues related are not simple and their solution even less so. Gender development and gender biases exist wherever human beings are, reside and socialize. In the context of specific areas, issues tend to develop and with them the need for solutions. Ideas have been formulated since the beginning of time. People have developed notions, perceptions and thoughts about many issue including the equity of gender, gender based hierarchical systems, matriarchy and patriarchy. In my view, the issues and their solutions were needed for the time and in the space in which humans were present. The masculinity and femininity were the roles humans had to conform themselves into society. These roles were the cause of many issues that still prevail in the societal constructs of the world.
Resources present a very important role in the human life. The necessities depend on the level of sources present and explored with the level of their utilization in the human life; management of these resources along with ways to explore and earn them is a task of the prime value to humans. As we see the structure of patriarchal society this task has been assigned to male. The immense need of exploring and using the resources allow males to enjoy a better standing in the social life of human society. The dogmas and beliefs that in the archaic times were associated with male power and dominance is a trend still being followed. Females were also given an importance as long as they were subsequent to male authority. The roles, however, also depended on the process of continuity of human progeny, the act of reproduction.
Reproduction as a process was a fascination. Something mystifying as well as needed for the continuation of the traditions, system and society established by earlier people. The male dominance can be stated as a part of the sexual development of humans. The psychological superiority is achieved in this sense too. A male is the progenitor so it must be the leader, the king or the chief of a society; He is the one who is related with the providence, so he is to be the sustainer and defender. The society gave males power and they utilized it to consolidate their authority ultimately translating it into the religion.
Religions established by the people or God ordained specify the roles of human beings, males and females along with familial interactions and societal relations. The male dominance exists in monotheistic religions whereby the pronouns associated with the Supreme Being always a He. It is due to the immense nature of authority and power in a system dominated by males. In polytheistic religions, females are assigned some roles albeit non-executive and superficial. In this way, the dominancy of male is established and always exercised. A change in thoughts is although in the process.
The gender based society is unable to survive in this society in global perspective, where capitalism or even socialism exists. Economy is the mover of things nowadays. Demand and supply are the reigning forces of a highly effective competitive economy. Resource management is now more and more dependent on the brain rather than the hands. Money talks and materialism reigns supreme. In this changing environment, the archaic roles of gender, male and female differences are a cause of concern. Productivity in the economic sense is dependent on the managerial skill of human no matter male, female or an unspecified gender. Economic stability with entrepreneurship and organizational skills have also been the demand of firms, organizations and even states. A change in notions is, therefore, also the need of the day.
In summary gender issues are to be viewed in a light of modern changes. In the globalist economic perspective, gender must be viewed just as an identity not the ultimate mover of the world.
Writer is a Graduate from Quaid-i-Azam University in Defence and strategic Studies
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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