My close colleague who is an anthropologist told me the other day about the work of a group of anthropologists. Story goes like this:
They divided themselves into two groups to work (to just listen) in the two waring fractions in Africa somewhere. Both groups found out that what men talked about were the kind of weapons to be used and developed. As for women, their conversation was about food for their families: where are food sources available, and how to get them for my children and the family?
You can all make your own conclusion, I guess.
4 comments:
Well to contribute to this discusion Akompab says,
If one samples the opinion of most men not only in Africa, but the world at large, one will discover that the men attach less importance to the families daily requrements and only think about protection.Men consider themselves as the protectors, not only of their families, but of the communities or nations in which they belong to.
On the other hand, the women have a larger task when it comes to family sustainability. They are the ones who think of what the family eats, and where to readily get the food from.In other words ,the women are the bread basket of their families,they are the intermidiaries between the young and the elderly or the children and their fathers
Therefore i think the men in question think only about making new guns in order to protection and the women think about getting food to sustain their families.
With a view to conclude through discussion Thuzar says that almost, for all of the men, they are talking about “the kind of weapons to be used and developed” which would be, the men who protect/ secure their family lives such as for food, shelter and clothing to find the betterment for their family comfortably stay, for all of the women, they are talking about “food for their families: where are food sources available, and how to get them for my children and the family?” which would be, the women who taking care of basic needs for their daily subsistence for their children and families' demand. So that, men and women should solve not only families secure but in global, collectively.
Women naturaly and traditionaly have been responsible for the care and welfare of families,which makes them especially sensitive to the importance of clean air,food and safe water,As mothers they know that their bodies provide the first environment for a child,that they will be primarily responsible for nourishment, and well-being of their children.(EPA journal-Nov 1978)
On the other hand not only in families,the different communities in the world,men usually plays a main role in protecting women and children.its obvious that child always hope to have security in fathers shadow.(food with mother)
Men have that desire,to be a "hero"
or a protector in their families and the community.This may be the based on that conversation.
Along the history of mankind, from the beginning up to now, human being has been facing with the way how to survive. That is, food, settle and safety are always the most important demands for human. To adapt to the environment, there is an unwritten rule in term of the task division between men and women in human being’s society. Men protect their family in particular as well as protect their territory in general. Meanwhile women look after their children and find food. This is a symbolic characteristic of male and female not only with human being but also with almost higher animal.
Nowadays, globalization and economic development play an important role to gender equity. Women are increasingly integrating in many aspects of society. However, in the unstable areas somewhere in the world today, the women’s main roles are caring for their children and finding food while the men’s are protection and safety. Apparently, safety is the most importance for life. Equity gender seems to be illusive in those areas. Fortunately, with the efforts of government, UNDP, NGOs and other related human right organisations, gender equity issue in many countries is considerably improving (Gender and Conflict Early Warning:A Framework for Action, Susanne Schmeidl 2002).
In my opinion, the role of men and women in the next decades will be change compared with their traditional way of thinking. On the other hand, in women’s daily conversation, they will talk about how to educate their children more effective and how to improve their position in their workplace and society as well instead of finding food or just looking after their children and so do men.
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