GENDER
DISTINCTIONS ARE TO BE APPRECIATED FOR THE
INCOMMUTABLE
DIFFERENCES BEING NATURALLY COMPLEMENTARY
S.Aravamudhan
ABSTRACT
From practice it is known that there are gender differences in the average
capabilities and the kind of tasks accomplished. For the human beings to be
considered as a unified entity these differences, which cannot be exchanged
mutually among the genders, must be reconciled with moderation on the
encountered extremities in differences, and with accreditation when the
differences can be recognized by one gender as the natural talent of the other
gender. Such a distinction is a necessary variety for the living. But this
comprehension of the provisions in nature is not within the awareness of common
people. Further when people are mostly illiterates and the educational levels
are not up to the mark, the required moderation at the differences can be
forthcoming mostly on the compassionate grounds and much less on the basis of
rationalized rules. The aspect that is to be dealt with in this paper would be
on the assignment of responsibilities when differences are inevitable. The
context of North East India would be specified wherever appropriate.
1. AN
INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENCES AND RECONCILIATION:
There are
differences in the individual characteristics within a group which can be made
up of several individuals who are all alike in many respects. This is probably
the most generalized statement from which we have to derive consolation for
specific instances of adjudication on discriminations. And, most satisfactory
reconciliation would be possible only when it can all be traced to the
biological similarities and differences which make people recognize and
distinguish each other. Similarities can be categorized as the average
expectations. Differences can be those characteristics requiring special
provisions to individuals so as to enable them to respond with average
contributions and consumptions. Or, in certain instances ‘differences’ can be an
individuals’ self recognition of above- average capabilities by which eventually
others in the group would benefit to improve the average levels of expectations.
In other words individuals with better capabilities can set records for others
to emulate and improve the average levels of the general standards. Thus a
“talent” must be tapped for reaching higher levels of standards eventually. The
gender differences stand out distinctly as something which is impossible to
reconcile with on the one hand, but at the same time, by itself the differences
are, complementarily, a necessity to make a wholesome. It is only such a
‘discontinuity’ in certain aspects which makes possible a unified existence
without any confusing coalescences. These distinctions are the ones which
provide a discrete vision on the roles of individuals in society; indicating
that, the possible conflicts due to coalescence of similarities can be totally
ruled out; and thus, lead the society to be set on a path of clear and
unquestionable parallel assignments so that the activities accelerate the
never-ending (perennial) purposeful unification for the wholesome from and,
with, all the differences. Reproduction then can be simultaneously more hands to
help and many more to consume the available bounties. There would be no fall in
demands for consuming what the hands produce. It is this balance that must be
appreciated to dispense justice without the differences resulting in unbalanced
growth.
2. CERTAIN
EXCERPTS AND COMMENTS:
The
following are the excerpts from the “background” provided by the
NEICSSR in the invitation to members to participate in this National Seminar on
“The Issues of Female Emancipation, Education & Social Development in the
Context of North East India”. Following the quoted excerpt, a comment of
this author is added to point out the variations in the interpretations possible
when the text is read and how it can contribute to aggravation of the situation
while trying to seek solutions to mitigate the stated disharmony in the society.
This could be a revealing enumeration to be aware that while trying to be
informed about difficulties inflicting the society, the members of the society
may get distracted over what has been stated as a formulated problem while
trying to find solutions.
On page-1/4 Para-1
Q: “But
by and large they (females) are neglected lot and suffer in traditional society
a lower status”
C: This
should only mean that the traditional way of living has resulted in the
relegation of the role of women in society.
Q: “This
has contributed to low female literacy rates, early marriage, high fertility,
high infant mortality, high maternal mortality and declining sex-ratio”
C: Out of
the several items listed above “early marriage” is what can be described as
traditional practice, the way of living and not a contribution of negligence
from any quarters of the society. Since the traditional practices are accepted
by all sections of society by convention, it is only necessary to find out how
to modernize by shedding conventions which are inconvenient. By “high fertility”
in the above context, it has been implied that there are more children born in
families than what is within the limits of health and ability to economically
support large families. In one sense “fertility” is a positive a characteristic
and this cannot be included in any derogatory sense. But, it must definitely be
pointed out that the “fertility” must be resulting only in planned reproduction
and should not result in unwanted undesirable “pregnancies”. This clarification
is not available in the above one sentence of quickly sweeping in two lines.
“High infant mortality” alluded to is the inevitable consequence of the ways of
living pointed out in this comment above if one does not at this stage
“feticides” inflicted without health-sanctions. These practices can only result
in further setbacks and it is not a contribution by any other purposeful
efforts. “Feticides” are referred to in the “background” text only later after
the above quoted sentence. The sex-determination tests and related acts are a
much more recent developments than the occurrences of the consequences due to
the traditional ways of living & practices. Thus stating the high fertility and
high infant mortality in one breathe along with other factors does not seem to
put things in the right perspective.
On page
1/4 Para-2
Q: “Sex
ratio is fairly good indicator of female status in society. Low sex ratio is
synonym of lower status of women”
C: What is
implicit in the above statement is that the sex-ratio is maneuverable and is
being manipulated unethically. Why this comment is justifiable is because, as it
was pointed out in the preceding comment , the capability to test for the sex
before the birth of a child has been acquired more recently. It has been always
a fact that sex determination before the birth of the child is not unequivocal
and hence not under the control of even educated parents. Thus this
uncontrollable factor could have been unfavorable for the females without
anyone’s intentions. Hence implying this as if it is a consequence of purposeful
interference could make the situation vulnerable to the extent of implicating
innocent public.
On
page-2/4 Para-4
Regarding WORLD BANK STUDY on “Gender & Poverty”
Q:
“Female labor force participation and their relative contribution to total
family income are higher in households with lower economic status. The poorer
the family, the more it depends on the earnings of its female members”
C: That
there is a compulsion on the women folk to contribute to family income is itself
not a healthy trend. Given the current status of women as relegated due to
traditional ways of living, the purposeful empowerment should first and
foremost encourage women to participate in social activities in which ever way
they want rather than only under the compulsion of contributing to family
income. From the home ground they should feel at ease to share the platforms at
any gathering irrespective of whether it contributes to earning to the family or
not. This broadens the outlook of all the members of the society on the role of
women and not simply an encouragement to the females. Traditionally the males
should strive earn enough for the family providing also for the progressive
activity of their female counterparts at home and not to look for remunerative
activities to be shouldered by the females. When this concession is given to the
females in the society and restrictions relaxed, it is even more necessary to
take care that this does not become counter productive because the females start
taking undue advantage of this concession and lenience to spend their valuable
time unmindful of the resulting lack of attention at home front which is
entirely the jurisdiction of women. Such a trend of women’s emancipation with
its awful consequences is not unknown. But in a society where the bondages of
traditional obligations are encroaching upon the minimum individual freedom on
majority of the females and without ever being realized by them, there is
probably much less to be concerned about such retrograde trends. And, why should
women folk is brought under the physical labor force and further try to dispense
equality of opportunities to ensure more women come under the physical labor
force? The kind of activity that women should be encouraged to participate must
be such an opportunity to appeal more to their intelligence than their physical
stamina. Their rightful place to show their might physically should be at home
and not get confined on to home on the basis of the elation on the merit
monopoly , but try to be present at public places as well but much less for the
opportunities on physical labor. This calls for to question the wisdom of such a
measure as quoted below:
Q: “World
bank advocated for the creation of employment opportunities for poor women and
to increase their productivity in the primary sector”
Obviously,
with due respect that it is the recommendation of World Bank, it remains for us
to find out where exactly the quotation is out of context; that, it lends itself
for such a criticism as above.
As stated in
this “background” domestic violence against women is a matter of grave concern.
Hence rightfully, the female should dominate the home ground even by improving
their physical might, instead of putting their stamina at stake as a physical
labor force to earn an income. The members in the society would be well advised
to take measures to this end whenever there is an imbalance and injustice which
might call for a section of the men folk trying to intervene at the affairs of
other men folk while they insist unjustifiably favors from their women folk.
This requires tact if it does not have to result in clashes among males over not
letting female to predominate.
Without
trying to be exhaustive about providing explanations to the circulated text of
background information, it is hereby pointed out that just trying to annotate
upon the text of information circulated itself seems to be making up a
contributory article. In this event it would be probably bring out more
appreciation among the participants of such a seminar if a set of notes also is
circulated with it. This happens to be such a theme that it is subject to
different levels of interpretations since much less is within the grip to solve
the problem than the appeal it has at a variety of levels ranging from highly
emotional to discretely rational and people in general shy away from exhibiting
knowledge of biological differences and try to make it all a matter of
discrimination of one section by the other section in a society of members of
equal standing.
3. FAMILY
RELATIONSHIPS AND THE SOCIETAL CONSTRAINTS:
The
traditional family set up is well established. In this set up conventionally
(because of the conveniences) female takeover the responsibility of running the
household affairs staying at home while the male go out to eek out the materials
to support the living and to afford the maintenance of a house for the members
of the family. Probably, it would be too much of an excursion than necessary now
to look into the advantages and disadvantages of such a practice, but the
present shackles in which women find themselves now is allegedly attributable to
such implicit ways of allocating responsibility to females. In all the
suggestions for modernizing the family set up there is no demand ever to reverse
the role of the male and female, but the calls have been only, to the possible
extent, liberate the women from a “house arrest” into which the eventualities
put the women if a retrospection on their status does not forth come. No one
probably finds any better alternative to this fact: that, the women are endowed
with the biological dispensation to bear children and hence, naturally, it makes
women also to care, nurture and rear the babies to grow to be healthy adults.
Then, what is the reason for the frustration of the disgruntled women which no
one finds as something unjustifiable ? The reason is, with the passage of time,
there is a change to the better on all fronts and in all matters that pertains
to the conventional women’s role in family as well. These advances set the
trends for change to realize whatever had been aspired for but with much greater
ease and better finish. Certain things which were undreamt of in earlier days
become, at a much faster rate, a matter of fact to be taken for granted. But
poor people in general and the unprivileged section in the society in particular
do not have the means and motivation to acquire the benefits of progress: for
all this matter such people might have been contributing the labor for the
produce as a part of the machinery of production without comprehending where
finally their labor brings out the results and how. The women’s status is a
special case of this because of the unquestionable biological distinction. This
becomes the constraints socially to make possible a homogeneous growth with
conveniently graduated levels to step up efforts with ease and poise. But, at
any rate to find females contributing to physical labor to earn for the family
and trying to give them more opportunities as daily wage earner at places where
hard physical labor is required is a retrograde step. There must always be
efforts to improve their skills at cottage enterprises and vocational jobs with
duly providing for maternity confinement periods and thus distinctly developing
packages suitable only for women distinctly without any possibilities for
competition from men. Thus in one sense the the traditional ways of sanctifying
women’s status must be modernized without unduly criticizing such traditional
attitude to women. The women also must modernize their role by making the
fullest use of the understanding possible currently on the biological
significances of the characteristics of women and that of men. Which means, the
differences when they are present inevitably, it is necessary to find
“equality values for the differences” . Women’s ability to bear children
is an invaluable asset to humans and would it be worth the while to spend the
time on finding ways of making men acquire this child-bearing ability because it
is an invaluable asset? Can it be argued that if it becomes possible for men
also to acquire this capability the it could be reducing the burden on women?
While at the spur of the moment, it may inspire people as a worthy cause to
spend time on if one is not joking about it, in due course it would be realized
that it is an effort to smear out in whatever way one can the distinction
between men and women. It at this stage discretion must take its course to
advice people to respect and regard the differences as they are and try to make
the better use of what is available instead of losing what ever little one has
by spending in vain. To make this applicable to all, a set of rule would be the
result as a social consequence or a code of conduct. This comprehension of the
fact is what is expected to be learnt: that the social conduct rules are
essentially to keep intact what is convenient for running family congenially and
that it is the demands at the family front for a better freedom of movement for
the women folk which results in the upheavals at social levels. All the time
this reference back and forth from the smaller unit to the larger group and vice
versa is the exercise that is necessary to resolve conflicts. How much the law
makers and the rulers let the common people become aware of such considerations
which they may have while formulating conducts and codes, is what makes the
initiatives a success or a fiasco. Trying to find solution temporarily when it
becomes intolerable would not bring in lasting solution. That the necessity to
become modern in the outlook on traditional matters comes about by improving the
literacy, educational standards and communication techniques. The current day
agenda at the meetings to ameliorate situations on women status obviously are
set with the overtones of the fundamentals as sated in the few lines before. It
is with this awareness only any of the complications that arise can become a
well formulated problem to seek solutions and, systematic rational approach
would be possible.
4.
REINFORCEMENT MEASURES TO RESTRAIN DETERIORATION ON A PROGRESSIVE PATH
The
conclusions from the foregoing discussion in Section-3 were that the traditional
practices must be accounted for in terms of the attitudes formed among people
because of these practices. And, these attitudes must undergo a modernization as
the people experience the conveniences of technological inventions and
scientific discoveries. With special reference to the gender differences, as it
was pointed out it is the role in the reproductive process and the entailing
responsibilities which make the woman distinct from men in-exchangeable. To what
extent can the common people take the cue from the advantages of Science and
Technology to modernize their outlook; and, reinterpret the traditional ways?
Can people uphold the purpose and necessity for any given traditional practice
as due to the limitations of techniques and availability of information; and, in
the changed circumstances adapt the newer techniques with the confidence that it
would only reinforce the traditional values and would not undermine the credit
which is due to the ancestors who devised such prescribed methods? On the other
hand, can people argue about any particular traditional way as something which
would stand the test of time and it would not be in any way possible to simplify
the practice or give up the practice for the sake of the comforts which the
newer methods can promise? Both ways of appreciating tradition require education
of not simply literacy level. Both men and women must get educated about not
only their own role as it was mostly in the tradition bound society, but must
become changed in their outlook to ask questions about the other gender to know
the biological differences and how a woman is superior for certain
responsibilities than men and vice versa. Then a frank exchange of views would
lead to broader outlook and probably what was traditionally only women’s
jurisdiction can become a topic of articulation in public only to justify why
the practice was prevailing and how the practice is beset with retrograde
fallouts as time passes. Then the necessary reinforcement would be gained by the
confidence of the knowledge available currently and discrimination of one gender
can be selectively replaced by the equality value for the differences in gender.
Such a transformation is what is aspired for and this does not come about by
simply enumerating the incidences of “atrocities” or the criticisms on the
“attitudes of oppression”. Simply gathering information also would not suffice
to achieve this transformation but a change in the way information is exchanged
among people and processed for assessing prevailing practices. This means
effective improvement in the quality of communication. Obviously, people are
aware the turn of talks and consequent incidences when gender differences are
talked about by either of the genders invariably while referring to the gender
features of the other gender than ones own. This requires a novel method of
implementing code of conducts among the members of the society and to safe guard
the interests of the youth from adults, and making the elders realize the gender
inequalities as essential differences which bring about a distribution of duties
for a humane environment and congenial living.
5.
Conclusions and Specifications of the Cases of North East India
As it had
been concluded in the previous section communication skills to convey the facts,
failures and frustrations, require a fortitude that can be acquired by assiduous
learning which is usually termed as the lack of education. Even though it is not
far from the truth, the education that can be imparted by institutions would
take a long time to bring in effects. What is required in this context is an
association of qualified personnel at the site where the incidence of female
backwardness is more and prevalent to the levels of being described as
atrocities on women. This qualification of an individual is much more than what
the certified qualifications can speak about and it is much more difficult find
people who can articulate about other’s difficulties with such a concern which
ensures that their own short comings do not become later on hindrances to the
progress in community. It is necessary to have such volunteers but they should
not be employed just for this purpose of being present as escorts to women but
these volunteers must be drawn from places where they are employed for their
professional competence and specially chosen for their additional temperamental
capabilities to attend to on site humane requirements related to their
professional matters. If necessary those capable individuals might be given
additional coaching by awareness promotion and brought in as casually as
consultants. This kind of selection and promotion of people require altogether
a different process than what the institutional methods can stand for. But, the
capable people must be drawn mainly from such individuals who have come through
reputed institutions which certify for their merit professionally. Such a
combination of formal institutional achievement with the capabilities to cope up
with informal assignments would not be available just for the asking. Such
talents must be searched out and adequately tapped for the benefit of the human
welfare.
In regions
where there is not even a language to mention which is as well developed and
people are mostly depending on oral communications since written materials to be
produced require a standardized scripts which may not be available. While this
is a draw back quick methods take their places in giving all the technical
jargons an easy exposure to the public. The result would be all the technical
words and specifications would be glibly spelt by people who do not have any
knowledge of what these words stand for specifications of technical units and
other common places. Just because people may not be aware of common place
meanings of words but are found to be easily acquiring access to technical
outputs, their words are carrying the conviction of experts among the
“black-box” users so much so the experts find themselves in pitiable state
unable to ameliorate the appalling state of affairs. This is precisely how women
become the “black-boxes” to be availed without any concern for what e their
needs and necessities are for maintenance. It is no exaggeration to state that
the very technical advances made for lightening women’s responsibilities become
their shackles for want of better managerial qualifications. This comes under
the even-more-wide concern of effective resource management.
