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The Gender Misrepresentation of Women in Canadian Families

Introduction

Gender has been one of the most controversial issues in the global society for a longstanding period. Particularly in Canada, gender issues are evident both in the larger community and the smaller family structure. This paper primarily addresses gender representation within the family structure in the Canadian society. Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the world; and with that comes a complex diversity in terms of gender representation, especially between the non-indigenous Canadians and the Canadian immigrants. Regardless, gender is mainly focused on the split between male and female roles in society. Fundamentally, gender representation in the Canadian society is vastly preferential towards men at the subsequent oppression of women.

Literature review

There have been a considerable number of studies conducted on the issue of gender representation within the families in Canada. This section addresses some of the issues that have been raised with regards to this context.

1. Double standards

Several research studies point to the element of double standards that is prevalent in the modern-day Canadian families. Particularly in minority communities in Canada, the role of culture is largely significant. Virtually all cultures have gender expectations of men and women. Observably, the limitations that are imposed on women are highly strict in comparison with those that are imposed on men; men are basically allowed more freedom within the family context than women. Many of the women in such families have expressed their resentment towards these misguided and partial restrictions that hinder them from exploiting several opportunities in their lives. For instance, there are certain gender-based duties and roles that women are simply reluctant to oblige. Regardless, the double standard that it witnessed in Canadian families on the basis of gender is deeply-rooted in the particular communities’ cultural practices and hence, cannot be easily eradicated. To date, parents in families impose more restrictions on their daughters with relativity to their sons, who are allowed more freedom to engage with the rest of society. The existence of these double standards has created substantial barriers for women and girls as pertains to social integration. Notably, this is particularly true for the minority families in Canada. Notably however, young girls in their teenage years are becoming more resistant to subscribe to various element of gender inequality. “Adolescents internalize gender equality values faster than their parents. As a result, parental pressure on girls to adhere to traditional gender roles creates conflicts” (Drolet & Mohamoud, 2013, p. 50). Unlike their parents, young girls are rebelling against being treated as lesser human beings than their male counterparts.

1. Immigrant families

Naturally, immigrant families often have a difficult time adjusting to a new culture and system of operation in a new country, especially if the family has originated from a country that is comparatively conventional as opposed to western cultures. Canada is a westernized country. Gender plays a major role in the transition of these families and their struggle to avoid being ‘victims’ of assimilation (Chuang, & Tamis-LeMonda, 2009. Regarding parental roles among immigrant families, fathers are usually forced apart from their families since it falls up them to ensure that their family survives in a manner that is sustainable in the new environment. This means that they are forced to seek suitable employment and establish solid roots in the foreign country (Canada). On the contrary, immigrant women have the responsibility to stay at home and play the traditional role of being a wife and a mother. It is inconsequential whether they want to pursue careers as well since they have children to raise and husbands to cater to. For instance, women must stay close to their children and ensure that they are not ‘corrupted’ by the westernized way of life; rather that they grow up with the awareness and pride in their heritage.

1. Gender inequality

Another emerging trend in the Canadian society relates to the shifts in gender roles played by men and women in their families. Unlike in the past when women were required to remain in the household and perform wifely and motherly duties, the contemporary society has registered drastic changes between 1981 and 2011 whereby women are not required to not only perform household duties but to also work as the breadwinners of the family (Beaujot, Jianye, & Ravanera, 2013). It is difficult to view this as a negative factor since women have been wanting to play a more active role in contributing to the society for a longstanding period. However, the situation creates a conundrum concerning the shifting role of men and whether it is fair for women to perform double duties, both as breadwinners and household roles. Since men are increasingly becoming less of the breadwinners in the family, should they subsequently take up the household role of women and allow their wives to provide for their families? It hardly seems fair that women now do everything.

1. Divorce

Divorce is another unavoidable aspect of families all around the world. In relation to Canada, there a gender disparity regarding the issue of divorce. According to statistics, the likelihood that a woman would be degraded to a state of poverty following a divorce is significantly higher than that of a man. Majority of women may end up staying in unproductive and even harmful relationships for fear of becoming poor after their marriages end. “Nevertheless, examination of adjusted incomes for men and women confirmed the fact that marital dissolution still puts women at a greater risk of poverty than men” (Gadalla, 2009, p. 234).

1. Sexuality

Sexuality is and has always been one of the major points of contentions in the gender representation of men and women. Mainly, women are largely oppressed sexually in comparison with men. This has been noted to be true in several communities, Canada included. Gender representation in terms of sexuality is manifest in contemporary Canadian families. “Sexual behavior and communication are gendered- men and women are governed by different set of social norms and expectations. Dominant discourses about heterosexuality dictate that men be confident, assertive and behave in a sexually aggressive manner, and women be naïve and passive” (Devries, & Free, 2010, p. 1). Even in marriages, women and men are required to play by these roles whereby the men have domination over all sexual matters; women, being the passive ones, should have no say in the matter. The double standard in this case relates to the notion that despite women playing the passive role in sexual matters, they are also responsible for ensuring that they do not get pregnant accidentally. This is something for which they should take responsibility. Whereas the man in the marriage or relationship has all the power, the woman should control the situation to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

From a general perspective, Canada is one of the more progressive countries in relation to gender representation in families. Canada dependably scores about 0.7 out of 1.0 whereby 1.0 represents no gender gap. However, there have been negative changes noted concerning this gender gap over the past two decades. “Canada’s gender gap score has climbed a mere 2.3% in two decades (from 715 in 1993 to 738 in 2012). At this rate, Canada will not close its gender gap for another 228 years” (McInturff, 2013, p. 1). Basically, this is an alarming situation because it shows how much gender inequality has embedded itself in the Canadian community and families especially. It is a problem that will take a considerable amount of time to resolve, but only if people begin paying substantial attention to the issue immediately. The next section argues for the perception that gender representation in Canadian families is more favorable to the men than it is towards the women. In essence, the gender gap in Canadian families is considerably oppressive towards the women and virtually indulgent towards the men. It is a patriarchal system that requires prompt rectification so that women can derive as much happiness and satisfaction from their marriages as men must obviously do (Veenstra, 2011).

Argument

The primary argument of this paper is explained and supported by both the feminist anthropology and the conflict theory. Based on the title alone, it is evident that while there is certain conflict between feminist anthropology and the feminist theory, both facilitate certain feministic ideologies such as gender bias against women. Based on the first wave of feminist anthropologists (1850 to 1920), gender inequality was a major issue that should have been treated more seriously by previous researchers (Bell, Caplan, & Karim, 2013). These group of women expressed their doubt concerning whether the modern woman can attain fulfillment performing traditional roles in a society that has changed drastically.

Basically, the feminist anthropological perspective of gender relates directly the issue in Canada concerning gender representation in families. In most cases, it is apparent that the problem lies in the reluctance to conform to changing times and for men to allow women to break out of their societal bondage by exploring their own interests outside their homes. Particularly for immigrant families, these women are fundamentally required to remain in the household and concern themselves solely with household matters. The feminist anthropologist question whether any woman today can be fulfilled by performing such outdated roles alone. The modern woman is no longer satisfied with playing the role of housewife and mother alone; according to feminist anthropology, she needs more.

In addition, another theoretical perspective is evident in the conflict theory by Karl Marx and Engels (Lewis, 2013). The theory explains the reason why the gender representation in Canadian families is the way that it is. Primarily, the conflict theory states that society is characterized by the struggle for supremacy among social groups. The issue of gender inequality in Canadian families applies in this case from the perspective that men attempt to sustain their privilege and power by oppressing the women. Hence men are the dominating group whereas woman are the subordinates. The conflict theory stresses that gender inequality would have been eradicated a long time ago except for the fact that men are actively involved in ensuring that women remain where they are and that their authority is not challenged. Consequently, social problems ensue because women no longer want to be oppressed.

The most relevant theory in this context is the conflict theory since it offers insight as to why the situation is the way that it is. Why men have more freedom and why women resent this. Engels is strongly linked to the conflict theory and through his association, a resolution for this situation is presented. In elaboration of the issue of gender representation within the family setting, Engels provided that private family households doom women to child care and household chores and hence inequality. This is a direct manifestation of the situation in Canadian families today. However, the equality of women can be attained only if the private family household is dissolved through socializing child raising and domestic services. Additionally, Engels elaborates this situation by stating that another reason why women are unequal to men in families is that they are mostly dependents, and men are eager to maintain their role as the sole breadwinners. Notably, this relates to the modern sociological feminist theory, which progressively criticizes the traditional family household institution for oppressing women with most if not all the child-care and uncompensated domestic work (Craib, 2015). Moreover, traditional marriages cause women to become economic dependents, hence restricting their independence. In order to rectify this situation, the marriage contract must be altered as well as division of labor initiated into the household.

Ultimately, a further analysis of the conflict theory and the modern sociologist feminist theory infers that gender equality within the family can only be attained if one or more of the following elements are realized: men’s appreciation for a gender-egalitarian dual part in family and occupational work; increased flexibility of occupational work-time; improved availability of nondomestic childcare services; increased control of women over their own reproduction; and reduced economic dependence of women on men.

Both the feminist anthropology perspective and the conflict theory perspective provide reliable insight on the issue of gender inequality in Canadian families in the contemporary society. Particularly, women are generally subordinate to men who actively strive to ensure that they maintain their authority and power over this social group. Men want to keep the women subdued because they resent the idea of a challenge from their wives or even their daughters. However, based on the current situation of the Canadian society, women are no longer content with this kind of oppression and demand their freedom; consequently, the social contention between men and women, even in their marriages, persists. 

Conclusion

Conclusively, gender representation in the Canadian society is vastly preferential towards men at the subsequent oppression of women. Whereas men have the freedom to leave their homes and interact with the rest of the world with barely any limitations, women are forced by circumstances to stay at home and take care of the household and the children. For a human being such meager tasks as household tasks are not fulfilling in the least. Women, just like men, need more things that may add meaning to their lives. Social integration is important to both men and women and it is rather unjust for the society to ignore this need for women and go to great lengths to ensure that men fulfill their need to interact with and contribute to the world. Based on the feminist anthropological perspective and the conflict theory perspective, it is evident that women are ready to demand more in their lives and marriages.