The issue of bridging gender equality has been the center of debate in the 21 century. The role of women in society could no longer be underestimated. In the United States and other nations around the world women have equal opportunities to stand for their rights and engage in a social, political and economic sector on equal ground as men. Over the past 3 decades, women’s representation in politics has raised tremendously, in the United States and other countries, for example, in Finland where the number of female representations in government stands at 43%. Despite the great achievement, culture still holds women back in societies.
Culture defines the people’s ways of life and stipulates out the boundaries, which members must follow. Culture also lays down penalties when members deviate from the expected code of conduct. Most cultures place men as the dominant force in society, and generate most of the ideas and policies that run many nations. Culture limits women’s freedom and mandates them to play a secondary role to men. Women have fewer rights when it comes to national matters that affect a country, for example, they have less chance to compete with men in politics, economic and social fields. Culture considers women’s main roles like marriage and bearing children. Most men in society believe women are there to satisfy them sexually.
Marriage is a common feature in almost all cultures around the world. However, different cultures have some variations, with some practicing monogamous while others practicing polygamy. In the United States marriage is supposed to be monogamous according to the legal requirements, implying that one man should have one wife. However, most Islamic countries support polygamy. Many countries have stipulated the controversial issue of marriage regulations in their constitutions. In the United States, the law requires that one man should have one wife, and both parties have equal rights to property and contribution in marriage (Blood, 8).
Marriage for a long time has contributed significantly to widening inequalities between men and women. Men have dominated the economy and controlled the means of production, therefore, leaving women to depend on them for survival. In marriages, men still dominate the economic contribution. In most family in today’s world male controls almost all the property owned, and make women depend on men. This limits women’s chances to contribute freely to the economy since they devote most of their time to household chores. It means that women have less time to contribute to national matters such as economic, social and political issues. Hence, marriage to a large extend increases the inequality between men and women in society (Anderson et al 13).
As a result of education and enlightenment to women and society at large, most marriages are monogamous. The government and other organizations have rapidly spread campaigns to sensitize women to be independent in terms of social, political and economic positions. In the current situation, women have equal rights as men in the United States and other countries around the world. This has increased awareness and thus more marriages are inclined towards monogamous (Collier 11).
The government should be at the fore front in mandating marriages to be monogamous. This is because women contribute largely to the economy. Although most women have small businesses, they contribute significantly to the economy. Most women have duties in raising kids in their families. Therefore, they must be empowered to raise food and other basic needs. If a country aims at growing economically, it must regulate marriage and allow for monogamy only. The government of the U.S set up Federal Welfare reforms to control the increasing number of breaks up in marriage, and reduce the impact felt. The welfare stipulates the actions to be taken after the breakup, and ensures that both parties are treated fairly.
References
Anderson, Katherine, Don S. Browning, and Brian Boyer. Marriage: Just a Piece of Paper?Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 2002. Print.
Blood, Robert O. Marriage. New York: Free Press, 1969. Print.
Collier, Jane F. Marriage and Inequality in Classless Societies. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 1988. Print.