Franco Falangist created laws that further restricted women's rights. These laws denied women the right to work outside of home, divorce was not allowed, and severe penalties were established to punish female adultery. A woman also held no right to seek an abortion even if her life was at risk. During this time, women were heavily oppressed without the rights that they deserved. Changes of these laws were eventually brought into play but it is safe to say that they should never have been made in the first place if the equality of men and women was ever their agenda. (Jrank Articles Staff)
The importance of the mother's role is emphasized in Basque culture. Women are expected to fulfill their duties within the right of passage, especially with the rites related to birth and death. At birth, women are the midwives and are responsible for caring for the baby, and taking the baby to be baptized. The father has a more public responsibility at birth since his duty is to announce the birth of the baby to the community. At death, women are responsible for upholding ties with the ancestors and in this sense, are responsible for the overall well-being of the living as well as the dead. (Bullen 62)
Marriage was the ideal choice for both men and women. Being single was neglected in the Basque community except in the case of Serora which was a type of church warden. Women influenced the decision-making within the household, so much so that financial transactions were rarely made without the wife's consent. Nevertheless, it was not acceptable for a wife to rule over her husband. Women were also severely punished if they committed adultery but pardoned if a man committed it. (Bullen 63-64)
Bullen, Margaret. "Basque Gender Studies." (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
"Basque Families - Gender Roles." Family, Women, and Home - JRank Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
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ReplyDeleteThe gender roles within the Basque society are quite diverse. Some of the duties mean and women have seem familiar while other seem very different. The idea of women staying at home to take care of the children and the home is quite familiar since it is a traditional view. Women also being able to seek extra work in order for more income is also quite familiar but the idea that she still must be responsible for all household duties is quite different. It is quite intriguing how a society from long ago can be so alien yet, in some regards, so familiar to society within our American culture today
Another idea that seems very different is the idea that being single was frowned upon. In our society, being single is a lifestyle choice that is respected. Even though their view on being single is different from our modern day society's, it can still be seen as reasonable since it is what their culture has formed as the norm. The Basque do see being single as respectable as long as one dedicates them self to a religious life by becoming a Serora. This is similar to our society since leading a religious life is also respected.
A very different idea that is seen within the Basque culture is the idea of men distancing themselves from their families. In the Basque culture, men distance themselves from their families, rarely being present in the household in order to have the mother take full responsibility of the family. This is a very different view on how a man of a household should act compared to our modern day society. However, it is not totally inconceivable since women have always been held in high regard in terms of the household while men have always been the ones seen working. Women even have their own responsibility by upholding the right of passage.
A very unjustified enacting of certain laws within the Basque society almost completely destroyed the importance of women within their community. These laws included not allowing women to work at all outside the home and not allowing divorce. Women were also punished for committing adultery while men were pardoned. These laws were beyond unfair and essentially made women stay at the mercy of men for a long time. Thankfully the laws were eventually repealed and women were once again treated with respect.
Thanks for trying here. YOu need to remember some of the conversations we had about POSITIONALITY, SITUATIONALITY, and BIOGRAPHY. Here, even though you are relating to American culture, you are not talking about it in terms of something biographical -- how about Gender roles in your life, your experience. Then also you need to at least talk about POWER in all this, gender roles and power, how about you in your society, gender roles and power. How much power do you have by being a male in America. How can you talk about it and compare it to that particular culture you are studying. Please, do that for the final presentation and blog evaluation. Add that here too. Thanks. Good job.
ReplyDeleteGender roles in my society are different from those of the Basque society. In my society, men and women are respected equally and women are earners within the house as well as men. An example of this would be my mother since she is the primary earner within my household. Although there are indeed households in my society where women stay at home to take care of the children and fulfill the house duties, it is not as prevalent as in the Basque society.
ReplyDeleteIn my society, unlike the Basque society, men and women are equal in terms of power. As a male in America, I feel as if I have the same amount of power as any man or woman. I do not think that people within the Basque society could have said the same.