Concept of Gender Order Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Identify and Discuss the three Separate Elements of the Gender order revealed in the Myths of Pendora's. Answer: Gender order is an interesting concept in todays world. There is no point denying the fact that with the rise of feminism, many people have raised question over the validity of the patriarchal ideology that has remained ingrained in the minds of the people for a prolonged period of time. Herein lays the importance of the concept of gender order, as found in the writings of R.W Connell who claimed that the gender order of a particular society represents the pattern of power relation existent between the men and the women in that specific society. The gendered assumptions of a society can be traced back to the mythological tales as well that has largely shaped the socially constructed patriarchal perceptions of the world, and the Greek myth Pandoras box if revisited, will bear testimony to the same. Hence, it would be discreet to discuss and critically analyze the three distinct elements of gender order as found in this mythological tale (Simons and Merrill 2014). Before analyzing the elements of gender order as identified in the myth of Pandora, it is important to re-define the concept of gender order. As defined by Jill Mathews, in 1984, the gender order is a patterned system of ideological practices performed by the individuals of a society based on the gender they are born into, and thus it emphasizes the importance of behaving in accordance of ones gender attributes. The gender order is created, re-created and sustained over the ages with the help of the mythological tales, and Pandoras tale is no exception here. First of all, the tale of Pandora clearly states how Pandora or the first woman of the world had no origin of her own, until Prometheus stole fire from God, and had to be punished. It is at this time that out of a solely male context was a woman born, with Zeus commissioning Hephaestus to fashion a woman out of earth. It is important to mention here that the Bible also refers to the first woman as being created after and out of man, and thus most of the cultural tales refuse to offer distinct existence to a woman (Rabinowitz 2013). A woman cannot be born of her own, but rather she is being given life. This way of offering a passive role to the females have helped in marginalizing women over the ages, as the weaker sex, a sex that cannot act on its own, but can be acted upon (Bryld and Lykke 2000). The gendered role imposed upon each of the sexes, even often against the wish of the individuals have been reinforced by the mythological tales like Pandoras myth that has kept on re-iterat ing the importance of men assuming an active role of a perpetrator, while the women should be left to act upon. They are to be coerced into silence, and cannot protest or revolt, and can only act when they are being commanded to do the same (Butler 2011). Pandora was being made by the men, and this simply undermines the strength of women, by at the same time negating any distinct identity to them. The women are being created or are being given authority and identity by men, and hence they must conform to the wishes of the creator. The male dominant worldview of defining a woman in relation to a man is clear here. Another element of gender order as found here s the idea of passing the blame of ay kind of wrong-doing to the weaker sex. The Bible states that the Eve was responsible for the painful miseries brought about in the world, as she was the Temptress tempting Adam to consume the forbidden Apple, and yet Adam who committed the sin with his own hands has been exempted from the blame. Similarly, in the myth of Pandora, Pandora was being given a box by Zeus, and was forbidden to open the jar. According to the myth, the world was in its happy and harmonious state until one day, Pandora failed to restrain herself and open the box that in turn brought all the ills, such as the woes and miseries in the world (Pilcher 2014). The woman-blaming mechanism has been a very common weapon being used by the patriarchal society that has believed in passing on the blame to the women. The myth of Pandora instead of showing Pandora as a giving, creative and procreative mother shows her in the light of the or igin of all the evils in the world. The archaic gynocentric worldview is reflected here. The Genesis as well as the myth of Pandora have sharply criticized the probing and questioning mind of the females, as women are to be silenced, they are not meant to reveal inquisitiveness to understand which rights remain hidden in the Pandora box (Breen 2014). The third element of gender order as found here is an inclination of a male dominating society to commodity and objectify the existence of women, treating them as a mean to achieve something rather than an end in itself. There is no point denying the fact that the myth shows Pandora as a woman created as revenge as well as a curse for the theft of Prometheus. Traditionally, women have been denied any individual identity, let alone the idea of authority, and she has been treated as a mere currency of exchange for stronger and authoritative men, who can make and mould them to suit their selfish interests (Songe-Moller 2003). Pandora is not representing the inherent beauty of Nature creation, but rather becomes a pawn of power in the struggle between the males for greater power, dominance and authority. Pandora was indeed created by Zeus for punishing the audacity of Prometheus, and she was being denied any individual authority. To conclude, it is important to mention here that the western myths replete with the images and ideas of males assuming stronger, self-reliant roles of perpetrators, while women assuming the role of innocent and passive sufferers, and yet carrying all the guilt. The gender-driven patter of power and privilege based relations shown between the sexes have filled the minds of the people of patriarchal societal values that have facilitated the acts of female oppression over the years. References Breen, M.S., 2014. Pandoras Senses: The Feminine Character of the Ancient Text. Bryld, M. and Lykke, N., 2000.Cosmodolphins: Feminist cultural studies of technology, animals, and the sacred. Zed Books. Butler, J., 2011.Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. routledge. Pilcher, J. and Whelehan, I., 2004.50 key concepts in gender studies. Sage. Rabinowitz, N.S., 2013. Ancient Myth and Feminist Politics 18.Roman Literature, Gender and Reception: Domina Illustris,13, p.267. Simons, J.L. and Merrill, R., 2014. Razing cain with chandler and wilder: The prometheus-pandora myth in double indemnity.Texas Studies in Literature and Language,56(4), pp.349-375. Songe-Mller, V., 2003.Philosophy without women: the birth of sexism in Western thought. AC Black.