Gender Roles and Abuse

Bally Lee
ASA A03
Week #8 Blog

In the article regarding Intimate Partner Violence among Asian immigrant communities, the prevalence and roots of abuse within relationships stood out to me. However, I believe the more important message is the evolving ideology of acculturation and the decrease of traditional homeland values, rather than the abuse itself. The article did not have enough substantial evidence in order for me to buy into their claim about ethnic and racial disparities. There is marital abuse within all races, correlated with the idea of male chauvinism. Yet, society will progress into a more egalitarian time period, which will further conflict with traditional beliefs. Through media, literature, and film, stereotypes of the male dominance and subordination of women have been reinforced throughout society since the beginning of time. Examples in history include binding of the feet for women, a practice that highlighted feminine petiteness and beauty, although causing anatomical disfiguration, but was deemed sociably acceptable. In order to assimilate into society, namely America for Asian immigrants, it is necessary to give up ones' cultural practices in order to "fit in". Many Asian immigrants for this exact reason, were unable to fully adapt to the American culture. The inability to adapt causes stress upon the individual, who is already experiencing other obstacles such as language barrier, occupational downgrading, limited economic resources, psychological trauma, etc.

Questions I have include: Will gender roles, prominent in traditional cultures, disappear with each new generation and wave of immigrants? How can we as a society change the cultural acceptance of and normative behavior of gender, specifically male, superiority?

I remember when I was at the airport one day in 2010 and I read about this girl who was abused because she ran away from her husband in an arranged marriage. This is the link to her story.