mod 8 review Flashcards
Outline Engel’s argument for the relationship between the rise of the state and the subordination of women.
E ngel’s argues that the emergence of the concept of private property and its ownership by men, as well as the development of a monogamous family, led to the subordination of women
How did Leacock (1973) build on Engle’s argument?
“There is sufficient evidence at hand to support in its broad outlines Engels’ argument that the position of women relative to men deteriorated with the advent of class society”. Following Engels, Leacock observes that in early communal society, the division of labour between the sexes was reciprocal, and a wife and her children were not dependent on the husband. The distinction did not exist between a public world of men’s work and a private world of women’s household service. The large collective household was the community, both sexes produced goods necessary for livelihood.
In a reanalysis of Engels’ argument, what did Sacks (1982) base the deterioration of women’s status on?
Sacks links state formation and the decline in the centrality of kinship groups to the deterioration in the women’s status
Briefly explain the ideology associating purity of women and the honour or status of the family.
Ortner examines the process of state formation, with particular regard to its
effect on gender ideology. She analyzes the widespread ideology that
associates the purity of women with the honor and status of their families.
This pattern is evident in Latin America and the Mediterranean, and in
societies of the Middle East, India and China
In what context do all modern cases occur?
a ll modern cases of societies concerned with female purity occur in states or
systems with highly developed stratification, and they bear the cultural
ideologies and religions that were part of the emergence of these states.
Define hypergamy.
Up-status marriage, usually between higher-status men and lower-status women.
How may hypergamy transform marriage within a society?
Ortner suggests that a significant development in stratified society involves the transformation of marriage from an essentially equal transaction to a potentially vertical one, were one’s sister or daughter could presumably marry into a higher social milieu.
How may hypergamy help to explain the ideal of female purity?
ypergamy may help explain the ideal of female purity because concepts of purity and virginity may symbolize the value of a girl for a higher-status spouse. “a virgin is an elite female among females, withheld, untouched, exclusive”`
What dilemma did feminists in France face with women who claimed to choose to wear Islamic headscarves (i.e., same as their historic struggle with the Catholic Church)?
They faced a dilemma: feminism in France, as elsewhere, had championed a woman’s right to choose how to treat her own body, so what could be said to Muslim women who claimed to choose to wear Islamic headscarves.
dentify the three claims underlying the objections to public wearing of Islamic scarves in France.
some expressed concern that boys would place pressure on girls to don scarves
#2 others argued that the scarves had becomes signs of political Islam
#3 still others claimed that the scarf stood for the oppression of women.
In terms of “why wear head scarves”, what are the two major motives for wearing a headscarf?
Some wore a headscarf as a way to satisfy their parents and ease their transition across the line of puberty and into late adolescence.
In what two ways did some distinguish how to wear a headscarf?
#1 Defining themselves in Islamic terms
#2 entering the world of postsecondary education and work
n terms of “charging sexual oppression”, what is the main underlying claim of those in favor of restricting women’s clothing (i.e., what does the headscarf mean to them)?
Some claim the headscarf has the objective meaning of oppression.
Identify the three distinct claims of proponents of a law to restrict the headscarf (the viole).
#1 Schoolgirls were pressured by men and boys to wear the voile
#2 the voile intrinsically attacked the dignity and the equal status of women
#3 and it encouraged violence against women living in poor suburbs.
In 2008, some officials moved from condemning the headscarf in public spaces to condemning certain putative values shared by some Muslims. In this regard, what two arguments were pushed forward by two of France’s highest tribunals?
They argued, first, that covering the face “misrecognizes the minimal requirements of living in society” and, second, that those women who decide to wear a face veil “find themselves placed in a situation of exclusion and inferiority clearly incompatible with the constitutional principles of freedom and equality”
Why was the Moroccan woman refused French nationality (i.e., what was her “assimilation defect”)?
On the grounds that her religious practices had led her to hold values that
ran counter to the equality of men and women and caused her to suffer
from the insufficient assimilation to become a French citizen: she had
“assimilation defect”
Briefly outline the two arguments for a ban of the wearing of a face veil in public.
They argued, first, that covering the face “misrecognizes the minimal
requirements of living in society” and, second, that those women who decide
to wear a face veil “find themselves placed in a situation of exclusion and
inferiority clearly incompatible with the constitutional principles of
freedom and equality”
n regards to the term “female genital mutilation”, what is the author’s concern about using the term mutilation?
It invokes the connotation of intentional harm
What may the different forms of female genital cutting (FGC) reflect?
Family, sociocultural context, religious obligations,
At what age do girls typically undergo genital cutting?
4-8
Identify the four categories of female genital cutting (FGC) defined by the World Health Organization.
Clitorectomy
Excision
Infibulstion/reinfublation
Other variations / type IV- things like vaginoplasty
Define clitorectomy.
Both partial and total removal of the projecting tip of the clitoris, as well as removal of the clitoral prepuce/hood
Why is clitorectomy considered analogous to male circumcision?
Removal of the hood is analogous to male foreskin removal
What is it clitorectomy also referred to as?
Clitoridectomy, type I
Define excision.
Cutting that removes the prepuce, entire projecting tip of clit, and partial/total excision of the labia minora
What is considered to be the most severe form of FGC?
Type III/ infibulation
Define infibulation.
Part or all of external genitalia (clit, labia, prepuce) are removed and raw edges are infibulated
What is infibulation also referred to as?
Type III
In the case of infibulation, why must a midwife be present during childbirth?
To make an incision in the tissue so the baby can be delivered, then reinfibulation is done
Although more severe, what North American tradition may reinfibulation be considered analogous to?
Husband stitch
Identify the five harmful effects of FGC outlined by the author.
Excess bleeding
Infections
Blood poisoning
Retention of urine
Shock
What are three of the latent harmful effects of infibulation?
Retention of menses
Retention of menses
Difficulty in urination
High incidence of uTI and chronic pelvic infections
What are the effects of infibulation at first intercourse and with childbirth?
Small opening size makes it difficult or impossible
During childbirth the scar tissue must be cut so that labor is not obstructed
Are the psychological effects of FGC well understood?
No + vary within context
What four factors may influence whether sexual responsiveness is affected?
Which tissues are cut
How cut tissues heal/scar
Whether there is severe infibulation
Whether the emotional attachment of partner is strong + relationship is loving/supportive
Where are most forms of FGC found?
Africa, Indonesia, south asia
In what two ways may FGC practices be brought to other countries?
Immigration + adoption of religions
s FGC a religious practice?
it can be
What are some of the different Islamic interpretations of FGC?
Some believe it to not be allowed in any circumstance, some say infibulation is not permitted, and some believe it to be an enobling act
What are two possible interpretations of Sunna circumcision?
There is no requirement but it is permissible to do the least severe
There is ab obligation or blessing by the prophet to do it
Briefly describe the relationship between male dominance and the practice of FGC.
FGC practiced in places where women are economically productive but men are still in greater positions of political and economic power
To better understand the practice of female genital cutting, one needs to understand why parents circumcise their daughters and the social barriers to ending the practice. Identify and briefly explain the four explicit reasons people give for circumcising their daughters.
Gender identity ( more feminine look), ethnic identity (add a boundary between two groups), preserve virginity (add a barrier to intercourse), hygienic reasons
The author discusses the obstacles to change (or risks of not cutting). Why may parents see “not circumcising” their daughters as a risk?
Because it is seen as a necesscity for marriagability and social + financial security
What are the ideas on how to counter the social risks?
PSA, alternative rites , sicual marketing
What is the role of men in this social change?
To state a preference for uncut women
Outline some of the alternate rites introduced to replace FGC as a rite of passage.
eek of seclusion with a celebration
Briefly describe what is meant by “honour killing”
A woman who commit certain taboos such as defying their parents, or relationships outside of marriage are said to have stained the family’s honour. Parents and family members may kill them.
In what region of Pakistan does this practice remain strong?
The countryside
riefly outline the statistics surrounding honour killings
These so-called honor killings occur in over 25 countries, especially in the Middle East and South Asia. A UN report estimates 5,000 victims each year. In Pakistan alone, in 2014, more than 900 women were murdered. Muhammad Iqbal, his wife was killed before his very eyes.
What is a jirga (~13:35)? What do the jirgas see honour killings as necessary to maintain?
Assemblies held by land owners and other notables; the only way to prevent immorality.
Even if an offender of honour killing is brought to trial what is the common outcome (32:00)?
for them to be released unpunished
A problem related to honour killings is child marriage. Briefly describe child marriage in Pakistan (33:25-36:00)
A related problem is the practice of child marriage when girls are married off in their early teens. One girl out of four in Pakistan is married before the age of 18. Both honor killing and child marriage are proscribed by law. But enforcement is not thorough in rural areas.
Human rights NGOs often hear complaints from girls forced into marriage. This woman’s family forced her to marry at age 12. She says her husband beats her.
Girls are married off at their parents’ convenience. The common practice of child marriage robs girls of their freedom.
Malala Yousafzai was recently awarded the Nobel Prize (36:15-40:45). What does Malala mean by “education is the only solution” (i.e., what will education lead to)?
Education will lead to an improvement in women status, eliminate child marriage and honour killing.
