Gender & Culture in African Societies

Gender & Culture in African Societies

Introduction to Gender and Culture in Africa

At the end of today's class, you should be able to:

  • Define culture

  • Identify the components of culture

  • Myths about culture

  • Distinguish between tradition and culture

  • Establish the relationship between gender and culture

  • Examine culture as rooted in contemporary socio-economic power relations

Definitions of Culture

  • An oft-used definition of culture:

    • "Culture, or civilization, taken in its broad, ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by (a person) as a member of society." (Tylor 1958 [1871]: 11)

  • Key links in definitions:

    • Material aspects of culture (e.g., art)

    • Non-material aspects of culture (e.g., morals)

  • Key Components of Culture:

    • Knowledge

    • Belief

    • Art

    • Morals

    • Law

    • Custom

    • Capabilities and habits acquired in society

Myths about Culture

First Myth: Culture is Static

  • Reality: Culture changes over time in response to internal and external forces.

    • Internal Forces:

    • Example: As children migrate for work, family dynamics change regarding who should care for elderly parents. Initially, care may involve extended family, and when unavailable, non-kin are hired for caregiving.

    • External Forces:

    • Example: Changes driven by telecommunications technology, colonialism, etc.

Second Myth: Culture as the Same as Tradition

  • Definition of Tradition:

    • Refers to a subset of culture, specifically beliefs and rituals passed down through generations.

    • Inherently linked to the notion of statism (the idea that traditions are fixed).

  • Hobsbawm and Invented Traditions:

    • Discusses how traditions can be created or modified over time.

  • Clarification:

    • Culture is dynamic and evolves, whereas tradition may imply rigidity.

Cultural Determinism

  • Definition:

    • Cultural determinism is the belief that cultural beliefs and practices shape human behavior.

  • Gender Context:

    • Suggests that perceptions of masculinity and femininity are shaped by societal culture, arguing that gender identity is socialized rather than innate.

Relationship between Culture and Gender

  • Culture and gender are intertwined:

    • Culture influences gender-related behaviors variably across individuals and cultures.

    • It governs:

    • The socialization of children

    • The tasks that children are taught

    • The roles adults assume (men and women's roles)

    • Expectations that inform attitudes and behaviors of different genders

  • Outcomes of Cultural Dynamics:

    • Culture can enhance, diminish, or eliminate gender differences in social behaviors.

  • Cultural Examples:

    • Among the Wodaabe of the Sahel, men apply make-up, highlighting flexibility in gender practices.

    • Variations in who carries babies:

    • Some cultures have men carry babies on their backs, while in others, this is done by women.

Different Cultural Constructions of Gender

Biological Explanations and Their Limits

  • Biological reproduction is often used to justify confining women to domestic roles; however, this perspective is overly deterministic.

Cultural Explanations

  • Emphasizes power dynamics and cultural socialization as factors in constructing gender roles.

Cultural Practices Related to Equality and Inequality

  • Assitan Diallo's Article Case Study:

    • In Mali, cultural practices include nuptiality advisors ensuring women's needs are met while also illustrating constraints on female sexuality through practices like female genital mutilation (FGM).

Global Moves Toward Egalitarian Practices

  • Family Dynamics:

    • Example: House husbands in Teshie Nungua due to economic migration of partners.

  • Paternity Leave Initiatives:

    • Example: Companies like Golden Tulip provide two weeks of leave for new fathers, alongside other organizations (GIMPA, Third World Network, Blue Skies) promoting such policies.

  • Religious Practices:

    • Some institutions permit women to lead, such as in the case of women ministers.

Summary of Main Points

  • Components of Culture:

    • It consists of both material (e.g., art, architecture) and non-material (e.g., norms, beliefs, customs, practices) aspects.

  • Dynamic Nature of Culture:

    • Culture is not fixed; it evolves over time.

  • Gender Construction:

    • Gender is socially constructed rather than biologically predetermined.

  • Cultural Practices and Gender Inequality:

    • Certain cultural practices create or perpetuate gender inequality.

  • Modifications in Culture:

    • Adjustments in cultural practices are increasingly creating spaces for gender equality.