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| Sunday, 28 April 2002 |
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Patriarchial ideology continues by Dr. Senarath Tennakoon Aspects of male domination continue to exist at home, work places, and on the road. Tradition is brimful with patriarchial attitude and practices. Ceremonies and festivals are organised and conducted with a male flavour. In the day to day conversation, loose and socially unacceptable, less refined terms are freely used by the immature males in respect of women and women's activities. In Buddhist homes, particularly in the uncorrupted rural settings the mother is respected as a Buddha (Gedera Budun Amma). The mother manages the home-front. She cooks and feeds and even goes to school with the children. She takes the role of a doctor or a nurse during sickness and ill-health. She becomes a teacher and a leader not only to a family, but also to a community. The civilization proceeds further and further because of the productive potential of the females. But, patriarchial ideology has not changed appreciably. In this ideology, man is the economic provider and the woman is the emotional provider in the home. Romantic individualism and adolescent feminine beauty are pronounced in many magazines. Just go through the women's magazines or better listen to the songs sung by even mature artistes and read the poems which you come across. The media are saturated with the fragrance of female beauty. Rarely you come across matters dealing with the skills, achievements and potential of women. There are indeed rules and regulations as well as organisations to safeguard and protect the rights of women. However, even in permissable open societies commercial attitudes continue to prevail. Any type of trade advertisement is incomplete without a pretty female gesture. How much control should be exercised by women themselves over their activities could become a key issue today. In the rural areas women are duty bound and restricted to their homes and they rarely or never question or rebel against such a role. The living environment, the social relations, the level of education and perhaps the genetic constitution have some role to play in the slow change in the patriarchial attitudes of a developing country. Undoubtedly, economic, religious and aesthetic values too impart a powerful influence. |
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