Gender Differences In American Culture

Culture governs our existence and has a profound impact on shaping ones beliefs, customs, and behaviors. The extent to which culture and historical environment can shape reality is displayed in the film “Osama” which takes place in 1980`s Afghanistan. Ruled by an extremist Talbian regime, the society is very high power distance in which women are oppressed and treated almost subhuman. The male dominant culture is first displayed early in the film when the women are chased down and caged for protesting for the right to work. The main characters in the film are a family of three women who are left to fend for themselves after loosing the men of the family to war. Since women don’t have the right to work the family has no means of making income

It is evident that the exceptionally patriarchal culture in the film cultivated character traits of submissiveness yet extreme bravery of the female characters. Communication also plays a role in developing identity, especially gender identity. This is explained by the symbolic interactionism theory which claims communication with others is the primary way we develop our identity (Wood, Fixmer-Oraiz, 46). Our communication style also differs amongst gender. There is evidence of this throughout different cultures in history. In a modern western society men tend to use more masculine speech which is for the purpose of accomplishing goals while women tend to use more feminine speech which is for the purpose of establishing and maintaining relationships with others (Wood, Fixmer-Oraiz, 112 ). In high power distance cultures such as in 1980s Afghanistan the less powerful that are often times women are never to speak up to the ones who hold power who are often men. In these types of cultures it can be especially hard for individuals to break the pattern of oppression. As seen in the film the women have no other option but to submit to the ones in control in order to