The Universal Concept Of Womanhood

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Gender socialization varies in different parts of the world. The concept of what womanhood is, varies on culture, race, class and, what is socially acceptable within their society. It can be said that taking care of one’s private sphere has always been a part of “Womanhood” universally. The privileges and oppressions of women of different race, class and culture is what redefines womanhood for each individual therefore, womanhood isn’t universal. The concept of “Manhood” is Universal to an extent as men are supposed to go to work and provide for their family, but manhood can also be redefined upon class and race. The universal concept of womanhood is that women are to take care of the kids, the household and their husband. They are to be submissive, care takers, preserve cultural tradition and take care of their private sphere. This concept of …show more content…

Filipinas interviewed in the article ““We Don’t Sleep around Like White Girls Do”: Family, culture, and Gender in Filipina American Lives”, stated that their role as a woman is to stay at home and become good wives for their husbands. One woman expresses her experience growing up the only girl in her family and having to clean the house because her mom wanted her to be the perfect housewife. Filipinos throughout the article refer to their family as close-knit, that they as a collective take care of one another, are closely involved within their family and community. Another woman mentioned in the article decided to get her doctoral in nursing, breaking the norm of Filipino culture, stating that “all the connectedness, it steals parts of myself because all of my energies are devoted to my family”.(424) However, breaking the cultural norm that a woman’s place is in the household isn’t easy because women and men have different standards. The standard of Filipino man consists of working, gaining a higher education, having freedom to go out and

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