The Societal Role of Men & Women in Chile
Each country holds their own perspectives on beliefs, values, and customs such as the role men and women take part in. It was known that gender roles in Chile use to be very traditional. Comparing these gender roles to the United States, it is not so different. Men are usually known to take the more dominant roles such as providing food and shelter for the family. While traditionally women are expected to stay at home and care for the children. These roles were not taken lightly for example, traditional wedding vows had the phrase "women should obey their husbands" (Family and Gender Issues in Chile). Overtime these values changed but some households in Chile still abide by the traditions.
The traditional views in Chile did not value woman. It wasn’t until 1880 that the University of Chile had a graduating class with female lawyers and physicians. The old views were that women are not supposed to hold authority or power. Now women are allowed and even encouraged to attend school. Expectations of women are still upheld to motherhood and raising a family. It is not in the norm for a woman to decide against having a family. Currently women in Chile are now working their way up the education system. According to the “Family and Gender Issues in Chile,” more women are graduating from universities. Now examining the current education between men and women in Chile, opportunities have become more equal.
As for customs, women are only allowed to kiss once on the cheek and men shake hands. While it was in the passed on traditions for men and women not to shake hands, it has finally changed and it is much more common now. Chilean men typically want to find a woman they find physically attractive to marry. Which is why it is not uncommon for women to dress provocatively in Chile. Men are more concentrated on finding a wife so they can start a family and follow traditional lives. Since women working and attending school has become more encouraged some families have nannies. This is so both parents are able to work outside of the home leaving it fair and equal.
This information was very surprising and interesting. Although not that many of the traditions have changed for example, stay at home mothers and working fathers. I am glad to see the number of women attending school has increased. After researching gender roles in Chile I came to an understanding that gender roles are established at a young age. These gender roles are mostly influenced by culture. Overall, this has gave me a better insight to the true impact of culture and the effect it has on individuals that grow up in that type of culture.
The traditional views in Chile did not value woman. It wasn’t until 1880 that the University of Chile had a graduating class with female lawyers and physicians. The old views were that women are not supposed to hold authority or power. Now women are allowed and even encouraged to attend school. Expectations of women are still upheld to motherhood and raising a family. It is not in the norm for a woman to decide against having a family. Currently women in Chile are now working their way up the education system. According to the “Family and Gender Issues in Chile,” more women are graduating from universities. Now examining the current education between men and women in Chile, opportunities have become more equal.
As for customs, women are only allowed to kiss once on the cheek and men shake hands. While it was in the passed on traditions for men and women not to shake hands, it has finally changed and it is much more common now. Chilean men typically want to find a woman they find physically attractive to marry. Which is why it is not uncommon for women to dress provocatively in Chile. Men are more concentrated on finding a wife so they can start a family and follow traditional lives. Since women working and attending school has become more encouraged some families have nannies. This is so both parents are able to work outside of the home leaving it fair and equal.
This information was very surprising and interesting. Although not that many of the traditions have changed for example, stay at home mothers and working fathers. I am glad to see the number of women attending school has increased. After researching gender roles in Chile I came to an understanding that gender roles are established at a young age. These gender roles are mostly influenced by culture. Overall, this has gave me a better insight to the true impact of culture and the effect it has on individuals that grow up in that type of culture.
Sources:
Countries and Their Cultures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2014.
"Family and Gender Issues in Chile." Chile. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, Mar. 1994. Web. 05 Sept. 2014. <http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_chile_gender_family.htm>
Lewis, J. (n.d.). Women's History - Comprehensive Resources - Biographies, Quotes, Events. Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://womenshistory.about.com/
A Complete Professional Translation Company. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/
Countries and Their Cultures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 6, 2014.
"Family and Gender Issues in Chile." Chile. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, Mar. 1994. Web. 05 Sept. 2014. <http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_chile_gender_family.htm>
Lewis, J. (n.d.). Women's History - Comprehensive Resources - Biographies, Quotes, Events. Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://womenshistory.about.com/
A Complete Professional Translation Company. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/
Globalization
Interdependence, when referring to a country's economy, is a mutual dependance that one country has in reference to other countries. Basically, the dependence on trade and how much a county depends on other countries for its economic balance.
Chile has been greatly effected both negatively and positively by globalization. Chile relies heavily on trade for its economic health; in fact, Chile is one of the worlds largest bi-lateral trade agreements. This has been a positive effect for not just Chile, but all of Latin America. Some residence of Chile see the interdependence that Chile has with world trade as a weakness. President Bachelet said "Wealth is not created through discourse: discourse produces nothing, creates no jobs and does not provide good health education, or technology." She is defending the idea that trade is doing nothing other then funding the country.
Another way Chile is interdependence is the educational system, the constant competition for high test scores and graduation rates. Education is constantly being changed and new goals are being set. This means that Chile is constantly competing to be at the top of the world records. The school systems now are strong and Chile is ranked well out of the Latin America countries, but there is constant need to learn and be the best, which means Chile will always be depending on other countries to set the bar higher and continue the never ending race to be the best.
Lastly Chile is interdependent in the cultural aspect also. Thinking back to when Chile was first taken over by Spain, the culture was heavily dependent on the global culture. Considering it had a totally new population, new land, and new traditions, Chile was influenced by other countries (especially Spain). Although it sounds like a stretch now, Chile was interdependent from very early in the cultural aspect. If Chile would have never been invaded by Spain the culture would have been completely different.
Chile has been greatly effected both negatively and positively by globalization. Chile relies heavily on trade for its economic health; in fact, Chile is one of the worlds largest bi-lateral trade agreements. This has been a positive effect for not just Chile, but all of Latin America. Some residence of Chile see the interdependence that Chile has with world trade as a weakness. President Bachelet said "Wealth is not created through discourse: discourse produces nothing, creates no jobs and does not provide good health education, or technology." She is defending the idea that trade is doing nothing other then funding the country.
Another way Chile is interdependence is the educational system, the constant competition for high test scores and graduation rates. Education is constantly being changed and new goals are being set. This means that Chile is constantly competing to be at the top of the world records. The school systems now are strong and Chile is ranked well out of the Latin America countries, but there is constant need to learn and be the best, which means Chile will always be depending on other countries to set the bar higher and continue the never ending race to be the best.
Lastly Chile is interdependent in the cultural aspect also. Thinking back to when Chile was first taken over by Spain, the culture was heavily dependent on the global culture. Considering it had a totally new population, new land, and new traditions, Chile was influenced by other countries (especially Spain). Although it sounds like a stretch now, Chile was interdependent from very early in the cultural aspect. If Chile would have never been invaded by Spain the culture would have been completely different.
Comparing Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity
The issues of biodiversity are similar to the threat of cultural diversity in a sense that if over population, forest fires, degradation of habitat, and pollution all hinder biodiversity; just alike some laws, regulations, globalization and social media and threaten the cultural diversity in a certain location. The fact that the number of languages spoken today has significantly decreased in the past 50 years shows that there is a real threat to cultural diversity. In comparison, pollution rates have increased remarkably, which has lowered biodiversity. The factors that have negative effects on both cultural diversity and biodiversity are continually pushing back the natural beauty of our planet.
I believe that governments should actively be involved in protecting cultural diversity, but I am not yet sure how to successfully do that. An idea could be implementing a required language class throughout the student’s education. This would decrease the amount of dead languages, and increase cultural diversity. This would be a small step, and possibly not make a difference. I think cultural diversity is definitely hindered in the United States but only allowing English to be spoken during school hours in some states. In my opinion forcing students to conform to the culture in the United States takes away some of their own culture that they could add to the classroom. I think the government could better help cultural diversity by not creating laws that hold a person back from their own culture. When states make law that take away a person’s language, they are also taking away a person’s culture. In my opinion students should be able to share their culture with others and feel comfortable being themselves, regardless of where they came from. The government can actively help the threats to culture diversity by accepting other cultures and encouraging them to share their culture with others.
On the other hand, governments are in place for the equality of law and to sustain balance. Getting involved in supporting cultural diversity is not part of the government’s description, but it is a system of rule and how a country is influenced or "controlled". Governments usually want to please the people of their state/country, in which case, I think the majority of people would stand behind cultural diversity and continuing the unique dynamic each different location provides. In the end the world would be pretty boring without cultural diversity, therefore we, as people, should do our best to conserve it, regardless of the government.
I believe that governments should actively be involved in protecting cultural diversity, but I am not yet sure how to successfully do that. An idea could be implementing a required language class throughout the student’s education. This would decrease the amount of dead languages, and increase cultural diversity. This would be a small step, and possibly not make a difference. I think cultural diversity is definitely hindered in the United States but only allowing English to be spoken during school hours in some states. In my opinion forcing students to conform to the culture in the United States takes away some of their own culture that they could add to the classroom. I think the government could better help cultural diversity by not creating laws that hold a person back from their own culture. When states make law that take away a person’s language, they are also taking away a person’s culture. In my opinion students should be able to share their culture with others and feel comfortable being themselves, regardless of where they came from. The government can actively help the threats to culture diversity by accepting other cultures and encouraging them to share their culture with others.
On the other hand, governments are in place for the equality of law and to sustain balance. Getting involved in supporting cultural diversity is not part of the government’s description, but it is a system of rule and how a country is influenced or "controlled". Governments usually want to please the people of their state/country, in which case, I think the majority of people would stand behind cultural diversity and continuing the unique dynamic each different location provides. In the end the world would be pretty boring without cultural diversity, therefore we, as people, should do our best to conserve it, regardless of the government.