In the Tutsi group gender plays a big role in the division
of labor. Gender inequality is still very evident as men have much more power
than do woman. Women are held in high
regard, as none are generally put down or oppressed, however, they are usually
never the one to make the decision in anything regarding important acts.
Women
are respected for their contribution to the community as child bearer and taker
of the home. They work at home and have little to do with the outside business
world. Their jobs include taking care of the children, cleaning, cooking and “In rural regions, women also
work in agriculture and do most of the work of planting, as their fertility is
believed to be transferred to the seeds.”(Culture of Burundi) Their skills make
them highly respected yet it is the man who is head of household and makes the
decisions for the family. In this indigenous group both genders are highly
respected and honored as a vital part of the community, yet for very
distinctive reasons. Men work in the outside world, provide for their families
and make the important decisions, while the woman do the inside work of caring
for the household chores and children.
References:
Every Culture
2004 Culture of Burundi. Advameg
Inc. Electronic Document. http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Burundi.html,
accessed on March 13, 20014
Horse, Lazer
2013. Burundi-A Tiny Country With A Rough
Past. October 27. Electronic Document. http://www.lazerhorse.org/2013/10/27/burundi-tiny-country-rough-past/
Accessed on March 13, 2014.
The Tutsi group is exactly as I would expect it to be, with the women being at home and being the main caregivers of the children while the men work outside the home and are the heads of their households. This group is not well developed and their gender roles are still unequal like that of how it was in the US until around the 1970s when more women started to work outside the homes. While the US and other countries have developed, other groups have not, for the most part, stayed still in time, meaning men are the ultimate decision makers and women, while respected, are second class citizens with not many rights. Women in the Tutsi group are expected to cook, clean and raise the children.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I did appreciate was reading that woman are highly appreciated. They might me trapped in time with gender inequality, but they are moving forward. Woman being respected is a movement to modernity in itself. A movement towards equality. I believe this reading of the gender was expected, yet I believe this indigenous group is heading in a modern direction. I thought this wording helped explain a complex idea within this community.
This is right on cue. It relates to the information Kottak uses about gender changes in the U.S. Thanks. I have the same comment here about the quotation marks, authors, and paraphrasing. Thanks
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