Man vs. Woman free essay sample

The controversial issue of double standards, in regards to gender within culture, can clearly be spotted; however, neither man nor woman can seem to find the proper method to illustrate one another. To start off, in my family and Arab culture the man is expected to physically and morally attend to his wife. I believe this is done not only to show authority, but also dominance, although it is never said. The standards have changed and gotten much less strict since the olden days, not only in America but also back in the Middle East. My father would tell me stories which illustrate that the authority of the family is the male, even if he’s not the father; for example, my father had more power in the house over his older sisters but was also expected to respect his older brothers. The brother would have more authority and freedom over his sisters by being able to do things like date and go out late. We will write a custom essay sample on Man vs. Woman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This unbalance of freedom instills a sense of desperation to these young girls, that the man has ultimate superiority. In addition to the battle of authority arises the battle of who serves whom. Women in my culture are brought up being taught the ins and outs that are necessary to nurture your own child and become a great housewife. Just as Houston points out in her essay â€Å"Living in Two Cultures,† â€Å"It was also the time that I assumed the duties girls were supposed to do, like cooking, cleaning the house, washing and ironing clothes. † Here in America people may disagree, but the person being served is usually the money maker or the decision maker. These days in American society, it is the women that are served to first, whether it’s regarding who gets fed first or who massages whom. In both American and Arabic culture we are undergoing a subtle change in regards to who brings home the bacon. The change gives women the power to refuse service to men at will. This goes along with the fact that more and more women are becoming more independent and no longer need the man to pay for everything. In reality, it really comes down to who’s going to pay for everything like the wedding, the engagement ring, and necessities. There is no rule that says the man must buy the engagement ring for the woman, yet men are spending their life savings on a single—tangible item. This could be a sign of greed or a sign love. Many women these days seek men who are financially stable for different reasons. In my culture, the groom buys the bride dozens of gold bracelets, rings, necklaces, along with the price of the wedding itself. This is usually the groom’s way of showing his in-laws that he is able to care for their daughter. It sounds unfair if you ask me, but knowing your responsibilities as a human being, not man or woman, will help pave the way to equality. We as men and women acknowledge the fact that we perceive each other differently; nevertheless, we must strive to find a method to make our boundaries meet.