WIVES, MOTHERS AND WORKERS IN AND OUT THE DOMESTIC SPHERE (original) (raw)

This paper examines the complexities of women's roles as wives, mothers, and workers within the domestic sphere, arguing against the overly simplistic views that depict women as universally oppressed by patriarchal structures. It emphasizes a cross-cultural understanding of gender relations, showing how women's experiences and negotiations are influenced by local socio-economic factors rather than a singular ideology of gender equality. Through ethnographic data, the study highlights the dialectic process of gender renegotiation, suggesting that empowerment and changes in gender boundaries emerge from within the community, not solely driven by external pressures.