Of Women, Economics and Marriage
As provocative as it may sound to some, it was a well argued view in some circles that marriage for most woman is glorified prostitution. For these people, often Western feminists, marriage from a cold and cynical view was most times a contract of women selling their bodies for financial return and economic stability. The woman gave sex and their reproductive functions in return for the house, etc etc.
While this view held up really well up to a few decades ago for most women, does it still hold now? For some women around the world, marriage can still be described aptly as a contract with their financial benefactor, a husband. The husband provides for them financially. He is the only one who can own property so he provides the shelter. They women usually 'work' at or around the home and they may get money actual dollars to support this 'work'.
But for modern day women in the Western world this can't apply? The women I know earn their own money, most times are an active partner in their marriages. They certainly don't get matched up with the highest bidder. The terms and conditions of their marriage contracts are negotiated partly on their terms. They have much say about reproduction and their partners share in the traditionally unpaid women's house/home work.
As women gain more economic power and share in the financial and economic responsibilities of marriage, family and home, the old definition of wife equals glorified prostitution no longer holds its sting; at least not for the majority of Western women.
While this view held up really well up to a few decades ago for most women, does it still hold now? For some women around the world, marriage can still be described aptly as a contract with their financial benefactor, a husband. The husband provides for them financially. He is the only one who can own property so he provides the shelter. They women usually 'work' at or around the home and they may get money actual dollars to support this 'work'.
But for modern day women in the Western world this can't apply? The women I know earn their own money, most times are an active partner in their marriages. They certainly don't get matched up with the highest bidder. The terms and conditions of their marriage contracts are negotiated partly on their terms. They have much say about reproduction and their partners share in the traditionally unpaid women's house/home work.
As women gain more economic power and share in the financial and economic responsibilities of marriage, family and home, the old definition of wife equals glorified prostitution no longer holds its sting; at least not for the majority of Western women.
Comments
I guess the modern woman circumstances have not changed that much eh? This thing is kinna funny you know. :)
Have you ever read Facing Mount Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta? It starts with a Kikuyu fable which says women ruled the world a long time ago. They lived in communities with men but separate. The women only interacted with men by picking from among them for having children and pleasure. When they were done with the men they would send them back to their male groups to do whatever men do; hunting and protecting the community from wild animals etc.
But women were in charge, they made the decisions about which man they mated with, where they lived and the direction the communities took. The women raised all the children among themselves. When their sons got be a certain age they sent them to join the men.
The men got fed up and wanted to lead, they wanted the power. They plotted and decided to get as many women pregnant at the same time. They were successful and when of the women were heavy with pregnancy the men took over the world and the rest is history.
See? Your imaginings may not be as unique as you think. :)