Sociological Perspective and Society
Sociological perspective refers to personal choices that are shaped by society. It is an outlook of human conduct as a link to society in general. As such, sociological perspective causes individuals to pursue connections between their behavior and the structures of the community in which they live (Winchester & Hitlin, 2010). Usually, individuals tend to think about the society as just natural and don’t bother to assess if and how it affects them and their behavior. Hence, the sociological perspective helps people in understanding how society shapes their daily lives.
Gender Equality in Marriage
Over the years, equality in marriage has been a subject that has been debated over from the different social circles. Traditionally, couples have been known to succumb to heteronormative patterns that concern employment and parenting. For instance, husbands have often been referred to as the breadwinners and wives as child bearers. However, campaigns from the different gender equality groups have led to the introduction of a rather gender-neutral perspective in marriage. Studies have indicated that homes that are based on gender equality have a higher level of stability and harmony when compared to the homes run by the traditional form of marriage (Fee, 2011). Such perspectives have affected how young people view marriage in terms of the roles played by the man and woman. This aspect can be attributed to the fact that modern society is moving towards the direction of matrimonial equality for both husband and wife. Studies have indicated that more than ever before “couples of all caliber are now seeking equality, freedom and acknowledgment in their marriage and are refusing to abide by the decrees that have been termed as lagging behind.” (Fee, 2011). However, is the Qatar society ready for marriages based on equality?
Is the Qatar Society Ready for Marriages Based on Equality?
Marriage equality is defined as a political status in which couples in marriage are recognized as equal by the law and thus the society. As per Fee (2011), gender-neutral matrimony is publicly and constitutionally recognized, however we still have an extensive way to go. This definition is also extended to encompass sexuality and gender equality. In recent years, sociologists have evaluated the various transformations that affect the personal life. As such, the “questioning of tradition” has been a bone of contention across numerous global circles. Other topics such as the redefinition of gender, transformation of intimacy and reworking of relationships have brought varied perspectives. Various sociologists have understood changes in private life in terms of the increase in “reflexivity” which typically means that in times of change and increased social diversity, people are unable to rely on the existent traditions and customs to determine how they live, a factor that extends to their marriages (Fee, 2011). Hence, individuals are now thrown back upon themselves to establish their relationships and their identities.
The Challenges of Marriage Equality
Therefore, as soon as traditions are questioned, conventional intimate arrangements have been known to assume the status of mere choices that exist among many other competing ones. Nonetheless, not everyone has the same choices or has been known to act on them as easily as others. Commitment and roles in marriage are now more than ever being debated on. Due to the inability of the society to uniformly agree on such issues, it has been difficult to determine the ways to establish trust in marriages (Fee, 2011). This aspect is attributed to the fact that the modern approach to marriage has also created risks since there are no clearly established structures on how the couples are to function with respect to their roles and desires. As a result, the issue of marriage equality has been met harshly by the “traditional” Qatar age group. However, according to Fee (2011), “It is no longer possible to articulate in a binding way what family, marriage, sexuality, or love mean, or could be because they vary in element, exceptions, standards and morality from relationship to relationship.” Therefore, the answers to the question of gender equality in marriage must be worked out, negotiated and arranged in terms of how, why, what or why not. However, this approach can unleash an array of conflicts that were previously presumed as tamed.
Autonomy in Marriage and the "Pure Relationship"
In order for marriage equality to work, the couples must become the representatives of their own way and form of life. Additionally, they must become the juries of their own wrongdoings, the priests who forgive their own iniquities and finally the counsellors who release the history of their own past. According to Coontz (2005), the aspect of autonomy in marriage comes at a price. The involved couples must be ready to own the consequences of the decisions made within the confines of their relationship. Fee (2011) calls this approach, “pure relationship.” This factor suggests that the viability of such marriages is only dependent on the people involved. As such, the participants are the one in charge. For some, this approach seems to be less romantic, for others, it is the beginning of possibility while others have referred to it as the beginning of the moral decline.
Covenant Marriages and Gender Equality
Over the years, the high cases of divorce led to the introduction of covenant marriages across the globe and even in Qatar. Despite the increased publicity and discussions, studies have shown that the number of covenant marriages is less than five percent of all global marriages (Winchester & Hitlin, 2010). Covenant marriages have been regarded as more than just a declaration of traditional marriages. In other countries such as the USA, the marriage has a specific legal dimension. As a result, it has been offered as an alternative to the modern form of marriage that has been marred by high rates of divorce (Fee, 2011). However, the major concern with this form of marriage in Qatar is the inability for one to leave in case of issues such as abuse or violence. Consequently, numerous groups of feminists have regarded covenant marriages as a trap for women and a crusade against gender equality.
Gender Equality in Qatar: Challenges and Progress
A study index done in 2016 showed that Qatar’s gender gap is among the largest in the entire world. This factor has been attributed to the fact that the country is home to “most imbalanced societies in the globe.” The nation was ranked 117th out of 122 countries listed in INSEAD’s Gender Progress-Index of 2017. This statistic put the nation behind all of its Gulf neighbors. It was found that only one woman serves in a 14-member cabinet, while only two women were on the central municipal council (Report: Qatar fares poorly with gender equality, 2018). The report also attributed to the low score of female political participation as well as a low amount of both men and women perusing higher education in the nation. The study determined that out of every five men in Qatar, only five of the interest of perusing a higher level of education (Report: Qatar fares poorly with gender equality, 2018). According to Fee (2011), the success of a marriage based on equality is usually built on the level of education, where the higher the level of education of spouses the higher the degree of success. While Qatar’s women are statistically more engaged in university education, the underperformance of their male counterparts has been determined as among the reasons for stunted equality in marriages (Fee, 2011). According to Coontz (2005), men underachieving is bad as females also end up underachieving. Additionally, the given index investigated various sociological aspects such as education, health, political involvement and the doctrines of society. Despite the existing gender gap, the study showed that the country was showing progress through the encouragement of equal development and political opportunities.
Traditional Approaches and Contemporary Beliefs on Marriage
According to Winchester & Hitlin, the modern approach to marriage has been attributed to the contemporary sociological perspective; the willingness to step apart from the crowd and make one’s individual choice in accordance to the aspect of marriage (2010). In a strict sociological sense, this development is “anti-traditional” in that it makes reflexivity and innovation the central aspects in marriage decision making. Consequently, the matrimony is run as per the agreements between couples and not what the society has defined as right or wrong. Hence, couples in this form of marriage must deliberate, disclose their fears and presumably work together. But, with the given low levels of gender equality in Qatar, can this approach succeed in the country? The Qatar society over the years has drawn moral lines that prohibit certain forms of behaviors while encouraging others. Additionally, people have been able to make judgments about the right and wrong and what the different individuals should not do, think or feel.
Morality and the Shaping of Society
Other sociologists have expressed marriage in terms of not being about the individual needs, but rather companionship and raising beloved children. As such, in some societies, marriage wasn’t necessary based on love. In fact, in some countries, excessive love between husband and wife was seen as a threat to the solidarity of the extended family (Coontz, 2005). The behaviors of a wife could make in-laws force their son to divorce her. Such traditional approaches are now clashing with the contemporary beliefs of marriage where most millennials in Qatar believe that marriage should be based on gender equality and should only involve the husband and wife. Additionally, the propagating of popular culture discouraged women from seeing themselves as just productive members in a marriage, but rather important elements of a society. In 1956, a Life magazine article determined that “women have minds and should, therefore, concentrate their efforts on their families.” (Coontz, 2005).
Conclusion
The aspect of gender equality is usually described as a state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of the gender. Such definition extends to the economic participation and decision making within the various social institutions such as marriage. As a result of Qatar’s poor standing when it comes to gender impartiality, there is still a lot to be done to adjust the societal paradigm and to offer equality in marriage (Faruqi, 2015). The information provided in this paper offers a better understanding of the social reality affecting marriage in the country rather than just a commonsensical evaluation.
The Influence of Social Order on Moral Beliefs
The domain of morality has moved to extend from the control of philosophers and theologians to the wider contemporary society that is often based on individual belief and equality (Winchester & Hitlin, 2010). While some of the most classic works of sociology often focus on the question of how many ought and have not to, sociologists of moral order are now interested on the reverse; how the social order shapes a society’s moral beliefs and commitments. Hence, by focusing on the existent social institutions such as marriage and family, one can be able to evaluate and understand the moral principles of the society. Decades of socio-physiological research have determined that the existent social situations can subvert people’s individual moral sensibilities (Fee, 2011). As such, a study of morality with respect to marriage informs us about the wider forces that shape people’s senses of right or wrong.
Implications for Gender Equality in Marriage
Marriages based on equality are often based on the other factors, and the level of education. While Qatar produces high numbers of women graduates, the involved stakeholders need to do more to encourage men to pursue higher education too. This approach can be propagated by increased investment in education to make it more affordable. Such an approach will propagate a paradigm shift that will not only improve the country’s gender equality standings but also increase the number of marriages based on equality.
References
Coontz, S. (2005). The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love. The Sun Magazine
Retrieved from: https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/489/the-radical-idea-of-marrying-for-love
Faruqi, M. (2015). Lets accept the truth about gender inequality in Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/lets-accept-the-truth-about-gender-inequality-in-australia-20150817-gj0t3c.html
Fee, D. (2011). Covenant Marriage. Reflexivity and Retrenchment in the Politics of Intimacy Introducing the New Sexuality Studies: 2nd Edition. Abington: Routledge. 31-42
Report: Qatar fares poorly with gender equality. (2018). Retrieved from https://dohanews.co/report-gcc-countries-including-qatar-fare-poorly-on-gender-equality/
Winchester, D., & Hitlin, S. (2010). The Good, The Bad and The Social. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1525/ctx.2010.9.4.40.
