For decades, the cultural standards that have been molded in our children have made them retain the two specific identities - masculine and feminine. These cultural standards have shaped individuals sex roles and psychological adjustment in our day to day activities. While the mental networks that have been associated to link certain behaviors to a particular gender have theorized and framed these standards, gender schemas have been found to have an adequate representation in restricting people’s behaviors, influencing socioeconomic groups, and have led to seclusion of roles in the society. The degree of discomfort or acceptance that an adult faces in terms of emotional and behavioral characteristics can be caused by cultural identities. Moreover, the spectrum and characteristics that are linked to gendered identities and roles in society have mostly been defined by the society. This paper, therefore, seeks to analyze how cultural identities have influenced and shaped the roles and gendered identities based on the article Iceland's Forgotten Fishermen.
Economic Activity of the Icelandic People
During the 18th and 19th century, the economic activity of the Icelandic people was fishing. However, many Icelandic women that fished at the time faded from the country's memory regardless of their contribution. For generations, a social grouping in certain places around the world has a specific traditional practice in which they have been accepted and found to be beneficial to all members, especially when defining roles in the community. In Kwok's article about Iceland's Forgotten Fisherwomen, she argues that fisherwomen in Iceland played a significant role in the history of the country as they often caught more fish than fishermen (Kwok, 2017). Moreover, based on the story about Einarsdottir, an excellent fisherwoman, it is evident that fishing in the Icelandic community was considered a man's job.
The gender schemas of the Icelandic community adequately link these behaviors to a particular gender. The maladaptive nature of stereotyping typical to this community helped in restricting women to perform dangerous tasks such as fishing in Icelandic water. The nature of a fishing job such as rough waves, storms, icebergs, icy water, seasickness was therefore incorporated to the maladaptive aspect that fishing could only be performed by men and not women. As Tomar (2017) suggest, cultures around the world established standard practices for each individual in a community to match their sex role prescriptions, and therefore this made them feel psychologically well-adjusted to perform certain tasks that would be beneficial to the community at large. Einarsdottir is, therefore, one of the hundreds of women who braved the stormy seas and icebergs to fend for a living for their families. Moreover, most of these women, as illustrated in the article, while working at sea made it seem unusual as crews made up of entire women, expectant mothers that rowed the icy water late into pregnancy since fishing was considered a man's job.
Cultural Conventions and Gender Criticism
In modern times, however, advancements in technology, social and economic factors have made the strong female presence common in the Icelandic community fade. Despite the obstacles faced while fishing and distinct reasons such as criticism that has made women remain onshore, some female seafarers have continued fishing. The criticism for defying conventional and current gender roles experienced in the current generation has made it harder for women to embrace their profession and continue to struggle to find prosperity in a region fully engulfed by gender stereotypes. In addition, Kwok (2017) argues that the country has largely forgotten that earlier seawomen ever existed. It is likely that the extent to which cultural adherence to gender norms has shaped the behaviors towards certain roles in society. The distribution of specific tasks that are acceptable as either for women and men has faced cultural implications. The effects of these cultural implications span across families, home, workplaces, and communities as labor is divided based on the culture's definition of roles and specific tasks that are deemed appropriate to be performed by either a man or a woman.
Role of Women
The role of women in fisheries in Iceland is often ignored. Not only do they collect shellfish along the shores, but they also process the day's catch from the sea to the table. However, such work is not only done in Iceland but also in different places around the world. Their roles as fisherwomen around the world have been minimized by cultural conventions that have shaped the society's acceptance of masculine and feminine tasks. For the majority of people around the world, they have taught their children what is accepted and expected of them as either a boy or a girl, and therefore, they grow up accepting gender identities (Maluleke, 2012). Through the socialization process, children become socially aware of gender roles and identities, and therefore, they select activities that are typical of their sex and are often aware of what gender they should identify with. According to Arias (2012), sexual identity is developed during puberty and becomes more apparent when the family, friends, and relatives surrounding a child affecting the degree of acceptance and discomfort when the child manifests into an adult. The surrounding environment shares the ideas of what behaviors are generally acceptable for women and men, as well as their gender identities.
Different cultures in many cases often discriminate against women and their role, and this issue remains controversial in society today. Some cultures are associated with keeping women in seclusion from the rest of society, and this has contributed to cultural assumptions over their identities and roles played in the society. As Vance (2011) argues, the assumption of male superiority that many cultures portray leads to the general expectation of masculine tasks and feminine roles. Moreover, he argues that the different cultures portray men that are considered less masculine as being less of a man, while women seem less feminine are assumed to be superior to their defined standards, therefore, resume taking the role of men in the society. In such cases, the reaction remains negative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cultural conventions around the world have led to gender identities and role specifications across different racial divides. Men have been considered stronger than women, and therefore, their roles are more energy consuming and vigorous as those of women. Just like in the article, women's roles in fisheries have become diminished in different parts of the world. Despite Einarsdottir being one of Iceland's greatest fishing captains, her gender as a woman has led to a negative portrayal.
References
Arias, C. (2012, November 26). Essential Aspects and Practical Implications of Sexual Identity. Retrieved from Redalyc: http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/pdf/283/28316817011.pdf
Kwok, R. (2017, September 28). Iceland's Forgotten Fisherwomen. Retrieved November 5, 2018, from Sapiens.
Maluleke, M. (2012). Culture, Tradition, Custom, Law and Gender Equality. PER, 15(1), 2-22.
Newton, V. (2012, November 12). Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Sexual Orientation. Retrieved from Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/doc/52800453/5/Cross-Cultural-Perspectives-on-Sexual-Orientation#page=43
Tomar, N. (2017, June 9). Influence of Culture on Gender Identities and Sexual Practices. Retrieved from Medium: https://medium.com/@nitishatomar/influence-of-culture-on-gender-identities-and-sexual-practices-4f079a48481e
