Essay 1- Changing roles and Responsibilities of males and females in the

Caribbean.
Main points to discuss:
a) The traditional role of men and women
b) The way in which roles are changing
c) What has brought about the changes
d) The effect the changes are having on men and woman in society

Across the years, the Caribbean people have established a patriarchal style of
living which is similar to that of the Europeans they have once been held captive
by. Up until this century, men were expected to be the provider, protector and
teacher in the family while a woman’s place was believed to be in the kitchen,
preparing meals and caring for the family. In today’s modern society however, the
line between the role of the man and the woman is becoming more and more
undefined as the years go by.
One of the predominant factors which plays a major role in influencing these
changes is the opportunity for woman to access education and employment in all
three sectors of the economy; be it tertiary, secondary or primary. Since the men
are no longer the sole breadwinner in most households and the women also earn
an income, they have more power to influence decision making in terms of how the
money is spent, a task which was previously deemed to be a responsibility of the
man.
Since women are now able to be employed and are capable of providing for the
family, more and more men can be seen ‘taking the backseat’ and leaving the
woman to provide while they assist with childcare and the management of the
household, such as cooking, cleaning and the purchasing of groceries.
The rise of feminist groups has also made a contribution to the changes we see in
society today. Many laws passed such as the equal pay act, which can be
predominantly credited to the insistence of feminist groups, promotes equality of
both genders in the workplace and as society regards women with more
importance they become more independent and seek more equality in the home.
Although these changes allows men to be much more connected to their children
and gives women the opportunity to develop their identity based on a plethora of
factors beside motherhood, they seem a bit one-sided as the women are the ones
reaping benefits while the men struggle to adjust to this new way of life.
Men generally view themselves as being the dominant figure in the home and they
may feel threatened by a female having more authority in the home and
influencing decisions. The males in society might also feel as though the spotlight
is only on the females and that the men are no longer needed. A male who has to
assist with caring for the children and also works may feel conflicted in terms of
which one of his duties should take precedence over the other.