MENA: chauvinist or chivalrous?!

[Heartland 0]

I always felt that if I was a SAHM (stay at home mom) my job was my family. My husband and I both agreed that it was important that they had a parent at home. My girls knew more entering school then the others because I taught them at home before hand.

Since I am working now, I think that division of things to be done should be divided. There are things in which men are better suited and things in which women are better suited. Then comes things that you wish to do rather then have to do...

I dont think either of these things are western or eastern. This is my opinion.

Wendy

Just out of curiousity- i wonder where chauvanism begins and ends when talking about cultural attitudes towards division of labor. Are these divisions rooted in chauvanism or is it that simple? I think I knwo the answers when we are talking about western ideas, but ME/NA? I am a little hesitant to jump in with conclusions.

[patiently_waiting 0]

I think they are chivalarous by nature for the most part. When I was in Morocco, the men couldn't seem to do enough for me. As Rida tells me, it is the mans responsibilty to do for his wife. He said that, not me. I have told him that I'm glad he thinks that way bc I will show him how to do the laundry, run the lawn mower, run the dishwasher and all other kinds of things. He said he looks forward to it. Not sure how he will really take to it seeing how his mother still does everything for him, or he gets his brothers to do it for him. I work 2 jobs so he is in for a rude awakening if he doesn't learn how to do these things.

[Henia 11]

I always felt that if I was a SAHM (stay at home mom) my job was my family. My husband and I both agreed that it was important that they had a parent at home. My girls knew more entering school then the others because I taught them at home before hand.

Since I am working now, I think that division of things to be done should be divided. There are things in which men are better suited and things in which women are better suited. Then comes things that you wish to do rather then have to do...

I dont think either of these things are western or eastern. This is my opinion.

Wendy

Just out of curiousity- i wonder where chauvanism begins and ends when talking about cultural attitudes towards division of labor. Are these divisions rooted in chauvanism or is it that simple? I think I knwo the answers when we are talking about western ideas, but ME/NA? I am a little hesitant to jump in with conclusions.

No, this is not Eastern or Western. Something I think very universal to many countries in the World. I know when I was growing up all the women in my family did work(earning money) that they could do at home, but also ran the home from top to bottom. The men did work outside the home, and heavier work in the home, like working the farm, harvesting and animal slaughtering.

In countries like the USA it has become popular by default that the man also helps in the home. A working women cannot do it all.

Many of these from all over the World, not just MENA come to the US (or other countries) and donnot have mum to take care of them... and are forced to learn these domestic skills. But as some or many of us may know they soon forget them when they get married.