article · International Journal of Psychology and Cognitive Education
This research explores how traditional gender roles are understood through rites of passage in West and Central Africa, comparing these with modern perceptions. It uses an ethnographic approach, analysing cultural narratives to understand the evolution of women's gender roles. The study found that birth and puberty rites clearly define gender roles, and traditionally, African societies often exhibited gender role complementarity, with women seen as custodians of cultural values. However, modernism, colonialism, capitalism, and globalisation have introduced tensions, placing women in a lower societal position. The conclusion highlights that cultural perspectives significantly influence decision-making, making gender equality and valuing women's voices crucial for psycho-cultural sustainability and positive socialisation.
This research matters because it sheds light on the complex interplay between tradition and modernity in shaping gender roles in West and Central Africa. Understanding these dynamics is vital for fostering gender equality, promoting positive socialisation for women, and achieving psycho-cultural sustainability in evolving societies.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway for commercialisation, focusing instead on cultural understanding and societal development.
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Aim: This paper examines how traditional gender roles are understood through rites of passage, illuminating their significance in cultural contexts in West and Central Africa. In this light, we present narratives that compare traditional and modern views of women's gender roles, encouraging a thoughtful dialogue on the evolution of these perceptions. Within African cultures, transformative narratives have been used to maintain a sustainable balance between the individual mindset and cultural norms that influence gender identity. The specific objectives of the paper are to: 1) examine rites of passage as the foundation for understanding gender roles in Africa; 2) highlight the changing perception of women's gender roles and socialization in Africa from traditional to modern perceptions 3) discuss the implications of implications of change in gender role perception for psycho-cultural sustainability and positive socialization of women. Methods: The paper employs an ethnographic approach through analysis of cultural narratives, both oral and written. Results: The major findings of the paper are that there are birth and puberty rites of passage that clearly define gender roles within African cultures. The study also found that despite the dominance of patriarchal systems in many traditional African societies, there existed gender role complementarity where women and men performed complementary roles and women were considered to be the custodians and sustenance of African traditional values and virtues. Nonetheless, the advent of modernism and colonialism women have been placed on the lower rungs of society by the dominant forces of capitalism and globalization posing tensions between both genders. Conclusion: Cultural perspectives significantly shape how decisions are made, reinforcing the idea that advancing gender equality and valuing women's voices is crucial for psycho-cultural sustainability and positive socialization of women. Recommendation: Psycho-cultural sustainable development in Africa requires understanding traditional African perspectives on gender. By giving equal value and importance to the roles played by both males and females, the balance and harmony that once existed can be re-established.
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DOI: 10.58425/ijpce.v4i2.359
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