IDENTITY/GENDER

...Men, women, boys and girls; what are the differences between them? Are they all considered equal? In what way? Does the gender matter in some cases? All the above, are questions that arise in nowadays life and are not necessarily answered. The words ‘identity’ and ‘gender’ are significant in our society. However, how well these are acknowledged I am not certain. The aim of my article is to explore these two terms in more depth by comparing the role of the two genders in the Cypriot society before seventy years ago and the present.     

 Cyprus is a small island- country situated in the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea. This small island has a long history and thus far some customs and traditions are still followed and celebrated.

However, a significant change in the Cypriot community is the role of men and women. As in other small communities, seventy years ago the role of women was to stay at home, take care of the house and look after the children whereas men looked after the land and farm. Likewise in the Cypriot community this was the role of men and women at the past, men had the power in the house and women do house jobs as well as looking after the children.

Another important fact is that women were not allowed schooling, not allowed to be educated as they weren’t considered capable of doing so (in a man’s view point). According to an old traditional saying, the women’s furthest education in Cyprus was the wedding. Therefore this was their furthest achievement in life, to get married. 

On the other hand, as men had the first word and the power in the house they could get educated and become literate. They also worked the land and became shepherds, farmers, potters, woodcutters, shoemakers. These were some of the traditional jobs Cypriot men had in the past. In nowadays, it is not very often you see people to do these.

The world has changed, so does small communities like Cyprus. A significant example is the following: in 1943 only a limited number of girls attended school and were considered lucky to do so whereas now all girls and women have the right to education.

The issues and problems arising around equality and gender recognition are never lasting. In nowadays, everyone fights for these issues which get acknowledged whereas at the past they didn’t have that strength or authority to so.

We live in a multi-changing society which we are blessed to be part of, therefore when it comes to issues like equality and human rights, we need to stand up to our own opinions and fight for what we believe in.