Introduction
Sexuality has always been connected to who has control and authority in different parts of society, like at school, work, and home. To see if women can use their sexuality to gain power, we need to understand the idea of “patriarchal convention.” This essay explores how women deal with social expectations and power in different areas and how their sexuality is connected to their power.
The Patriarchal Bargain
Sociologist Deniz Kandiyot talks about how women in patriarchal societies must make clever plans to get what they want and avoid problems. Studying how women use their sexuality, they have to make many compromises and follow society’s rules. They also use their sexuality smartly to gain power or safety. These negotiations are complicated and connected with cultural expectations, economic pressures, and social dynamics (Ruslin 141-153). In the male-dominated business world, women often struggle to balance fitting in with speaking up for themselves. Feeling like you must act or look like everyone else can help you fit in and advance in society. At the same time, women use their sexuality to empower themselves.
Cultural beliefs and stereotypes are fundamental, affecting how this agreement takes shape. Negotiations become harder when money is involved because women may feel pressure to meet traditional expectations of being financially secure and prosperous. As Ruslin (141-153) indicated, social things like friends and community expectations also add to the difficulty of this complicated dance. Patriarchal bargaining is a way to see how women handle their roles in a society where men are in charge. They have to make compromises and sometimes use their sexuality to get power and protection in a society where gender expectations and inequality are a big deal. Please rewrite this text using simpler words.
Sexuality as a Power Source
Sexuality can be a complicated and powerful thing for women in various parts of society. In schools, society’s focus on looking good and being attractive gives power to women who fit the traditional beauty ideals. Scientists like Teixeira et al. (66-83) have found that people who are considered attractive often get better treatment because they are seen as more confident. This can affect how they do in school and get along with others. This accidental boost shows that society values good looks and confidence, which helps women who look good in school.
In the workplace, the way power and sexuality mix is especially noticeable, especially in places where men are in charge. According to Teixeira et al. (66-83), women can sometimes use their attractiveness and charm to get ahead at work by flirting or acting in ways that fit how society expects women to behave. However, using sexuality as a strategy has both positive and negative effects. While this may give women more opportunities to compete in their careers, it can also make people see them in a limited way, which reinforces gender stereotypes and may decrease their professional skills. Women need to carefully navigate between using their sexuality for their benefit and not getting stuck in traditional gender roles.
In an intimate and personal relationship at home, sex can be used to gain power and control. Women might act how society expects them to and fit into traditional gender roles to find safety and certainty in their relationships. However, using sex to control others usually keeps power uneven in families and makes traditional gender roles stronger rather than changing them. Women are expected to do certain things according to society’s rules. This can make them feel like they have less control over their own lives and can make gender inequality at home keep happening over and over again.
Differential Treatment and Consequences
Even though women can use their attractiveness to gain power, it usually ends up causing problems and making them weaker in the end. Attending a convention where men are in charge can make women feel at risk of being judged and challenged not to follow traditional gender roles (Hideg and Krstic 106). Social rules based on male-dominated traditions stop women from being in control, creating a pattern where their strength comes from following specific rules instead of being true to themselves.
Women might be rewarded in specific jobs for looking a certain way and acting feminine. However, this limited idea of power supports unfair assumptions and can be a problem for women because they may end up in jobs where how they look is more important than what they can do. This confusing situation leaves women stuck getting short-term benefits, doing what society expects, and keeping a system that makes them less powerful.
The effects of male-dominated businesses go beyond personal experiences and help make gender inequality stronger. As pointed out by Hideg and Krstic (106), some women might use their sexuality to succeed in a male-dominated society, but in the long run, this makes the system more robust and keeps women from being themselves. To stop this unfair situation, society needs to change its attention from supporting hurtful ideas about women to seeing and valuing women for their abilities, talents, and what they give to the world. It makes it easier for women to have power fairly.
Conclusion
The connection between women, sex, and control is hard to understand and influenced by what society expects and who has power. Patriarchal Business talks about how women negotiate and deal with male-dominated structures in business. Even though women can use their sexuality to gain power in different areas of their lives, it can also make gender inequality worse. Understanding and addressing this problem is essential for creating a fairer society where women can use their power freely and without being limited by male-dominated business practices.
Work Cited
Hideg, Ivona, and Anja Krstic. “The quest for workplace gender equality in the 21st century: Where do we stand and how can we continue to make strides?.” Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement 53.2 (2021): 106. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-80477-001
Ruslin, Ismah Tita. “The way of a patriarchal bargain: how the bargain under the structure and agency perspective.” ETNOSIA: Jurnal Etnografi Indonesia 7.2 (2022): 141-153. https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/etnosia/article/view/21293
Teixeira, Marcella Barbosa Miranda, et al. “Women and work: film analysis of Most Beautiful Thing.” Revista de Gestão 28.1 (2021): 66-83. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/REGE-03-2020-0015/full/html
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