Page 105 - Vimarsha Volume 2

responsible for preventing men’s behavior. But when males harass women, it makes
them seem powerful. Furthermore, in a male dominant society, husband or the father

takes the major decisions about the whole family, so there is discrimination. In Saudi
Arabia, women are not allowed to drive or to ride bikes. Even they do, they are being
subjected to drive only in restricted compound type zones. And also, a woman is not

allowed to be in a car with a man that she is not closely related to either. These social
and cultural norms may change over time. Even they changed some people still cling

to their old views.

In Sri Lanka there is a heated debate between the old generation and new generation

about their cloths and behaviors. Ancient Sri Lankan people were more cultural
minded than the modern generation. Therefore, there are some differences between
their ideologies. But sometimes they have limited their children’s freedom based on

pointless ideas. As an example, more often, Asian parents don’t allow their daughters
to wear clothes that are too short or that show their skin a lot (e.g.: legs, belly). But

if we pay close attention to it, sometimes those parents and elders also have worn
some short or fancy clothes when they were young (e.g.: miniskirts). Furthermore,
many Sri Lankan women who say that they are conforming to culture wear ‘Osari’

or ‘Sarees’. According to them they are very traditional costumes, even it allows
others to see their belly. But they don’t like their daughters to wear crop tops (simply
because it shows her belly to others) and the society also look at them in a bad way,

so there is a question that if we are still living in a world that our character is decided
in the way we dress?

As mentioned before gender discrimination is not always about female issues. These
social norms also make negative impacts on males too. Also, there is a particular
stereotype about men’s behavior. From the childhood parents teach their sons that

they should always be strong. When a boy is crying, the society questions him
whether he is a boy or a girl. Being a man doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have any

feeling. Anyway, the society expect him to behave as a stone. Because of these social
norms and stereotypes men also being discriminated.

90