Throughout the semester we have read about gender norms. Women, as well as men, are expected to act a certain way according to predetermined societal norms. These norms are widespread and subtle; they affect what jobs people hold, how we communicate with one another and even what we wear. Such norms have been instituted for so long that most are followed without question and people assume there is no other way to live. Typically, norms are enforced only through fear of disapproval. Generally, people like to fit in and humiliation ensues when we assume we are in some way “wrong” for sticking out. The road taken is the “path of least resistance” (Johnson), which allows people to live the easiest and most comfortable way. Unfortunately, recently in Chechnya, such norms have started to be strictly enforced. Physical violence has developed against women that violate the new social norms of dressing. The traditionally patriarchal society has taken a turn for the worse and become increasingly radical; if something is not done to change the system of patriarchy soon, matters may only worsen.
Allan G. Johnson wrote about the system of patriarchy in his article “Patriarchy, The System: An It, Not a He, or a Them, or an Us.” Psychologists have studied the process of “socialization” intensely and Johnson describes it very well in his article. As a child, one was probably never taught that boys should not wear dresses. Instead, repeated observations were made and most likely unbeknownst to you, the lesson was ingrained into you. People learn from other people, the media, rules, and their culture how to behave. No singular person is responsible for this process and we all partake in willingly. The system is therefore created from individuals and yet the cyclical process takes on its own identity. Johnson explains, “It’s an arrangement of shared understandings and relationships that connect people to one another and something larger than themselves…Most important, we can describe it as a system without ever talking about the personal characteristics or motivations of the individual people who actually play it at any given moment,” (Johnson 5).
Johnson then elaborates on the mechanism that drives this system, known as following the path of least resistance. People generally will comply with the system because it offers the lifestyle with the least social friction. One can live their life smoothly without fear of consequences. “Most of the time, we make choices unconsciously without realizing what we’re doing. It’s just what seems most comfortable to us, most familiar and safest” (Johnson 4). This process known more generally as conformity occurs for various reasons and most usually out of fear of social rejection. A boy will not wear a dress because he will probably be ostracized from the population for breaking the norm. Women dress and act a certain way in order to conform to the dictating norms. They typically have longer hair, nails polished, and wear a stylish outfit. Most times people will do anything to follow these arbitrarily assigned rules of society and adapt themselves to fit the mold.
http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/8010/Candid_Camera_proves_the_Sheeple_Theory_correct_/
This illustration demonstrates how people will look to others in order to model their behaviors and stay in sync with changing norms. Norms adapt over time as well as cultures and most people seamlessly adopt new norms. Over time, women have come to wear pants, adopt shorter hairstyles, and some even forgo shaving their body hair. Moreover, like previously stated, norms are typically instated without official rules. Women have never been told they absolutely must shave their legs under punishment of law. One’s choice in personal style is ultimately a personal decision. Changing styles are only a reflection of changing decisions.
But what happens when norms become policed? Such is policing has begun in Chechnya. According to older Chechen customs, women should dress conservatively; they typically wear headscarves and only clothes with sleeves. In the past, the men of the family have been responsible for monitoring the females’ dress codes. This should not be confused with the Middle East where such dress codes are written in the law; these fashion choices are simply social norms influenced by the Chechen culture. “Asma Jahangir, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and her predecessor, Abdelfattah Amor, have both criticized rules that require the wearing of religious dress in public. Imposing Islamic dress on women is also inconsistent with Russia's constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience,” (Human Rights Watch). Recently, Islamic extremists in the area have been enforcing stricter dress codes. Men outside of the family have begun to retaliate against women that are considered to be dressing inappropriately, some taking it so far as to pelt women with paintballs. Men that claim to represent the Islamic High Council have started to publicly campaign for more proper dressing using leaflets and television appearances to inform the public about changing expectations. Disturbingly, many government officials approve of this violence despite its illegality. Many times the men harassing the women are in fact government officials. Even the president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, approves of such action, “Even if it was done with my permission I wouldn’t be ashamed. It turns out that the girls who were sprayed with paint had been warned several times previously. After such an incident, a girl should just disappear from the face of the earth, lock herself in the house and not go out because she behaved so inappropriately that such a thing happened to her,” (Kishkovsky). Several Human Rights organizations have begun to take notice and are fearful of human rights violations.
This can be understood as a patriarchal system that has spun out of control. Because men have normally been empowered over women, the men that are now starting to change their opinions for appropriate fashion are now changing the opinion of the entire Chechen population. It is a social norm issue because everyone seems to be complying and no one individual seems to be responsible. These rules have not been codified into law and there is no singular person that seems to be leading the extremist movement. Instead, the Chechen public opinion is starting to change and everyone is complying with such violent and unacceptable behavior. Perhaps, if the Chechen culture guaranteed equal rights to women this problem would never have arisen. If women were socially equivalent to men they may have been able to have a louder voice in their own fashion choices. Instead, the systematic patriarchal culture is now changing both the social norm of fashion as well as the more serious norm of appropriate ways to treat women. It is now acceptable in Chechnya for strange men to accost, harass, and assault women they deem improper. Furthermore, if the Chechen government is turning a blind eye (or even approving) of the extremist vigilantes their behaviors may only become more terrifying. Most people are simply taking the path of least resistance and following the new social orders to avoid any bodily harm. Instead, they should begin to stand against the current system and create their own. For the sake of women’s safety as well as to prevent future insurgency, men and women alike need to stand up against such behavior. Johnson writes, “To understand violence against women as both a social and psychological problem, we have to ask what kind of society would provide fertile ground for it to take root and flourish as a recurring pattern of behavior,” (12). Therefore, it can be understood that because the Chechen culture has been an overbearing patriarchy traditionally, the new more extreme versions have festered within the oppressive culture and overstepped their boundaries. Such systems need to be in check, and they may only be done by changing the patriarchal attitudes altogether. If patriarchal extremists are to be held accountable, all others involved in the less extreme patriarchal system must also be held accountable.
Such is the problem with unchecked social norms. They may appear harmless and trivial at first, but they can quickly spiral out of control. More importantly, it is more important to understand the greater social environment that fosters such norms; these Chechen practices are only admissible because the patriarchal culture has allowed them to be considered acceptable. If the Chechens are to protect their women from these extremists, they must also change their patriarchal system as a whole.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/world/europe/28iht-chechnya.html?_r=1&ref=women
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/08/24/russia-stop-forced-dress-code-women-chechnya
Works Cited:
Johnson, Allan G. "Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us." 1-13. Print.
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