The tension between feminism and traditional expectations
For the past several decades, Western societies have wrestled with the doctrine of equality between men and women. Since the 1960s, waves of feminism reshaped education, careers, marriage, and family life. The results are complex: undeniable gains in opportunity and voice and, at the same time, new tensions in relationships, identity, and expectations. Now many immigrant communities are experiencing that same cultural shift — but compressed into a single generation. That ompression is creating confusion. In many African and immigrant households, traditional gender roles were clear. Men were expected to provide and protect. Women were expected to nurture and manage the home. These roles were not always practiced perfectly, and in some cases, patriarchy caused deep wounds. But the expectations were defined. Then we moved abroad. When families relocate to Western countries, those definitions shift almost overnight. Women gain economic independence quickly. Cultural messages emphasize...