Roles of Women, Essay Example

There is little information regarding the roles of women in warfare. This is because the entire history of humankind has perceived warfare as a matter for men. However, women have made significant impacts by taking key roles. In the New World Domain, most women have mainly taken the leading positions in warfare. In the South American and Mesoamerican tribes, Women become more aggressive and prominent it times of war. Women made explorations which suggests their wider numerous contributions. Some of them become leaders either by accident or through humble origin of their personality and circumstance (King, 2003).

The South American and Mesoamerican tribes differentiated roles and responsibilities according to gender. Both men and women participating in decision-making processes characterized these tribes. The women are seen to be having a primary responsibility of maintaining the welfare of their family members; cultivating crops, deriving medicine from plants and herbs used in treating illness, taking care for both the old and the young, in charge of making clothing and instruments as well as processing of meat and skin from animal. They made clothes and bags from hide material (Herzog 55).

Apart from being in charge of homes, the South American, and Mesoamerican women had extra tasks were vital for the survival of these tribes in warfare. They had the responsibility of making tools and weapons; they made repairs on their homes and assisted their men in hunting. Girls of these tribes were motivated to learn how to ride, fight, and hunt. Although, fighting was considered a man’s affair, occasionally women joined their men in fighting especially if the invaders were severely threatening them (King, 2003).

On the other hand, Mesoamerican women diverted all their attention to the outside world away from their homes. With the eruption of the civil war, thousands of women from the tribes of the rainforests of the great river basins such as the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Parana joined the war groups offering basic support (King 2003, 86). This was the first time in the history of America for women to perform such a critical role in the war.

With the eruption of civil war, these women voluntarily offered to show their support towards fighting for the cause (Wilson 213). Women of the tribes of the rainforests of the great river basins areas planned groups that supplied the troops with all the basic needs. These included things such as foodstuffs and clothing. These women organised groups that went round, holding fundraising and other social events that aimed at raising money to cater for the troops’ necessities. However, the roles of these women were different from those of Native Americans as they were geared to be more effective and take the lead role in the war fair. They were inspired by the works of other women such as Florence Nightingale and her role in the Crimean War. These women were highly committed to taking front duties; giving first aid to the wounded troops and ensuring that the other soldiers were healthy (King, 2003).

Almost 20,000 women gave their support directly for the war effort. Women took different positions working as cooks and matrons. Women from Brazilian Highland area offered their support by working as nurses for the soldiers. These women were directed not to behave in any way that would distract the troops’ attention: for any woman to work as a nurse she had to be over the age of thirty years. They were not required to wear clothes that were attractive. The nurses worked by travelling from one hospital to another delivering efficient medical support for the wounded soldiers. The soldiers were under the care of these nurses thus the nurses took the role of mothers and housekeepers for them (King, 2003).

The Brazilian Highlands area women jumped into war with similar efforts as their men counterparts. However, they frequently received support from relief societies and local auxiliaries. Just as the northern women, they also prepared food for their soldiers. They also provided other necessities such as blankets. Working in makeshift hospitals as untrained nurses, they provided support and care for the sick and wounded soldiers even in their homes. Most white women of the tribes of the rainforests of the great river basin areas were wealthy and did not have to do any manual work. They used slaves who did everything for them (Herzog 179).

Conclusion

By the time the war was ending, most women from both areas had acquired vast experience thus gaining recognition.