Gender in Inuit Society

Eskimo-ian society, from a western perspective, depicts the Inuit women as lower status then men. The women were in complete domination of their male relatives. However, women are equal to men, just not the same. Meaning their tasks and responsibilities are designed to their skill set, such as skin work and household maintenance.

In some Inuit societies, wives are only used for sex. The men spend most of their days with other men. Their wives serve the purpose of having children, raising children, keeping the house and pleasing the man. A wives importance rest on her ability to complete her task.

However, Inuit women, though under complete domination of their male relatives, are relatively free. The men have little to no reason to interfere with woman’s conduct of her chores (i.e. the household) as long as it meets her husband’s standard.

Though, women usually exercised little to no control over their sexual habits, women could no take a husband she did not want. Furthermore, she could divorce him by simply packing her things and leaving. A woman and her children still maintain rights to the ex-husband’s clan/family.