How Do Women And Gypsies Reflect Gender Differences In Their Culture

The excerpt from Flood Stories From Around The World by Mark Isaak about the Transylvanian Gypsies reflects the gender differences found in their culture. Because the wife threw “the fish on the hot coals” and thus disobeying her husband orders, the gypsies viewed women as inferior to men. However, the husband “kept his oath” by not eating the fish and was then rewarded with the knowledge to save his life and to save humanity. Since the wife dishonored her husband’s oath and the husband valued his promise, women were seen as untrustable which led to a patriarchal civilization. In many civilizations, the idea that men were superior to women was based on flood stories and myths.