| The aim of this dissertation is to examine the dynamics of the dominant ideology, the lower class family structure, sex-specific responsibilities and transgressions and the use of the Family Court in Jamaica. I utilized the Family Courts as an arena for gender relations and the Family Laws as examples of how the dominant ideology is imposed on the lower classes.;Recent reforms in Jamaican family law intended to close the discrepancies between legislation which supports the nuclear family and the needs of its culturally distinct population which engages is serial mating, out-of-wedlock births and absentee paternity. However, social policies and family laws still do not conform to the lower class family structure but rather support the nuclear family. The state has uncovered only one layer of cultural inappropriateness when several are present. In many ways the state has undermined women's power in Jamaican society by promoting the nuclear family and with it ideals of male dominance.;Male/female relations in Jamaica frequently involve failed expectations, mutual exploitation and domestic violence. Rather than utilizing the Family Courts as institutions of legal redress, many Jamaicans use the courts to punish or manipulate past and present partners. Women try to use the laws and courts to empower themselves in their relations with their baby-father, and men retaliate using laws intended to promote men's rights within the family. One of the major repercussions of relations with their baby-father, and men retaliate using laws intended to promote men's rights within the family. One of the major repercussions of the legislative changes is that it is being exploited for personal agendas rather than the welfare of children who are often used as pawns in their parent's disputes.;The data presented in this dissertation was collected by three methods: (1) participant observation, (2) an analysis of court indexes, files and detailed case studies and (3) interviews and a ranking test. |
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