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Let’s hope viewpoints aren’t expressed incognito anymore
Dear Editor,
Thank you for publishing the letter from Concerned Guyanese (KN 31 December, 2012) about my ‘obsession’ with protesting the idea that we Guyanese need any kind of traditional British pub experience with ‘lovely lasses dressed as wenches’.
To the best of my knowledge, none of the contemporary pubs would refer to their female staff as wenches. The few women and men I know who worked in pubs were also protected from harassment. The culture which referred to some women as ‘wenches’ had no intention of such protections, and asking Guyanese to embrace such a culture is a step backwards in our efforts to promote equality for men and women.
Sexual harassment is often not identified as such, since harassing behaviour is seen to be part of the ‘normal’ masculine interactions. So it might not be surprising for some people to minimise or deny sexual harassment, even as they think of women as ‘wenches’.
In 2011, there was some discussion between some of our political leaders about the merits of those who drank in rum shops (bottom-house rum shops probably included) or in other places with more discriminating patrons. Guyana’s concerns about alcohol and the impact on our society are not restricted, however, to patrons of “bottom-house rum shops”, but to all establishments and the industry which operates in an atmosphere free from any kind of accountability.
As we move into 2013, let us hope that all Guyanese, concerned or otherwise, would feel free from fear and be able to identify themselves and own their viewpoints as we discuss issues publicly.
Vidyaratha Kissoon
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