Strides of the past must not be ignored – Human Service Minister cautions

Mar 09, 2014 News

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 – As IWD is observed

It was American birth control activist, educator and nurse, Margaret Sanger, who best encapsulated the ambitious role of women, at a time when women hadn’t a voice and didn’t even dare to seek a place in the wider society.
Moreover, one of Sanger’s most memorable and most forceful quotes, is “woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.”
The aforementioned quote was perhaps an inspiration to the many women across the globe as they struggled, and continue to do so, to realize gender equality which continues to attract a valiant fight on the part of many women.

Moreover, it was the many achievements of women, over the years, that were duly recognized yesterday when International Women’s Day (IWD) was observed.
Under the theme, ‘Equality for women is progress for all’ the world over celebrated women.
Speaking to the celebration of IWD, which is observed annually on March 8, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, emphasized that “it is a day of unity among women engaged in the quest for peace, democracy and equality.”
In fact she underscored that IWD “is a day when women – normally separated by language, race, nationality, political affiliation or by geography – are united in the observance of this day which has been variously seen as a time for assessing women’s political and social situation, for reviewing the progress made towards gender equity, or sometimes as a day for celebration.”
The Origin
IWD had its origin in women’s struggle for better conditions and improvement in their status.  Historically, it has been linked to the protest march of very humble women workers in a garment factory in New York in the mid 1850’s.
However, because of inadequate documentation, it has not been possible to identify the date of the first observance of IWD although there is evidence to support that it was observed locally in 1975 and has continued to be observed.
Detailing the history of the feminine fight, Minister Webster recalled, how the women struggled for a 10-hour working day, better wages, equal pay for equal work and equal rights for women: a clear reflection of the social conditions confronting them at the time and their resolve not to accept the status quo.
These resolute women, she disclosed, marched through New York and as they reached a wealthy area, the police broke up their march, arresting many of them.  The following year, on the same date, women working in the needle industry demonstrated in commemoration of the first protest march staged by their sisters in the garment factory.  They were also calling for better conditions, the end of sweatshops and of child labour. They were also stopped by the police.  News of these protests and the militancy of the women involved soon spread to other parts.
Closer to home
The movement, although it differed to some extent from the Western World, soon trickled down to Guyana and the Caribbean.
In fact an early tradition of struggle and activism was born out of experiences in shaking off the shackles of slavery and indentureship, followed by the exploitation of colonialism.
The period from the 1940’s through to the 1960’s, which saw the development of the spirit of nationalism and movement towards independence throughout the Caribbean Region, was characterized by militancy and political awareness among women.
“They were active participants in political parties,” outlined Minister Webster who noted that in Guyana there was the strident call for adult suffrage that was achieved in 1945 with certain conditions.
She further pointed out that the launching pad for women’s political activities in Guyana could be said to be the emergence of the Women’s Political and Economic Organization formed by Janet Jagan, Winifred Gaskin and Frances Van Stafford.  “This was a formal structure, which gave direction to the social, economic and political development of women and prompted the improvement of the status of women,” recounted Minister Webster.
And soon after followed the development of several other social and political organizations, chief among the Women’s Progressive Organisation and the Women’s Auxiliary of the People’s National Congress, which later became known as the WRSM.  Links were also established with Women’s Socialist Movements in Europe and Guyanese women became part of the international network.
According to Minister Webster, “this glimpse of the history of IWD has merely highlighted the enormous strength and determination of some of the women who went before us, and the role they played in establishing the foundation on which today’s (March 8) achievements have been grounded.” Moreover, Minister Webster emphasized that the time is opportune to ensure that the strides of the past are not ignored even as she urged that efforts be made to “chronicle today’s achievements for those who follow us.”

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