EMPOWERING WOMEN!

Mar 15, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, Guyana and the rest of the world celebrated the 105th anniversary of International Women’s Day.” Guyanese did so, mindful of the little progress that has been made in relation to gender equality, but acknowledged that there is still a long way to go.
It was a good opportunity for the nation to reflect on where it needs to go and what must be done to respect and treat women as equal partners in society. But after decades of seeing females constantly outperforming males at all levels of the education system, Guyana as a whole has not adjusted itself to match this reality.
Although several reports have shown that women have achieved near equality in terms of educational attainment in Guyana, yet the rate of participation in the political and economic systems remains low. This suggests that the theory of the glass ceiling remains a very real one in society.
No matter how many women today are CEOs and Directors of Companies, they are still being looked upon by some men as encroaching on a male’s territory. The solution to gender inequality must involve a mixed bag of strategies. The government ought to know that gender equality and women’s rights are critical to securing sustainable development and unity in the country.
In the first place, in relation to political participation, all political parties must take steps to nurture female politicians and must also afford them the opportunity to become leaders of the parties. For too long the leadership of two major parties in Guyana have been dominated by men. They should move beyond appointing females to head women’s sub-groups and instead demonstrate true political will.
Politicians need to set an example for the next generation of women and for the general population. Also, the private sector must take steps to encourage diversity. In this regard, it should treat women with respect and appoint them to high posts, even if the problem of the old boys’ club remains. It is time to shatter the old boys club and the glass ceiling mentality which is primitive. Such attitudes will stall economic growth.
Gender equality must start in the schools but it does not because the schools have not kept an eye on the issue. Social studies have been limited to questions of the administrative organs of the State and how they function, or to the narrative of nationhood.
Schools should place particular emphasis on the role of women in the country’s history and also advance civic values to support the equal status of women. It is time for the Ministry of Education and all other stakeholders to widen the curriculum to include the role and status of women and gender equality and encourage explicit dialogue on the matter with students, both male and female.
In the home, there are clearly very real challenges to the idea that men are the head of the household when in fact both partners should manage the home equally. Since the turn of the 20th century, women have been battling with the in-home male dominated syndrome which has frustrated them as they seek to have both a family and a career.
Furthermore, there have been real failures of parenting. The men who savagely attack, beat and murder women probably learn from some source in early life, that it is acceptable behaviour to demean, devalue and abuse women.
The media have a meaningful role to play in promoting gender equality and in educating men to change their 16th century thoughts and warped mentality of women. As the Fourth Estate, the media must take the lead in changing the influence of how men value women. The same is true for the government, women’s groups, churches and organizations.
Unfortunately, the message which is often sent militates against gender equality women rights rather than reinforces them.
Helen Reddy’s song: I am woman hear me roar, should empower women and girls in society and encourage the male species to do better.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News