Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The fight is still bitter against institutions and structures that are dominated by men

Mar 08, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,
March 8th commemorates a celebration and reflection on women and their important contributions to their localities and the world at large. Crucially, what differentiates International Women’s Day from International Men’s Day is that women in particular had to fight through a series of struggles in their sociopolitical reality. Some of these struggles include, but are not limited to, being recognized as a cognitive agent endowed with freedom and choice, and an equal to men with respect to wisdom and understanding. Women have long endured male privilege that was a force that opposed their elevation in society, which commonly consists of institutions or companies predominantly occupied by men. Fundamentally, it is male insecurity, that functioned as a threat and active suppression to encouraging and enabling women’s independence, autonomy, and their important relevance in politics.
Although the world, especially Guyana, has made major progress regarding women’s rights, the woman’s struggle continues. Today, they are still fighting the system to assert respect and ensure their public safety. Some of these include:
· The freedom to dress according to preference, and not an invitation to be harassed or, worse, raped.
· The freedom to express an idea without being downplayed as intellectually lacking.
· Access to affordable or possibly free birth control (a matter of choice) and menstruation kits (a matter of nature).
In other places around the world, the fight is still bitter against institutions and structures that are dominated by men that compel policy about women from a man’s perspective of what their value and needs should entail. And there are debates within societies that have strong customs and traditions about the role of women that have been the norm for hundreds of years.
Perhaps the single most pressing issue Guyana must confront is violence against women and children. Regarding women, it is despairing to know how common it is for women to experience violence, sometimes leading to their deaths, caused by a partner, such as a spouse or boyfriend. The statistics show an alarming increase in the number of domestic violence cases that go officially reported. As a society, we must study the cause for this level of tragedy to know how to respond best and promptly.
Regarding children, I know what it is like as a child to bear witness to everyday violence in and out of the home. To witness parents, neighbours and teachers at public schools use violence as a means of ‘correction’ warped my early childhood’s understanding of how to be better than those who did a misdeed. Psychologists inform us that for any child to witness violence at a tender age, violence will likely be considered a normal response. Because violence used at home or school implies it is a ‘good’ method of correction, which it is not, the effect it has on children is that they too will mature the idea that violence is an acceptable way to deal with problems. We see this occur especially with boys. Yet, we sit and wonder why our society is becoming vile and savage, and why children are behaving aggressively in schools.
Furthermore, the fact that we find it reprehensible when an adult woman is hit, we ought to find it equally morbid to hit children who are still developing to become adults.
In closing, I would like to congratulate all the women who hold senior positions in Guyanese society. Their boldness and efforts will be admired for decades to come. Also, to those who are victims of domestic violence, women or children, please seek help. It can be with a close friend or family member, or an institution that can offer comfort or support. One institution I would recommend that is highly undervalued, but incredibly invaluable is the Red Thread Association.
Yours truly,
Ferlin F. Pedro

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championships

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad 2025 Caribbean Boxing...

Feb 10, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has officially announced the national training squad, with the country’s top pugilists vying for selection to represent Guyana at the 2025...
Read More
Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower ahead of Season Seven Elite League

Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower...

Feb 10, 2025

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi showdown with defending champs

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi...

Feb 10, 2025

DCC executive laud Savory, Imlach for champion performances

DCC executive laud Savory, Imlach for champion...

Feb 10, 2025

Dozens of young chess players participate in Kitty Square Mall U-16 C/ship

Dozens of young chess players participate in...

Feb 10, 2025

Shai Hope claims Green Belt and Dispatch of the Season in ILT20 Triumph

Shai Hope claims Green Belt and Dispatch of the...

Feb 10, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Forward to the past

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Guyana’s debt profile, both foreign and domestic, has become a focal point of economic... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]