We celebrate all of our women, our Great-grands, Grands, Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Wives, Daughters, Nieces, and Grand-Daughters on this International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024.
“Every year on March 8th, the world recognises International Women’s Day (IWD). It is a day for celebrating the economic, social, cultural, and political accomplishments of women and for celebrating Women’s Rights. In 1911, over a million people from Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland celebrated the first International Women’s Day. Today, in addition to celebrating women’s achievements, IWD is an opportunity to call for gender equality and justice.” Taken from the Human Rights Careers’ Article, March 2024 by Emmaline Soken-Huberty.
At GARP, we ask the question, as a country, have we done enough for our women? Do we have gender equality, why or why not? 50% of our population consists of women.
Firstly, we advocate for RESPECT. From this will flow equality across a range of disciplines, including schooling, jobs, promotions, placement at the Executive level; Equality of treatment in public domains, in public transport, ability to obtain financing for projects, business set up and education.
Some strategies that we can use to reduce gender inequality where it exists
Possibly we can start in the Home, ensuring equal treatment of Baby girls, daughters, and sisters. Wives must be respected, whether they are employed or not. Women are bright and intelligent, and can analyse just like men, or even better, especially when they bring their female intuition to the Table. We also speak to equality in the Wife/Husband relationship, then in the Village women will be respected, and in the wider society. This then sets the tone of how our daughters are treated, when they go out in the world, all men will deal with them in a respectful and equal manner. Husbands should be proud when their wives earn more money and/or, when the wife’s professional career takes off and she surpasses him in job status or rank.
In our tri-island nation, school placements are accessible by all genders and so too is mobility up to CXC/CAPE and Community College as well as Tertiary level Education. We need to build on equal opportunities in all types of jobs (previously the domain of their male counterparts, in Vehicle Mechanics, Plumbers, Masons, Veterinarians, Pilots, Engineers, etc.). We need to improve their working conditions, in the quality of washrooms, equality of pay for same jobs, equality of opportunities including upward mobility and training in business skills and leadership. We need to level the playing field to create Women Entrepreneurs with equal ability to raise Start-up and Capital financing, based on objective criteria, not gender.
Another major issue that we need to deal with is abuse and disrespect, at the elderly level, or as a wife, daughter, sister, or niece. We must confront elderly abuse and replace it with caring. We must stop the raping of our ladies. We must stop the violence against women. Men, because of their physical strength mistake their self-worth, leading to a false sense of superiority.
Women must feel safe in their homes, villages, cities, at nighttime and in retirement homes. Our yesterday heroes must not be treated as “worn out” ornaments. They are the ones who created this Country. As such we owe them, not abuse or abandonment, but to be taken care of, in a caring, respectful manner. THEY TOOK CARE OF US! ”Dat is my darling Mudder, Tantie, Grannie!”
Women must also carry themselves in a ladylike fashion, in private or public, as children, teenagers, adults. Self-respect is very important, as this begats respect!
Women can make the difference! They can make significant contributions at all Societal levels, once allowed.
Perhaps it is time, women take on all leadership positions in politics, industry, business, NGOs, the Church. Perhaps this may lead us into a happier world.
Today, GARP celebrates and congratulates all WOMEN!
The Executive of GARP