Post on 17-Jul-2015
The Status of
Women in Jamaica
Taitu A Heron
Manager, Social Development & Gender Unit
PLANNING INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA
Presentation to Kencot Seventh Day Adventist Church
March 1, 2008
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WOMEN AND DEMOGRAPHICS
50.7 % of the population
About 85% of African descent
2% of Indian descent
3% mixed African and European descent
3% mixed African and Indian descent
2% Chinese descent
4% other mixedSource: ESSJ 2006; Gender in Caribbean Development, 2004.
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WOMEN AND EDUCATION
Daily attendance rates were better for girls through out the three levels of the education system
At the higher level of the education system, the females were more represented
Female tertiary level students are over-represented in the humanities and sciences.
Females out-performed males at all three levels of the education system
The survival rates to Grade 5 for the girls have been consistently higher than those for the boys
The literacy level is higher among females
The literacy rates show that for the 75-and-over age group, five of ten Jamaican women were functionally literate.
Women practice “self exclusion’ and gravitate to “soft subjects” at the higher levels of education. Gender socialization in the schools facilitates this phenomenon.
Despite the numerical advantage in the education system, women are poorly positioned to command a strong position in the labour market
Training opportunities offered along gender stereotype lines (rather than labour market needs): hospitality, customer service, cosmetology, welding, mechanics, sewing, etc.)
Source: Gender & Achievement in Secondary Education in Jamaica; ESSJ 2005-2006; Gender Issues in Caribbean Education, ed. Barbara Bailey.
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WOMEN AND POVERTY
The percentage of female- headed households in the rural areas in poverty was higher than those in the other towns and the KMA.
Female-headed household consumption plummeted by as much as 14 percent in contrast to male-headed households, whose consumption fell by 1.7 percent
In the absence of consistent male support/presence, female headed households face triple burdens: childbearing/rearing, employment and managing households, they lack the time and resources needed for them to escape poverty and improve their employability
Poor females tend to gravitate towards seeking employment, male dependency, remittances, commercial sex
Source: The Status of Men and Women in Jamaica, Desk Review, 2005; The National Gender Policy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; National Gender Task Force, Gender Sector Plan, 2nd Draft, December 2006; ESSJ 2006.
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WOMEN AND LABOUR
The female participation rate has been consistently lower than that of males
Gender differentials in unemployment were evident with the female unemployment rate, more than twice that of men. The male unemployment rate was 7.9 while the female unemployment rate was 16.9.
Although, women are accessing education more and performing better in the education system, their access to employment is lower than that of men.
Youth unemployment is a major concern, 33% of our youth eligible for employment are out of work. Young women face higher rates of unemployment than do young men.
At the highest level of decision making, whether in on executive boards, courts or in parliament, women remain a minority.
Even if women and men have similar trends in educational attainment, gender norms and stereotypes can result in women acquiring different levels of education
Women dominate in the sectors that are less paid and least protected
Protection provided by unions is still less accessible to women.
There is no recognition of sexual harassment in our laws
Source: The Status of Men & Women in Jamaica, 2005, NGTF Sector Plan, ESSJ 2005-2006; Youth in Jamaica:
Meeting their Development Needs, NCYD, MOEY, 2002.
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WOMEN AND HEALTH
Maternal mortality rates have not significantly improved through the years
There was an increase in pregnancies among adolescents who are still at school, particularly secondary (42.2 per cent in 1997 to 48.3 per cent in 2002) and post secondary (from 6.5 per cent to 11.1 per cent).
The proportion of unplanned pregnancies among younger adolescents increased to 97.4 per cent in 2002, up from 90.9 in 1997.
Data from the Ministry of Health show that females access the public health centers more than the males
More female children report depressive disorders.
Females in the age groups 10-19 years and 20-29 years are more likely than males to be infected with AIDS;
Married women between age 35-49 are more susceptible to HIV/AIDs than are prostitutes
Source: ESSJ 2005-2006, MOH Annual Report, 2005
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WOMEN AND ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
Because of their domination in the service sectors, women are more susceptible to external shocks.
The micro enterprise sector is used as a holding ground for low-skilled labour-predominantly female and is not currently structured to contribute to technological or economic growth
Women earn lower wages than men for the same or similar types of jobs in the agricultural sector
Women, especially working class women have been economically dislocated as a result of globalization and trade liberalization, restructuring and downsizing in some sectors
In all parishes, women owned the least amount of agricultural land
Women often did own account work on agricultural land, or did unpaid agricultural labour.
The majority of women who own farms are small holders with an average farm size significantly smaller than that of the men’s.
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WOMEN AND POWER: RESPONSIBILITIES & DECISION MAKING (PRIVATE & PUBLIC)
Predominance of female-headed households & perpetuation of the triple burden
Women have an unequal share of responsibility for the social & emotional development of the family and the community
Increase in aggressive/violent displays of power through domestic violence, child abuse, and gender-based violence
Women are a minority at highest levels of decision-making (ministerial posts and in Cabinet)
Women are a minority in local government politics
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WOMEN AND VIOLENCE
Some women play a negative role in “protecting” and “supporting” the male criminals.
Increase in sexual violence over the years, women are the majority of victims;
Over 60% of female victims of sexual violence below 18 yrs.
Noticeable trend of young women becoming involved in gun crimes, gang memberships, etc.
Rape as reprisal and sexual servitude of young girls to Dons in organized crime.
A significant number of cases of physical child abuse cases in family court are against single mothers.
A clear relationship does not exist between law reform, public education and court cases with violence against women and girls.
Source: The Status of Men and Women in Jamaica, Desk Review, 2005; The National Gender Policy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment;
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WOMEN AND CULTURE
Many of the gender inequalities persist because of culture: prevailing beliefs, values and attitudes about roles and positions of men vis a vis women
Women as passive, subordinate, emotional, irrational, born to be led, can’t make our own decisions, should not have control over own bodies and so on.
Many of the biases and attitudes that exist towards women are cultural, based on socialization, religious background and education.
The very contributors that create the biases are ironically the same ones that will facilitate a better environment for women to empower themselves and to fulfill their potential without these “hindrances”.
Influence of the media on negative gender representations of the body
The role of popular culture on gender identities mirrors gender stereotypical views and promotes hyper-masculinities and female objectification.
Discussion of sex and sexuality in a negative light is the norm
Gender socialization and the development of life-coping skills: girls are raised to be inside (supervised, given tasks) boys are raised to be outside (less supervision, less or no tasks) is the cultural norm
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However, with all of those
challenges…..
Women are still extraordinary queens whether as mothers, professionals, wives sisters or any other hat we juggle.
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In the tradition of Jamaican Women
Pioneers of our History: Queen Nanny of the Maroons
Mary Clarke
Mary Seacole
Nancy Prince
Una Marson
Daphne Campbell
Amy Jacques Garvey
Amy Bailey
Gladys Bustamante
Louise Bennett
Angela King
Wytne Patterson
AND SO MANY OTHERS, NAMED AND UNNAMED IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS.
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Dorcas Lee “no ordinary teacher”
Dedicated teacher for over 30 years (design arts,
spanish and Mathematics to Grades 7, 8 & 9)….in St
Catherine.
Who is this woman: “she has molded young minds,
guided the wayward, mothered hundreds and
enforced discipline and has given soft and tough
love to many”.
Why: “deeply concerned with the development of young
minds and loves the hearts of children”.
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Opal Slater: Chemical Technologist
and Fish processor - Innovative
Director of her own company, a fish
processing facility – Coral Cuisine
Utilizes its own formulation of herbs and
spices to produce “jerked smoked fish”.
She intends to fulfill an under-serviced
smoked seafood market
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Colleen Yearce Williams: Asst VP,
Financial Control, Pan Caribbean
Pioneering woman in finance and
accounting
Worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers
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Alaine Barrett: Determined Parent
Single mother with one son
Lost her partner to gun warfare while she was pregnant
When her child at ten years declared that he wanted to be a gun man, Alaine doubled her efforts at the PTA and in her community and now runs a parenting group in her inner city area. Her son, at 17 is now a sixth former at a good high school and wants to “fly Air Jamaica planes”.
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Yanique Henry: Extraordinary heart
of a woman who was raped
Raped when she was 17 years and took the morning after pill but still became pregnant. Despite people encouraging her to abort the child she chose to have the baby because “is my body so mi jus decide dis way too”.
Sometimes she looks at the child and hates her because of what the man did to her but she says she still has to love her because “de child nuh know how mi can blame har; so mi jus’ try”.
Having dropped out of school because of the rape pregnancy, she is currently an exotic dancer struggling to “find a better way out by de time de chil reach high school”.
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Kerine Miller: Young TV Host
blazing a trail (27 yrs old)
Started her own production company Uber House Ltd.
Youngest TV hosts – CVM’s FusionXYZ
Her TV programme for her is about “changing people’s mindset, how they think about things and be able to provide a resolution… and to positively impact the youth especially children”.
Other plans: a performing arts troupe for kids, a kiddies TV show.
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Romelda Aitken: 19 y-o Star
netballer blazing trails in Australia
National senior netball team goal shooter
Accepted an offer to play for Australian
Team – “Queensland Firebirds” in semi-
professional league.
She has played for 3-time JNBS Open
league and 5-time Berger Paints Super
league champions
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Sister Benedict Chung: 60 years of
being a Queen Angel of Mercy
Affectionately called the Queen of Central Kingston
She operates the Laws St Trade Training Centre
She established a feeding and health programmes, trained youth to be come bakers, caterers and garment makers;
Many of us who know of the infamous Green Bay massacre of 1978, those who survived sought haven at her establishment.
Michael Manley said of her “Sister Benedict is one of the rare human beings whose life exemplify Christianity…by her very action she proves every hour and every day that she does love her neighbour as she does herself”.
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Daphne Douglas: first Jamaican woman to
be named Professor (in 1974)
Dedicated to library science and the acquisition of knowledge resources
A pioneer in her field, determined not to be daunted by gender discrimination, in reflection she said, “instead of hiding behind a plea of female discrimination, I jumped inside the men’s arena, challenged them and won”.
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Sade Dunbar: Bright and shining
already
2008 Spelling Bee champion
Zalia McCalla: Top post in Judiciary
Recently appointed Chief Justice, with 22
years of on the bench, including
international experience
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Jamaican women in conclusion
Challenged by social, economic, political circumstances
Nevertheless have proven to be strong, resilient always striving to go forward
Yet… with hardships some of us don’t make it
Some need guidance
Some need love
Some need empathy
Some need respect
Some need support
We deserve to live in dignity as human beings
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Because…
The problems that women face are far from over. Some are caused by men and sometimes women themselves make it harder for other women.
But this phenomenon will begin to fade when we also value our own worth and promote that value.
Children help. Sunsets help. Good men help. The beach helps. Learning about other women help. Meditation helps. Prayer helps. Connecting with our inner spiritual power, our Divine connection with the Godess, the feminine side of God, helps and empowers us all.
Adapted from Marianne Williamson’s A Woman’s Worth.
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Why?
We are queens. We are worthy, born of love, and nurtured in divine consciousness. She is integrity and value. She is no joke. She is all of us. And we are her. She is Divine. And so are we. Nothing less is acceptable.