“Women and Men in Partnership”? Until Such Time…

by Earl Bousquet

International Women’s Day is that one day every year when the world’s attention is focused on the state and status of women; a day when almost every aspect of a woman’s existence is examined within the context of the national or international situation; when women celebrate their achievements and agitate for long delayed changes in how each society thinks and acts in relation to its women.

Not many women here and elsewhere will know anything about Clara Zetkin and her role in making International Women’s Day a reality. Not many will know that this day has been celebrated for almost 100 years, being celebrated in the USA for the first time as far back as 1909.

In St. Lucia, we began observing IWD in the 70s – just before and after Independence. It has become a tradition, but for many it’s also just a routine. Every year on March 8, we reflect and project. However, it would appear that after March 8, we forget about the state and status of women until the next celebration of International Women’s Day. There seems to be little follow-up in promoting, defending and agitating for women’s interest in a serious and effective way beyond March 8.

The issues that affect women here affect women elsewhere as well, even though there may be specific issues of interest to women here as against elsewhere. But they need more than just symbolic mention on the day itself.

Of course, there are those among us who promote simplistic arguments about women’s issues that unfairly place them within the context of “Men vs Women”. Such persons – on both sides of the gender divide – see and react to the dynamics of gender relationships from the standpoint of their own gender. Men see women as “wanting to take over” and women see men as “wanting to keep us down.” Women who break through the proverbial “Glass Ceiling” are being accused of “abandoning ordinary women” and men married to successful women are either described as “a lazy Man-You-Must” or “a parasite” who’s “taking advantage of his wife.” Some women see women who have broken the barriers in a male-dominated society as having “betrayed and left behind those who are less fortunate.” And some women feed this view by employing statements and engaging in actions that alienate even those men who have been won to the cause of women, with statements such as “it’s women’s time now” and “no men allowed” – leaving no possibility for accommodating or considering the man’s point of view.

An unscientific survey on “Lucians” on DBS TV two Sunday nights ago revealed a serious truth. About a dozen women were asked “What would you change about men if you had the chance…” (or words to that effect). About ten gave the same answer, using the same words: “their attitude to women.” That said a lot about just how much our women are keeping stifled inside them about their men – husbands, boyfriends or whatever.

Another very important factor that is of deep interest to St. Lucian women – even if they don’t openly talk about it – is that of rape. Under our laws, rape goes by many different names: it’s also called incest, carnal knowledge, indecent assault, sexual assault, unlawful sex, sex without consent and a host of other legal descriptions. The bottom line, however, is that this crime – which affects too many St. Lucian women – is not sufficiently punishable. Under our laws, rape – by whatever name – is only punishable by a fine of “no more than one thousand dollars” and/or a jail sentence of “no less than six months, but no more than two years.” Now, here’s something that really should occupy the minds of our women – and men – beyond International Women’s Day.

The progress of women in any society cannot only be measured in terms of increased mention or limited consideration of problems affecting them as they arise. While some problems may be specific, many others also affect the entire society. That’s because – especially in our case – women comprise more than half our population. If women are chained or hindered, therefore, it means that half our human resources are anchored.

The existence of a Ministry of Gender Relations with a woman at the head over the past five years and the recent and ongoing strengthening of the administrative and operational capacity of that department have yielded some tangible results. For one, the government’s subvention to the St. Lucia Crisis Centre has doubled, the Women’s Shelter has been delivered and legislation protecting the rights of women have been strengthened. The basis exists to facilitate even more progress over the next five years in areas that are even more deep and fundamental to the direct existence of many more women.

But until such time as men and women realize that this is not a fight of women against men, or vice versa; until our men and women realize this is not about taking over or giving up; until the society itself realizes that neither gender can be totally free if any is in chains or denied of equality; until such time, too many among us will continue to see International Women’s Day as only a symbolic celebration of the achievements of some women here and elsewhere, while the cause of the majority is ignored.

Until such time, the most we can do is wish, pray and hope that we will live to see the day when men and women will realize that we are equal representatives of humankind.

Until such time, one can only hope that this year’s observance of International Women’s Day would have paved the way for the dawn of the new day when men and women in our country will join hands in the common struggle to liberate our minds from the mental slavery that still has us seeing each other as competing genders in a world built to be shared equally.

March 10, 2002

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