IN HONOUR of last Sunday’s International Women’s Day, Street Beat spoke to a few special women to hear from them what they would like to see changed in Barbados’ policies, programmes and attitudes for the betterment of its female population.
Jaime Gittens is a vibrant young woman with the world ahead of her. While that has not changed, what has is her ability to walk due to multiple sclerosis, a degenerative muscle condition. She said she would like to see more understanding shown to women, whatever their situation.
“I would like to see fewer obstacles and more opportunities for women, whether pregnant or disabled. I need men to be cognisant of what makes us women, whether it be menopause or what; they need to understand it all makes us stronger and not belittle us for it,” she said.
Gittens was one of the participants in a recent sensitisation rally in The City. She went on to speak about a few of the issues she dealt with as a wheelchair user.
“As a sufferer of sclerosis, I have had people call my chair a pram and have experienced people either shouting at me like I cannot hear or failing to address me at all like I wasn’t there. Even work-wise, there are some facilities which are not disabled friendly and businesses need to understand that is an investment in their own futures,” she said.
Her friend, Stacy Johnson, echoed Gittens’ statements. While not a sclerosis sufferer, she was there to lend her support.
“To be honest, I feel there needs to be more opportunities for women in general and an understanding of the struggles we have to go through on a daily basis. As a dancer, when I tell people what I do, some assume it is exotic and many don’t respect us dancers anyway – both male and female – and don’t see it as a job,” she said.
Terry Hope lamented the lack of job opportunities for women and a general imbalance in terms of pay and power. She too uses a wheelchair and spoke of the disrespect she sometimes faced as well as the problems getting into certain places – not to mention even getting around.
Shanice Layne and Selma Lynch had different viewpoints on the matter. Both said women themselves had to take more responsibility in earning the respect due to them.
“Women do have rights although they are not always pursued. We women could do more but the question is, who will come forward to do it?” said Layne.
Even so, the young woman said she too would like to see the issues of equal pay and more women in Government addressed.
As for Lynch, she said she had to fight for everything she has and continues to fight and no one, woman or man, should expect anything to be handed them for free.
“I think women should start looking at life differently because we tend to get stuck in certain roles, then complain. If you see a system going on and it is not working for you then make the necessary changes in your perception to improve your station and make things better for yourself.
“If you keep depending on Government and they don’t come through then you’re still stuck. I have my problems but I have had to take charge of my own life; a blanket solution does not cover every problem and is not good for every case,” she said.
The fact that some of the issues highlighted by these women often veered away from strictly women’s rights issues shows how what affects women affects us all and cements the need for everyone to picture how empowering women empowers humanity.
carlosatwell@nationnews.com