Haiti What is life like for Caribbean women? Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai What is life like for Caribbean women? Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai

HaitiHaiti

What is life like for Caribbean women?

Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai

What is life like for Caribbean women?

Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai

HaitiHaiti

HaitiHaiti

Haitian Development Statistics


Demographics:• Population 7,803,000• Annual Growth Rate ~2.1%• Expected Population (20-30 years) over 12.5 million

Quality of Life:• Infant Mortality Rate 95.23 deaths/1000 live births• Fertility Rate 4.4 children born/woman• Life Expectancy at Birth 49.38 years (total)

– For Women 51.17 years– For Men 47.67 years

• Maternal Mortality Rate 600/100,000 annual live births• HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate 5.17%• People Living with AIDS 210,000


(continued)


(continued)Economic Structure:• National GDP (PPP) $12.7 billion• % GDP from Exports 12.4%• GDP Per Capita $1,800• Export Composition by Sector

– Agriculture 32%– Industry 20%– Services 48%

• % of Population Below the Poverty Line 80%

Education:• Adult Literacy Rate 48% (total)

– For Women 46%– For Men 50%

Women & EducationWomen & Education• Haiti’s postcolonial leaders promoted education,

at least in principle. The 1805 constitution called for a free and compulsory primary education.

• The Concordat was signed with the Vatican in 1860

• The Roman Catholic Church sent clerical teachers from France, Vatican City.– They concentrated their lessons on promoting the

greatness of France, the backwardness of Haiti, and the lack of capacity for self rule.

• The curriculum remained basically unchanged until the 1980’s.

Women & EducationWomen & Education• In the majority of

Latin America & the Caribbean, 95% of children attend primary school.

• In Haiti & Bolivia, only 70% of children attend primary school.

Women & EducationWomen & Education• Only 1 out of 4 children

have a place to sit in a classroom.

• mid 1980’s – – More than ½ of Haiti’s

urban population primary school students dropped out.

– In rural areas, the dropout rate was 80%.

• Dropout and repetition rates are so high, 3 out of 5 primary school students are in the 1st or 2nd grade.

Women’s LiteracyWomen’s Literacy

• Only about 30% of Haitian children ever begin school, and of the 30%, only 2% stay in school beyond the 5th grade.

– These are usually the children of the elite.

• Illiteracy rate is the highest in the Americas.

Multiple Benefits of Girl’s Education

Multiple Benefits of Girl’s Education

• Increased family incomes• Later marriages• Reduced fertility rates• Reduced infant and maternal mortality

rates• Better nourished & healthier children &

families• Greater opportunities & life choices for

women (inc. better chances to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS)

Promoting Health through Education of

Women

Promoting Health through Education of

Women“In study after study done around the world, the single most important investment any country can make in improving social and economic conditions is to invest in girls’ and women's education.”

Hilary ClintonNov. 21, 1998

“Haiti’s educational system has utterly failed for as many as half of the nation’s children.”

Sheldon Shaefferof UNICEF

Women’s HealthWomen’s Health• Health Expenditure $21 /capita (in US $)• Malnourishment: (one of the major causes of childhood

deaths)

– In 1978 77% of children in Haiti– In 1995 28% of children in Haiti

• Other major causes of death• 85% of adult population live in malarial areas• In 1984 < 20% of population had toilets or

latrines• Only ¼ rural population had access to potable

water

Women’s Health & AIDS

Women’s Health & AIDS

• In 1987 1500 suffered from AIDS in Haiti• In 1997 190,000 suffered from AIDS in Haiti

– This is approx. 5.17% of the entire country.• In 1987 2 out of every 5 AIDS patients in

Haiti were women

• Many cases contracted through heterosexual intercourse and routine blood transfusions with unscreened blood to women after childbirth

• At least 70% of the female prostitutes are infected

Health ServicesHealth Services

• Concentrated in the capital area• 1 doctor for every 6,600 people• 1 nurse for every 8,000 people

– In the poorest areas, 1 doctor for 21,000 people

– That would be the equivalent to there being 337 in the state of Virginia

(for a population of 7,078,515)

Domestic Violence Against Women

Domestic Violence Against Women

• Violence accepted as normal behavior• No special legislation on domestic

violence exists• Quite prevalent across classes• Most common forms are battering and

psychological assault• Justified by men as a result of female

disrespect• Violence goes unreported 66% of the

time

Sexual Violence Against Women

Sexual Violence Against Women

• Rape is a crime, but not a serious one– Marital rape is not a crime– Sexual harassment is hardly considered a

violation

• Existing laws place blame on women• No rehabilitation programs for

women/girls in prostitution

Political Violence Against Women

Political Violence Against Women

• Cycle of violence occurs:– When women support, or are related

to supporters of, democracy– In the evening, in the victims’ homes– By attackers who are masked men,

usually dressed in military uniform• Violate women, abduct the men of the

house, leave victims to fend for themselves

• Results in psychological trauma, socioeconomic problems, and STDs, including HIV/AIDS

EconomicsEconomics

HistoryHistory• Most Haitian and Caribbean women came to

the Caribbean either as slaves from Africa or as indentured servants from India.

• Women of African and Indian descent, were offered release from the patriarchal control of individual men in their own households when forced to work alongside the men as equals in the fields.

• After slavery, the Haitian and Caribbean woman’s participation in the labor force continued to be very high despite pressures to conform to the Victorian ideology of “housewifization.”

The Global Feminization Of Labor


The Factory Workers

• Working Conditions:1) Low wages (36 gourdes per hour = US$1.30)2) No fringe benefits3) No unions permitted

• Factors influencing suitability of Haitian and Caribbean females for assembly type employment:

1) The industry is labor-intensive2) Women are less likely to unionize3) Women are cheaper to employ4) Women are more patient5) Women have fewer employment options due to the

gendered nature of their education

The Small Farmer

1) Usually female and made worse off by the new export oriented agricultural which benefits larger male farmers

2) Hold on domestic market threatened by import of food

3) Little access to credit and foreign market


(continued)


(continued)

The Entrepreneur

• Economically marginalized due to negative perceptions of female economic behavior by local and international officials who shape policy and allocate funds. Perceptions include:

1) Concentration in female type endeavors2) Fear of expansion and partnership3) Overemphasis on employing female or family

workers4) Risk aversion5) Work/home role conflict


(continued)


(continued)

The Result Of Women’s Participation In The Economy—

The Double Paradox

The Result Of Women’s Participation In The Economy—

The Double Paradox • Paradox #1:

– Female autonomy as expressed in their labor force and the matrilocal and matrifocal structures exists within larger structure of patriarchy through male political dominance

• Paradox #2:– Patriarchy in absentia-the result of matrilocal

residential patterns and gender specific migration• Ideological conflict between female economic autonomy

and the Victorian concept of “housewifization”• New demand for female labor has increased education

and decreased fertility

Recommendations For Female Economic Empowerment


1) Microlending:• Structure and implementation – The Trickle Up program in

Haiti • Necessary because most women in poverty cannot access

real banks due to lack of collateral and confidence • Evidence of Success—

1) In February 1997 over 600 microlending agencies operating in over 140 developing countries met for the world micro credit summit

2) The constant access to capital allows women to build businesses slowly but surely

3) Acting as their own bankers builds confidence and offers group support

4) positive social impact: better quality food, clothing and education for their children

2) Creating backward linkages:• Small women farmers can potentially play

a large role in creating a necessary backward link between agriculture and tourism

3) Literacy in all its forms:• Technological, academic, social, political

and financial will provide women with resources as yet unavailable to them and will empower them to more wisely use the resources that are available



PoliticsPolitics

HistoryHistory• All over the world women find it difficult to vote

• Ironically women make up 50% of the world’s population

• Women are not welcome or easy additions to the political process. Some of the challenges they face range from:

• The dominance of the patriarchal system • The lack of total saturation into the political party • Limited or no contact with public organizations such as trade

unions, women’s association and NGOs • The lack of educational programs geared towards

strengthening female leadership • Cultural mores that dictate that political careers are for men;

further attributing to women’s low self esteem and confidence

The Structure of the Haitian Political System

The Structure of the Haitian Political System

• Haiti is a Republic

• There are about 60 political parties, of which 29 are registered. Some of these parties are: – Alliance pour l'Avancement d'Haïti (ALAH),

Reynold GeorgesAlliance for the Advancement of Haiti

– Congrès National des Mouvements Démocratiques (KONAKOM),Victor BenoîtNational Congress of Democratic Movements

– Organisation du Peuple en Lutte (OPL),[précédemment "Organizasyon Politik Lavalas"]Gérard Pierre-CharlesOrganization of the People in Struggle

Political Parties (continued)

Political Parties (continued)

– Fanmi Lavalas,Jean-Bertrand AristideLavalas Family

– Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie (FNCD),Evans PaulNational Front for Change and Democracy

– Mouvement pour l'Organisation du Pays (MOP),Gesner Comeau, Jean MolièreMovement for the Organization of the Country

– Pati Louvri Barye (PLB), Renaud BernardinOpen the Gate Party

Influence of Religion on Politics

Influence of Religion on Politics

• Haiti has a long history of dictatorship and poverty; the masses have depended on religion for help

– 95% of the population in Roman Catholic – The masses practice Voodoo (black magic) – The politics of religion in Haiti is best

personified in the Reverend Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Women’s Right to Vote Women’s Right to Vote

• Haitian women were given the right to vote and stand for election in 1950

• The Duvalier Regime (1957-1986) took this franchise away

Women in Major Political Positions


• Haiti’s first female president, Ertha Truillot– The first female High Court Judge (1986-90)– Brought to power by the U.S. Embassy

• Claudette Werleigh, economist – Became Minister of Social Affairs (1990-91)– The first woman prime minister of Haiti– Foreign Minster of Haiti– Later on she became an UN official

• Lise Marie Dejean– Minister of the Feminine Condition and Women’s

Rights

• Marie-Laurence Lassegue– Former Minister of Information– Current member of the provisional Electoral council

• Presently, there are 5 women in the Aristide-Neptune government under:

– The Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports– The Ministry of Social Affairs– The Ministry of Tourism– The Ministry of Women’s Affairs– Secretary of State for Literacy



Women’s Organization and the Political Process

Women’s Organization and the Political Process

• International Women’s Democracy Center (IWDC) in Haiti

• Haitian Women in Solidarity (SOFA)

• FANM YO LA – Women are here!

• Hope for Haiti Foundation (Grassroots Female Empowerment)

Suggestions for Political Advancement

Suggestions for Political Advancement

• Women’s Organizations

• Simplified bureaucratic procedures

• Implementing a quota system

SOFA (Haitian Women’s Solidarity)

SOFA (Haitian Women’s Solidarity)

Declared the following to be women’s rights, synonymous with human rights:

• The right to life; • The right to organize; • The right to speech; • The right to justice; • The right to control their bodies; • The right to education; • The right to their own space; • The right to participate in national political

decisions; • The right to live as people, as women.

March 1995

Documents

Haiti What is life like for Caribbean women? Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai What is life like for Caribbean women? Kesha, Kim, Melissa, Pheabe & Sai