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.

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THANK YOU

FOR

LISTENING!!