By Nicosia Smith
City cosmetologists, through a Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) and United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) sponsored programme, are forging a path toward behavioural change through their service as they learn about gender violence and its causes.
Over 40 barbers and hairstylists on Wednesday discussed gender and roles in sexual behaviour as these relate to gender-based violence, in a workshop on gender at the Nurses’ Association, in Alexander and Charlotte Streets.
Gender, it was explained, as opposed to sex, refers to our socialization, the way we behave, act, and dress as men and women, as well as the way these roles are internalized, stereotyped and taught.
During the workshop participants learnt that gender-based violence can be caused by low academic achievement, gender norms which support male superiority, the witnessing of violence as a child, a previous history of abuse and the media. And they were encouraged to stop stereotyping and have an open mind. Several role-plays were carried out in this regard, and through video footage they were told that sexual violence was something which was learnt.
Stylist Fidel Nwua, of Beverly and Wonder Salon at Orange Walk, said the workshop had taught her that there were certain things people did not know about gender and violence.
And in this regard, she had learnt how to better express herself and in her line of work relate to men and women exposed to gender-based violence.
Vice-President Marcia Trotz of the newly formed Cosmotologists Association, and a stylist at the Modfin Salon, in Church and Thomas Streets, explained that over a two-year period she had attended workshops hosted by the UNFPA on topics like HIV/AIDS and was now attending the gender component. Through these workshops, said Trotz, she would be able to find solutions when dealing with clients; for example, a client may reveal a particular situation of abuse, and instead of jumping to conclusions based on what she was being told, she would be able to relate using the information from the workshop. For instance, she would be able to ascertain the bases of the violence and what influenced it.
Barber Sean Graham, of Golden Smile Barber Shop on Croal Street, although noting that the workshop was very informative and interactive, felt that the discussions had dealt with the man’s perspective mainly, and that they should have been more wide ranging. It was also his view that there should have been more discussions on gender violence, since it was a very big problem which was highlighted every day in the news.
UNFPA Gender Coordinator, Daren Torrington attached to the GRPA and the workshop facilitator told this newspaper that the workshops were being organized to raise awareness on the integral role gender played in sexual behaviour, and to equip participants with this knowledge so they could interface with business clients in bringing about sexual behavioural change.
These workshops are expected to be held monthly until December, but Torrington visits city salons and barber shops every week, giving talks and sharing out female condoms. There are plans to take a similar programme to other regions. The facilitator said that this programme was important because of the fact that barber shops and hair salons catered to people both at the “grassroot levels” and the elite, and the UNFPA thought it was best to get the message of behavioural change across through this method. Some of the participants in the gender workshop had already graduated from a HIV/AIDS programme facilitated through Youth Challenge Guyana. Torrington took over the programme from Youth Challenge in June and has added a gender component. He will also be holding a HIV/AIDS workhop.
Cosmotologists interested in learning more about the programme may contact Torrington through the GRPA.
