Dear Editor,
March 8 is International Women’s Day, the special day when we celebrate how much women have achieved. We celebrate the various ways in which women have advanced in their careers and roles as independent, autonomous persons, with the ability to strive toward their full potential. We also celebrate the creative and innovative ways in which women are successfully contributing to the global community. Since the inauguration of International Women’s Day in 1914, the equality of women today has been much more fully realized. The World Economic Forum predicts that the gender gap would not close entirely until 2186. This is far too long a wait.
In its 50-year independence history, Guyanese women, while not in a position to lay claim to having broken through the proverbial glass ceiling, have nevertheless been instrumental in shaping the course of the country, something which should not be overlooked. This is in addition to the fact that women are the bedrock of the nation, the nurturers of our leaders of tomorrow.
However, in the face of progress, Guyana cannot lend a blind eye to the escalating rate of domestic violence perpetrated against both women and children, or the persistent monkey on the back of our health system—the high prevalence of maternal and neonatal deaths. Guyanese women like all women throughout the diaspora must ‘Be Bold for Change’, as this year’s theme demands.
A bold venture aimed at placing greater emphasis on change is required in the following areas: enrolment and attendance in schools, education, trafficking in persons, suicide, youth employment and vocational training.
Women are still struggling for equality with men, and are still much more likely to be the victim of all types of violence, to suffer having their labour valued less than that of the men, to assume the major responsibility for household tasks and caregiving, and to be dismally underrepresented in political and corporate leadership. International Women’s Day can serve as an impetus for driving greater change for women and moving closer to gender parity.
The fact that women in Guyana have made progress is clear; nevertheless the progress of a few does not in any way invalidate the suffering of the many. To quote Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
This is a call for all Guyanese women to take action, unite and continue to agitate in order to achieve the sought-after goal. After all women are the masters of multi-tasking.
As the most memorable day in the almanac for women is celebrated, I urge my sisters to be bold, not allowing the iron to get cold, and to continue in the fight for change which although seemingly distant is not out of range.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
