Dear Editor,
As we observe the United Nations International Women’s Day, 2017 (March 8), under the theme ‘Be Bold for Change’, it is fitting to pay homage, as a young woman myself, to the women before me who have paved the way for this nation which is not afraid to promote women, the Guyana I have come known and love.
Women’s traditional role in society has changed and developed to reflect the intellectually beautiful, bold, strong and courageous creatures that we are. Women can vote, stand for election, own property and bank account(s), work after marriage, hold religious office, among many other things which women of the past could not have done, things which some of us take for granted today. Women have even travelled to the moon, and regionally, women hold the office of the Prime Minister in their respective territories. And in Guyana, it is no different.
Past Guyanese women have done immeasurably well and have set the bar remarkably high. In the area of politics, the contributions of Mrs Winifred Gaskin, co-founder of the PNC Women’s Auxiliary must be mentioned. History tells us that although Mrs Gaskin was fully qualified for a position in the postal service because of her scholastic achievements, her appointment was highly criticised because of her colour and gender. She believed that the exploitation of women and their disenfranchisement could only be improved by fundamental social and political changes. Co-founders of the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation, an organisation recognized for its work in mobilizing the women of Guyana and raising the level of political awareness and for its systematic fight for the removal of restrictions against women in the political arena, Mrs Gaskin served as Secretary and Mrs Janet Jagan as President. (‘Winifred Gaskin – An early Guyanese politician Part 1’, SN, Dec 3, 2009).
Women like Mrs Viola Burnham, Mrs Janet Jagan and Mrs Gaskin gave selflessly to shaping the women’s arm of their respective political parties. It is as a result of their dedication to the ‘cause’ that the membership of their parties reflected a higher percentage of women than men. Shirley Field-Ridley made her contributions to Guyanese politics during her tenure as Minister of Education. To these women who were bold and together with other women changed the political scope for women in Guyana, the expression of gratitude may never be enough.
Trailblazer in the health sector and conferee of the Cacique Crown of Honour, Dr Enid Denbow, who served as the first and only female Chief Medical Officer within the Ministry of Health, is another strong woman worthy of mention. Mrs Lyla Kissoon contributed her life (sixty years) to the development of the business community here in Guyana, and similarly, June Griffith made her name in international athletics, the Gibson sisters in tennis, and Doreen Chow Wah in table tennis. Women like Pat Cameron and Brenda Aaron must too be mentioned for their contributions in the areas of the Arts and military service respectively.
These aforementioned women, along with so many others too numerous to mention in this letter, paved the way for women like Debra Backer, deceased, Sheila Holder, deceased, Ministers of Government Cathy Hughes, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Amna Ally, Simona Broomes, Volda Lawrence, Dr Cummings, all other female Ministers and Member of Parliament, women’s activist Karen de Souza, CEO of Metro Limited Avia Lindie, fashion giant Dr Sonia Noel, actress, playwright and comedian Odessa Primus, journalist Beverly Alert, Stacey Codogan, squash champion Nicolette Fernandes and even myself.
Women cannot be seen as second tiers of humanity.
Outside of anatomical differences between men and women, women have the same mental capacity as men to the point where they have excelled in areas formerly dominated by men. Most recent to be celebrated are the appointments of women to the highest offices in the judiciary – acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire.
Thus, to inspire change, we must first change our perception of women as just wives and mothers which are mere extensions of instruments of pleasure.
Women must be treasured in our society, not be victims of domestic violence, not victims of sexual assault, not victims of harassment on the street, not victims period. Women must continue to pursue positions of power, possessing the same spirit of courage and strength of character and beauty as displayed by Mrs Gaskin when faced with adversity and all others who have gone before us, whether in the home or in Parliament, on the corner of a street or Cabinet.
Wherever they are, whoever they are, know that they are capable of effecting change in their community, change in their circumstances. After all, we do run the world!
Yours faithfully,
Cynthia Rutherford
President
Youths for Change, AFC