It was only ‘per chance’ we learnt of an event organised especially for women by women, where men would be welcomed to attend because, “they are our allies, we can’t survive without men, we wouldn’t want to, most men are not harmful and dangerous to women, most men take care of women and look after the things they are supposed to look after; so it’s not men, it’s the violence against women that some men perpetuate against women that we are against.”
This was per chance, since TMR for reasons difficult to understand no longer gets information to many events and other situations, where the information can be disseminated to those who may not listen to the radio at all or the right time, nor access to a computer, where few seriously go for information, and where of course the information is accessed more readily over the entire world. Chances are that not many or most men may not have been listening to hear, or notice, this profound statement, which should dismiss the thought that those who promote the ascendancy of women want to do so because women are somehow, “better” than men, can do without them, and to a lesser degree be more dominant over men.
Surely the event is scheduled to mark International Women’s Day which will be celebrated on Sunday, March 8, 2015. In Montserrat there is certainly not the need to worry about the ascendancy of women, but equally so there must be the concern of violence and abuse against women and particularly the very young ones, girls. So too, the mistake must not be made to think that abuse against the young goes only for girls, and thus much is heard these days about a fight and care against ‘child abuse’.
This Editor has had the benefit of being able to boast that women are not suppressed in Montserrat into subordinate or segregated against like is done in many other parts of the region. Very quickly let us say, all is not hunky-dory, and that there are not areas for improvement.
However we believe that situations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Observers who monitored the recent General Elections here where they recommend in their report, “Consideration be given to promote the participation of women….requiring parties to report on women in party leadership roles and as candidates and to have policies on women’s political participation.” We say, CPA mission, you misread the situation. Parties may need ‘proper’ structures and organization, but there is no lack of women’s participation in political matters in Montserrat. There is a more serious political deficiency.
Worldwide the political arena is dominated by women. As far back as we can remember women have been very involved in political life and in the last decade or more there were at one time three women being legislators. And for many years it was only in the recent MCAP government reign there wasn’t an elected woman in the Legislature and even then the Speaker was a woman, as is the case today, with two women serving on the PDM government, one being the Deputy Premier.
Women activists here actually call on men for support and they must be complimented for that call, because it is our experience else where women actually some from domination by men and where some women even accede to the attitude.
There are feminist organisations who say, “Our goal is to highlight all the amazing diversity of women – who might not have another outlet to share their experiences.” Some of them run into problems because of the manner in which they strive for their goals, particularly when they crush men on the way.
As long as the fight is to work against abuse and violence, to find solutions to lessen if not completely negate this evil, our support is forthcoming. But care should be taken not to mistake concern for misconceptions to be opposition to the cause.
