Achieve an equal future in a Covid-19 world

Leela ramdeen

On Monday, the world will observe International Women’s Day (IMD). This year’s theme is: ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid-19 World’.

The International Agency for the Development of Women rightly says that: “Covid-19 has had a profound impact on women and girls, amplifying the inequalities they face every day. It is critical that diverse voices and experiences critical to national and global recovery plans. The contributor to a more equitable Covid-19 world is increasing women’s access to leadership positions. Unfortunately, women still face significant cultural, socio-economic, and political barriers to access leadership “.

IWD provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of girls / women, raise awareness against prejudice and discrimination, and take action to promote equality and equity. Riko Nagu, an activist for women’s and girls’ rights, rightly says: “To build an inclusive society and a resilient community, both men and women must work together.” This requires that we all work to create conditions and opportunities that promote authentic integral human development for ALL.

Although the world has made progress in women’s suffrage over the years, there are still some countries where both men and women have limited suffrage, and some where there are barriers that limit women’s participation in the voting process. . It is interesting to note that in many countries, women vote at higher rates than men. As the Pew Research Center puts it: “A 2016 study of voting patterns in 58 countries by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance found that women’s voter turnout was higher than men’s in 21 countries. “.

In 2018, the Forbes Coaching Council listed the 15 biggest challenges women leaders face and how to overcome them. Although the Pew research to which the Council refers focused on women entrepreneurs, the barriers listed are significant. The Board states: “As women continue to push to the top, they face a number of challenges that many of their male counterparts as CEOs do not understand. It is these issues that prevent many women from achieving their goal of becoming. become a leader in your company and diminish your ability to get ahead in business. ” Some of the biggest challenges listed are:

1. Be treated equally in the workplace. 2. Building a brotherhood. 3. Be confident. 4. Talk. 5. Build alliances with decision makers. 6. Stand firm on your success (don’t avoid talking about your accomplishments). 7. Trust and use your own voice. 8. Deal with negative thoughts. 9. Re-entry into the paid workforce.

From my own experiences, I recall that when former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her UK government decided to abolish the London Inland Education Authority (ILEA) (1964-1990) through the Education Reform Act of 1988, I I was forced to look for another job. He had been a school inspector at the ILEA. As Alan Radford put it in his doctoral thesis, the abolition of the ILEA “ended a unitary system of education that had existed inside London for over a hundred years.” My friend from the Inspection and I applied for 2 jobs in a London borough that was not part of the ILEA. We were successful. She was appointed as Deputy Director of Education, Equal Opportunity, and I was appointed as Deputy Director of Education, Head of Quality Assurance.

Before our arrival, leadership in the Education Service was exclusively male. We saw how the boy network worked, deliberately or subtly, to put obstacles in our way. He decided to “dress with power” and stomp up and down the corridors of “power” when he walked. She advised me to do the same. I decided to be “me”. I wasn’t going to downplay my femininity. I was my mother’s daughter and I loved to “dress up”. The men soon realized that nothing was going to derail me from my purpose: to raise the level of achievement of the pupils / students in that district, many of whom were failing and many of whom were black. Knowing that the Councilors, the community in general and my parents were the wind under my wings, and that I believed in myself, I let my intellect and my “presence” as a strong black woman speak for themselves.

Here in Trinidad and Tobago, let us work to end all forms of discrimination and all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other exploitation.

Leela Ramdeen is president of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice of Trinidad and Tobago and the Archdiocesan Ministry for Migrants and Refugees.

Links

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Tags: Leela Ramdeen, Trinidad and Tobago, Women, International Women’s Day