Sound Off About Gender Issues
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Read what others have to say and share your thoughts about gender issues. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on New Comment.
..................................................................... When Maggie Thatcher or Golda Meier were in positions of power in their respective countries, none in the media referred to them as ‘female’ prime minister or president because they both acted ‘tough,’ as tough as their men counterparts would have. It would thus seem to imply that only such women would be qualified, or “appropriate” for such positions. This need not be and ought not to be. Heads of governments all over the world are not quite ready to acknowledge the equality of women in playing successful, constructive, sagacious roles as heads of state. Dr.B.Thyagarajan, San Antonio, Texas
Marilyn Borchardt, Development Director Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, Oakland, CA As a Liberian currently residing in the Washington metropolitan area, I am cautiously anticipating Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s presidency. While we’re all in the throes of euphoria, it’s important to remember that her gender doesn’t guarantee swift reforms on behalf of Liberian women. (Margaret Thatcher taught us that in England). I’m watching and waiting to see what she will accomplish, and hoping to be involved, however tangentially, from the U.S. Robtel Neajai Pailey, Washington, D.C. A ‘hero’ of mine is Sojourner Truth. The lasting contributions of our times will be tested against her legacy as we strive to create a better society than the one we found—one defying the rigid borders erected by our forefathers. Imagine a woman of her lowly birth with the lofty chutzpah of asking Congress, the nerve center of American power, to grant public lands to newly freed slaves. This Black History month, she’s called to mind, in the spirit of that wonderful saying that well behaved women rarely make history. Visit mulengasmark.blogspot.com for more on this thought. Mulenga Katyoka, Zambia (Now residing in Washington, D.C.) The greatest challenge of being a woman leader is remembering that we’re women. We’ve come a long way to gain leadership. Although more needs to be done, we should never forget that first, we’re women. Nurturing and caring is a fundamental part of who we are. They are also characters needed to bring peace to the world. Therefore, we must not succumb to aggression to gain power, but rather excel in what we do best—love and care for the world. Jin In, Washington, D.C. Advocate for Women & Girls Behind a successful man there is a woman. The women have been playing the greatest roles in our homes and public life. The present educational, social,
Rasulu Olatoyosi Ishola Ambali, Nigeria (Now residing in Colombia) In a global village dominated by war-mongering leaders, the real conflict is not one of gender. Men and women alike are persecuted and marginalized when they hold and show a compassionate, egalitarian world-view. Much more so if they dare actively join the struggle for social justice, peace, environmental protection, sovereign political rights—or any other cause not approved by the ideologues of war. Young people are made subject to the worst role-models while emerging leaders for peace are discredited. That is the truth. I defend not my gender, but the very survival of my conscience! Sandra Rodriguez, San Juan, Puerto Rico Independent Writer I think that women’s equality is intricately linked to development. It should be understood that providing girls and women the opportunity to attend school gives them valuable literacy skills and having unhindered access to HIV/AIDS treatment so that they become successful women and contributing members to their democratic societies. Additionally, in Africa, it helps in improving maternal health and reducing child mortality rates. Nnamdi Azuike, Nigeria HIV/AIDS Acceleration Africa (NGO) Sadly, your topic perpetuates inequality and disunity. Humanitarian efforts will be advanced when we stop thinking of women as women and of men as men.
Wilf Flint, Brisbane, Australia Amnesty International Indigenous Support Group March is Women’s History Month and the Feminist Majority Foundation is encouraging students and community activists from across the country to join the global majority. The global majority is made up of Americans who believe that you can have a world where children have enough food to eat, women are free from violence, every woman and girl has access to safe and affordable reproductive health services, and clean water is free and readily available. Join us at www.feminst.org/global. Crystal Lander, Washington D.C. Feminist Majority Foundation Mentorship has an important role to play in women’s empowerment, equality, and leadership development. I started the Valuable Girl Project, a program in Egypt that empowers girls and young women in high poverty areas by the creation and provision of positive role models for girls in a one-on-one mentorship program. More information about this program can be found at www.copticorphans.org/programs/valuable-girl.html and requests for a program impact report and/or a DVD can be sent to pfarag@copticorphans.org. Phoebe Farag, Washington, D.C. Coptic Orphans Deprivation of women from education, health care or other human rights is a problem of the whole society—including men. Educating a woman means educating their children. Educating children means building our future. Matthias Behrends, Medical Ethics Director European Medical Students’ Association, Heidelberg, Germany ** Add your thoughts by clicking on New Comment below! |
Comment List
"Gender (Role of women in development)"Author:
Muhammad Yasin
Time: 07/13/2007 14:59
Comment: Woman is an integral and indispensable segment of human society. They make almost half of the globe. They have literally complemented the man in every civilization. One can hardly ignore the multi-dimensional role of women in every society. The women are also playing a vital role in development of society despite the following problems•
(I) rape, (ii) domestic abuse as spousal murder (iii) mutilation, (iv) burning and disfiguring faces by acid. (v) beatings, (vi) ritual honour-killings and (vii) custodial abuse and torture. The mother is always the one who teaches her children, good or bad things so that they will become good citizens in the future, Therefore, I think that the first contribution of women to our country is to help in building good citizens who are willing to devote their talent to make our country develop. Millions of women are working in the villages side by side their male counterparts in the fields for growing different crops only to develop the country. Millions of women are working in their homes, preparing different items on contract for factories. So the society is bound to take action against the criminal minded people who involved in rape,domestic abuse as spousal murder, mutilation, burning and disfiguring faces by acid. beatings, ritual honour-killings and custodial abuse and torture. |
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