Gender minister, senior cop: Women struggle under pandemic

Members of the audience bow in their heads in prayer at the PNM Women's League International Women's Day celebration at Government Plaza, Port of Spain on Saturday. PHOTOS BY VIDYA THURAB -
Members of the audience bow in their heads in prayer at the PNM Women's League International Women's Day celebration at Government Plaza, Port of Spain on Saturday. PHOTOS BY VIDYA THURAB -

The covid19 pandemic has added extra pressure on women and has set back the movement for gender equality.

Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs, and Joanne Archie, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, indicated such during their contributions to the PNM Women’s League International Women’s Day celebration at the Government Plaza Auditorium in Port of Spain on Saturday.

Speaking on the theme, Women in Leadership – Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid19 World, Webster-Roy said most of the industries in which women lead in TT were negatively affected by the pandemic. For example, the tourism sector was affected by closed restaurants, limited flights, and empty hotels.

Yet, she said women are in the forefront of the covid19 response, ordinary women who step out of their comfort zone and reach out to people in their communities. They went out, saw what was lacking, and turned it into an opportunity to earn and ensure their communities continue to thrive.

“We know that even though we are called ‘woman’ we are resilient. We are strong. And we are bold. So despite the fact that we were challenged, women would still have been leading and emerging. Businesses grew out of covid19.”

Archie said covid19 has been the greatest test for women as leaders as women are still struggling to be recognised and accepted in the work-place.

“We had to now, more than ever, exercise work-life balance since our jobs can be affected, having to balance your parenting roles and your job responsibilities.

“They call it now, the new normal. So I said, ‘The new normal?’ but the old normal hasn’t been fixed as yet.’ So, we still have challenges for equality for women in the workplace so I would say the new abnormal.”

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Child and Gender Affairs Ayanna Webster-Roy says women faced more instances of domestic violence during the covid19 pandemic. -

She said, according to studies, in Latin America and the Caribbean, it would take 59 years to close the gender gap if progress were to continue at the rate it is now. Therefore, she called on women to stand together to eradicate inequality and gender bias, to tighten bonds, increase networking to continue to build awareness, and to keep up the fight for equality.

In addition to economic and career hardships, covid19 also increased difficulties on the home front.

Webster-Roy noted that many households in TT are affected by domestic violence. And the number of incidences increased since the start of the pandemic, especially during the lockdown last year.

The Gender-Based Violence Unit, which was formed in January 2020, had 150 arrests since its launch. And just last week, 53-year-old Karen Karim from Moruga was killed in a domestic violence incident in Princes Town.

She said tensions and frustrations rise in households as people cannot employ their usual coping mechanisms since they must remain at home. This has resulted in intimate partner violence and domestic abuse. There were also increased incidences of child sexual abuse.

In an attempt to address domestic abuse, the state currently runs two domestic violence shelters that accommodates women and their children, including boys over age 14. And the government intends to roll out more. It also plans to create include a facility for men because there are “men out there crying in silence as well.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Joanne Archie says women had to do more to survive during the pandemic. -

There are also public education and sensitisation programmes such as the Eintou Springer play, Shades of I-She: Every Woman's Story, and the Barbershop Initiative where men can discuss issues around masculinity, and understand the negative norms in society, as well as the positive values they must adapt to bring about positive change.

“If we are talking about equality and equity, then we must look at both sides of the table... I must also commend our government for including men and boys in our programming. If we say that they are part of the problem, we have to admit that they must be part of the solution.”

She said laws and programmes were in place to address domestic violence and women’s rights so, obviously, some men make a personal decision to do something bad. Therefore, it must be a personal decision for there to be change.

“I consistently call on the people of TT for us to really look into ourselves, examine ourselves and see where am I falling short? Where can I do better? What am I doing that could affect, not only myself but those that I love? What can I do to improve the lives of the people around me? And make that decision to do better.”

Giving her personal experience in a male-dominated field, Archie said her journey was not easy. While some of her male counterparts were not always supportive, some of her male supervisors saw her potential and supported and guided her. Either way, she learned and benefited from others, increasing skill set.

“I stood tall and proud among the men despite their best efforts to stifle and suppress me. You may ask what it took for me to reach the top. And I am telling you that my efforts demanded a surplus of strategies and an unwavering attitude to leap over the many obstacles and overcome the hundreds of challenges that come with this noble profession.”

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