How far have we progressed?

Gender equity issues:

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

Although Sri Lanka has, over the years, taken progressive steps in combating discrimination against women and promoting gender equity, women participation in the spheres of politics, education, profession and women involvement in decision-making process, is still low compared to developed western democracies.

Unlike in India, Sri Lanka has not adapted a quotas system in legislature and other representative bodies so the number of women parliamentarians and cabinet ministers is much lower than the expected level.

Though the opponents of the quota system often cited a possible counterproductive effect of the quotas adapted on some sectors in society, the quotas for women would only guarantee specific space in a given sector and would not limit them to allotted quotas.

It has been observed by researchers that among the developing countries, the degree of gender equity has dramatically increased in countries where the quotas adapted, especially in spheres of politics, education and employment.

Women in politics

The women's participation in politics both at provincial and national levels has been minimal even though Sri Lanka produced outstanding women politicians including the world's first woman Prime Minister and a woman executive President.

The traditional beliefs and hostile environment prevents ordinary women from engaging in active politics, especially at provincial levels. Women politicians from political dynasties at provincial and national level affluent class, does not reflect the general status of women in politics in Sri Lanka. In sectors such as trade unions, community organisations, and in some professional bodies, women representation is either very low or at negligible level.

As in any other field, gender equity has not been considered as an important factor and the prevailing situation which is more or less female exclusive, has been considered normal.

Abject poverty, hostile traditions and social norms coupled with illiteracy prevent rural women from engaging in local politics on an equal footing with their male counterparts.

However, women in urban and suburban areas are more tend to engage in active politics than their rural counterparts. A higher degree of literacy and education among the urban women would have substantially contributed to this increase although most of them have been drawn from upper middle class and affluent families.

Archetype role of a woman and obsolete perceptions such as women should be confined to their traditional role of bearing and rearing children, has effectively hindered women's entry into mainstream politics, dissuading them from stretching their limits.

Allocation of quotas in legislature and provincial governing bodies for women and parity representation in political parties are some of the measures that could be adopted in combating discrimination against women in politics.

It is only through a systematic process of re-education that the prototype negative perceptions of woman and societal attitudes can be changed allowing women to reach their potentials and to make a substantial contribution to the society.

Therefore, it is imperative that a component on gender issues be included in the syllabi in order to educate the children on the importance of gender equity and the possible benefits that society can derive from such policies.

Gender equity at work and archetype beliefs

Gender discrimination at place of work is a widespread phenomenon though the degree differs from profession to profession and by and large depends on the kind of relations and the work ethic adapted.

Although there is absolute no proven scientific basis, women are generally perceived as weak and inefficient at work compared to their male counterparts. At some instances, they are paid less for the same work than the males.

Until recently, there is an archetype beliefs among the women journalists in Sri Lanka that they could not reach the top position in journalism and therefore should confine themselves to middle level positions.

However, two women journalists, Hana Ibrahim who was the Editor in-Chief of the "Sunday Standards" and Champika Liyanarachchi, the Editor-in-Chief of "Daily Mirror" have effectively challenged this belief, opening up new chapter in Sri Lankan journalism.

To a greater extent, Sri Lanka has progressed in eliminating gender discrimination at work and in most of the professions, women occupy decision-making positions on par with their male counterparts. In some profession, they have outnumbered men.

However, in the field of art and cinema, very little progressed has been achieved in terms of promoting gender equity. For the entire history of Sinhalese cinema, only two women film-makes were produced; Sumithra Peries and Enoka Sathyangani. (Though women directed and made films on several occasions).

Gender equity at home

In Sri Lankan households, the traditional role of woman in a family as a mother is almost a sacred one. However, little is known about the woman's share in decision making process at family level. Traditional role confines woman, primarily to bearing and rearing children.

According to a cultural puritan, an "ideal" wife would not sit at the dining table with the husband but serves food for him while having meals in an earthen-wear bowl (Mati Koppe) by the side of the husband sitting on the floor.

She would from time to time, during the meal, get up to serve the husband. When husband chats with a stranger, perhaps, in the living room, the "ideal" wife would not sit but would lean against the door-frame and if there are female children, they should be kept away from the gazing eyes of the strangers.

However, later I found out that this particular person who represents the extreme end of the spectrum and harping on the pure culture and fake patriotism has, actually, had three failed marriages. It is obvious that there may be silent sufferers and gender discrimination in Sri Lankan families, especially among the impoverished segments of the population.

Much has to be done in terms of stamping out anti-human and obsolete ideas and archetype beliefs which are detrimental not only to empowering woman but also to realizing their potentials as mothers and professionals who can make substantial contribution to the progress of the humanity.

It has been established that millennium goals can not be achieved while denying fundamental rights of half of the humanity.

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