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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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We in Sri Lanka like to consider ourselves enlightened. Especially when it comes to discrimination against the girl child. And of course in terms of relativity and when compared with countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, we do fare better. At least we don't: - Scan pregnancies to determine the sex and abort the foetus if it is a girl child like they do in India. - Or look upon the girl child and cheap labour like they do in Bangladesh, where she is not only paid less, but is also deprived of adequate rest, leave or toilet facilities and often ends up being a victim of sex abuse. - Nor deprive the girl child of her rights or the means to express herself in any way as they do in Pakistan. - On the plus side, we also have a Girl Child Centre, perhaps the only one in the South Asian region serving not only the girl child of Sri Lanka, but her sisters in the region as well. Thankfully, prejudice against the girl child is not as marked in Sri Lanka as in other parts of South Asia. But research show that no matter how enlightened we are, the boy child still has a slight edge over the girl child who tends to be regarded as the 'lesser child'. Free education has, to a certain extent, reduced preference for education for the boys, rather than the girls. But numerous time budget surveys have shown that there is an uneven distribution of household chores between the boys and the girls, especially in low income families. Also, more often than not, and in the same families, the girl child is given less to eat, less time to play, is made responsible for the younger siblings.... And guess who's to blame for that discrepancy? Mothers of course. But there's no point blaming her. For gender discrimination, especially in the Asian context goes back.... probably all the way back to the days when the matriarchal was subjugated beyond recognition to make room for a patriarchal society. And since then women were led to believe they weren't as worthy as the male of the species. Most probably the mother who discriminate her daughter, was discriminated by her own mother, and her mother before that, to become a pattern that is as familiar as respecting the elders. The issue becomes further aggravated by poverty and in situations where socio-cultural traditions endows the male with an aura of superiority over the female, forcing a choice between males and females on the provision of the limited facilities available. Gender bias not only means the girl child is discriminated against, it also means that she is made vulnerable to abuse and misfortune. Some scholars argue that the gendering process, which infuses inequality and bias, also to a certain extent places the girl child in the disadvantaged groups along side the disabled, abandoned street and working children, child prostitutes and children caught in situations of armed conflict, making her more vulnerable to abuse and misfortune. Many argue that early assumption of responsibility and power to make decisions should be viewed positively. But many more argue that the overall impact of gender role stereotyping of domestic chores is negative in terms of equal opportunities for girls and boys. They also point out that traditional school text books, activities and early childhood training further aggravates the problem. Being signatories to the Convention of Rights of Child has helped promote the interest of the Girl Child, but much more is need to wipe the bias and treat her with equal respect. And perhaps the best place to start with, should be the education of mothers. by Hana Ibrahim |
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