Women saddled with too many roles?

March 8 is 'Women's Day'. Despite relative achievements over the past 100 years women are back into square one. Equal opportunities though prevalent are marred by sexual harassment of varying degrees. As a way out, Senior Sociologist Colombo University Dr. Subangi Herath revealed to the Sunday Observer the importance of the state in introducing further legislation to safeguard all women.

By Afreeha Jawad

As long as toy totting little boys and doll carrying girls playing with toy kitchen utensils reflect their respective future roles, women's achievement over the past hundred years assuredly is into a defunct state. What starts in childhood as part of 'Child play' has to be re-considered for the untold damage such childhood past time brings about in adult years when girls as grown up women encounter male chauvinism be it in domestic or external spheres. Reversing this social layout - seemingly a Herculean task for its long stay in systemic layout is futile discussion for the above mentioned socialization process needs to be continued if the unjust global economic order is to survive. Thus gender, poverty, class racial/ethnic/religious differences are bound to continue to upkeep such economy.

To celebrate women's day against this backdrop warrants state attention inorder to bring in further rules and regulations that will make women's lives more comfortable and enriching despite the constraints of a socialisation process that fosters inequality from childhood - be it at home, school, worship place or office.

The Sunday Observer discussing all about it with Colombo University, Senior Sociologist Dr. Subangi Herath gathered the importance of the role of the state on the subject of women, their present and future.

Women's hard struggle

"Women's day comes and goes but whether anything will be done for them is the question. It certainly is an important day when we celebrate their achievements - particularly women who have worked hard and made sacrifices to improve their lives. We think what we have achieved has always been there. We take our benefits, facilities and achievements for granted. This should not be so because of the hard struggle we've had. Sometimes we women even ridicule women who fight for women and those that laugh are ones that enjoy the achievements that have been the result of a long and arduous struggle of some other women. Sadly some of these women even join men in ridiculing women's efforts in their struggle. This then is certainly not to rule out discerning men".

"Considering women's situation over the past 100 years or century we see that many facilities that were not there for women earlier are enjoyed by women today although there is no total equality with men. For instance better educational facilities, to be employed and earn independent income utilising their skills on stage, music, drama, science, politics, law and so on.

We have achieved so much during these 100 years and we have to remember that these things were not first thrust on them. Women had to fight for it and certainly they are very big achievements," she said.

"With these achievements women now are considered as fully fledged humans with skills, talent and capacities. They have also got laws and regulations introduced to better their lives and live without being put down.

UN's involvement

Women's struggles have opened the eyes of even the UN where it accepted the importance of safeguarding women's rights. This brought on the convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which covers all aspects of women's life.

Their social status, education, politics the right to live violence free and the like were covered by CEDAW. This is one among the UN's conventions on women's well-being.

Most countries received or introduced better opportunities for women to fall in line with the conventions is the result of some women being imprisoned and even killed in attempting to upgrade women's lives.

So women's day is really a sacred one for all women. Its a remembrance of those sacrifices by history's noble women.

However, in celebrating women's day we cannot simply be complacent and be happy about the past. The future and present should be our focus. Its not the case of resting on one's laurels.

Talking of the present, can we be absolutely happy over women's status today. For instance there is free education. No woman is deprived of it. We also know that so many obstacles still are around when women go to get themselves educated.

Young girls have to look after the younger ones and attend to all kinds of household chores in the absence of mothers. So girls-very intelligent ones in fact give up education for house and home.

Theory and practice

Theoretically they are entitled equal educational opportunities but in practice this is unrealizable. Even when schools are distantly placed girls encounter sexual harassment.

It is the same with other opportunities for women. Can they enjoy these opportunities on equal level with men.

Even if they enter into employment, education, law, politics and so on women face several hazards due to their placement socially and culturally. Thus they find difficulty in coming to be on par with men.

For instance a woman at decision making level will find it difficult to look after her sick child. She will soon be seen as incompetent for that post. But the question is who will be there to fulfil her role at home?

Do we have trustworthy organisations to support women in such troubled situations. Do all women get spouse support. The child in many instances is the mother's burden though I'm not ruling out the love and care of a father. Many men certainly do make a demarcation between such paternal love and mother's role.

Too many roles

Women also because they are socialised in that manner consider that it is their responsibility - I mean the roles assigned to her socially as mother and wife. She has to fulfil so many roles and this is where her so called incompetence comes in.

So we cannot blame the woman for taking over household responsibilities. Parental obligations are such that it demands of them their duties towards children.

When society has assigned an important role of home and children on women she is not in a position to neglect both these. So you see how women become highly vulnerable in the non-achievement of employment educational and political objectives.

So isn't it society and state responsibility to address the situation? she asked indignantly."

"When state and society are unsupportive of her she obviously becomes helpless," lamented Dr. Herath. She thus becomes complacent and is forced into accepting what she is made to be.In certain situations we have to even think over conditions that retard women's development despite the achievements in the last century. For instance greater social violence definitely increased violence against women. The woman we all know is taken to be a sexual object and considered to be physically weak as well and to top it all with a socialisation process that compels her to accept such impositions, she is an easy target for violence.

Achievements and obstacles

So while on the one hand women have achieved much we also see that she encounters increasingly, obstacles and difficulties as well which drive her towards some secure agency or mechanism. Then she either prefers staying at home not go out at night, not take on jobs that need night work, avoid classes that go late into night. Women even refrain from entering politics and contribute towards social development because they cannot stand slander and violence.

So finally it is the women who take the defeat and get back to the conservative position bestowed on them in the past and mind you this is despite all what has been achieved by women over the years. So she is back in square one again", she added laughingly yet not without remorse. Her sordid experiences are passed to the next generation and perhaps even the ones unborn.

"This", said Dr. Herath, "is the great challenge for the future and shall remain unresolved without discerning men, an unconcerned State and mind you even women as well.This then should be the focal point in celebrating women's day. Women as human beings regardless of their position as mothers and wives is a vital component of humanity. Transcending social roles and viewing woman in the highest sense of integrity and wholesomeness was Dr. Herath's main theme in the celebration of women's day.

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