As we join in marking International Women’s Day on March 8, we must acknowledge the challenges facing women in Barbados as we endorse the theme, Embrace Equity.
The history of Barbados is a story of a long march from the depravity of chattel slavery towards freedom, enfranchisement and gender equality, to the point where our heads of state and government are both female, descendants of the enslaved majority. But this is not the end of history; there remain significant barriers that prevent women of all races and classes from fully realizing their rights and potential.
Our island is blighted by the ignoble spectre of gender-based violence, with one in three women experiencing some form of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in their lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened this crisis, with lockdowns and economic stressors leading to increased incidents of domestic violence. If we are to embrace equity, we must work towards a society where women are safe from all forms of violence.
Despite being a success story of access to education and employment opportunities when compared to many other countries in the region and further abroad, we are still challenged to ensure equal pay and a fair shake for all women. Barbadian women are more likely to work in low-paying and precarious jobs, thus limiting their economic independence and ability to support themselves and their families.
While women make up the majority of university graduates, they are still underrepresented in such fields as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To embrace equity, the tripartite congress of government, business and labour need to adopt a formal policy of pay and employment equity with the same fervour with which they pursue even more elusive equilibrium in prices and incomes. This effort should include a commitment to promoting women’s participation in STEM fields and addressing the significant gender gap, as well as continuing to broaden training and support for women entrepreneurs.
Childcare and eldercare responsibilities disproportionately fall on Barbadian women, and so limit their capacity to participate in the workforce or pursue education and career opportunities. Despite strides in expanding preschool education and parental benefits, childcare options are too often unaffordable and inaccessible.
The struggle of women to balance their work and caregiving responsibilities in a society where 44 per cent of households are headed by single mothers continues. In these households, the number of children depending on the mother averages between three and five. To embrace equity, we must provide affordable and accessible childcare options and ensure that caregiving responsibilities are shared equally between men and women.
And yes, despite having women as president and prime minister, as permanent secretaries and heads of Department, women are still under-represented in parliamentary chambers, cabinet rooms and boardrooms. To embrace equity, we must ensure that women have equal representation and leadership opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
So on this International Women’s Day, let us commit to working towards a more equitable and just society where women can fully realize their rights and potential. A Barbados that embraces equity is a nation that seeks to perfect a society where women are free from violence, have equal access to education, entrepreneurship and career opportunities, have access to affordable and accessible childcare options, and are represented in all spheres of society. It’s that simple, and that challenging.
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