Time to recognise women’s noble contribution to nation

It is undisputed that the world is divided along gendered lines. Permeating through such seemingly watertight demarcations as race, ethnicity, colour, religion, region etc., gender still remains the most potent distinction that divides the world.

Inarguably, the status of women in Sri Lanka has significantly improved over the past few decades, where women have been able to mark their presence in almost all the socio-economic and political spheres in the country.

However, while Sunday March 8 marks the International Women’s Day, it is necessary to gauge whether their changed socio-economic status has been beneficial to improve the quality of their lives.

Women are at the forefront of the most significant foreign exchange earning enterprises in the country. The number of Lankan women employed in the Middle Eastern and the Far Eastern countries have grown over the years. However, women continue to be subjected to physical and psychological trauma in the foreign countries where most of them are employed as unskilled workers.

On the other hand, the other group of women foreign exchange earners – the garment workers – deserve special attention as well. The closing down of many garment factories due to global recession, is taking a heavy toll on these women. Contribution by women in the tea industry is also equally important. Living standards in the estates need an overhaul across the board.

It is on the shoulders of these women that a large part of the country’s economy is balanced. But, as a country what have we given back for these women?

The theme dedicated by the United Nations for this year’s Women’s Day is “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls.” The theme points to another sad plight of women as well.

It is fine to celebrate the International Women’s Day: yet, if a large number of women are sent off to foreign lands to serve as housemaids – where many of them return maimed, to broken down families – and many are exploited in other industries to feed the rest of us, there is something seriously wrong in our perception of gender equality.

According to Department of Census and Statistics data, the percentage of unskilled women workers in the country was 45.7 in 2002. Among the Semi Skilled Workers, 48.4% were women. However, when it comes to Administrative and Managerial Workers, only a meagre 23.6% were women. This is indicative of the place that women hold in the occupational continuum of the country.

Almost all of the big business enterprises are owned, controlled and managed by men. It is perhaps indicative of the belief that intricacies of the business world are confined to the sphere of men. True, there are women who have been able to break barriers, and reached across the great gender divide in the business world. But they are few and far between.

Among the 225 Members of Parliament there are only eight women members. We rejoice at the fact that Lanka produced the world’s first woman Prime Minister. It is indeed a fact to celebrate. We also produced a female Executive President. However, the manner of their entry into politics – including all the women leaders in the South Asia region – have given them the label that they are ‘widow’ politicians who only entered the political foray upon the demise of either their husband or father.

Among all the countries in the South Asia region, the Indian Parliament tried several times, to pass a Women Reservation Bill. This Bill is to reserve one third of its legislature to women. The last attempt was by the Sonia Gandhi led Congress Government. However, these attempts failed amidst fierce protestations by the opposing parties. And the highest law making body of India, and everywhere else in South Asia too for that matter – remains largely male dominated.

At least on this March 8, it is the responsibility of the authorities to appraise the contribution of women to the country’s economy and the social fabric, and understand the primary importance of involving women in the law making process. Women engaged in various professions on their own right, could also take a more active role in shaping national policy and development, and more importantly initiating a macro program to uplift their status and recognition.