International Women's Day : Our Caribbean Women, Our Hope
As we celebrate International Womens’ Day, we are cognizant of the role our Caribbean women have played in the cultural social and economic growth of our region and evolving Caribbean civilization.
They , like our men , have risen from the depths and decadence of slavery , to the highest political and corporate ladders in the region. They have given birth, to millions and have made and continue to make significant contributions to those in the Diaspora. In many cases, where they were not the biological mothers, they nurtured, cared and developed those , who were deprived of parenthood , and socio-economic hope.
They are in our classrooms, directing young and fragile minds , how to navigate a world that we in the region , must forever avoid being dragged into conflicts of the so-called super powers. They are pursuing all the opportunities of our tertiary educational institutions, including the University of the West Undies, often in higher numbers than our men.
In order to survive the twenty-first century, our women will be pivotal to the direction the region chooses. They have demonstrated they are beyond being hewers of wood and drawers of water. They have clearly shown , that their bodies belong to them and that they will not be subservient to their men , but demand equality.
However, they have not joined the bandwagon of their counterparts elsewhere, who denounce motherhood and see men as professional and sexual deviants. They never burnt their bras !
We can best honour them by respecting their right to choose their own sexual partners; to ensure that we respect them in the workplace and to constantly give them thanks for the role they have played and continue to play in the total development of our Caribbean region , wherever they are in the world.
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