Transcript Equality of Women and Men: Issues of the 21st Century

Equality of Women and Men:
Issues of the 21st Century
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Sylvia Kaye
University of Botswana
Overview
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Assumption that Women and Men are equal in
capacity
Equality and the concept of Diversity
Changes of Attitude and social structures needed
Review of the Past Century
Examination of Characteristics of Women and
Men – Contribution of Women towards World
Peace
Benefits
A New Concept of Civilisation
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Civilisation is essentially spiritual in nature
Humanity is evolving to the unity of all
people
Assumes the gradual changes of practices
and attitudes
Profoundly challenges humanity in every
way
Bahá’í Writings:
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“The Emancipation of Women, the Achievement of full
equality between the sexes, is one of the most important,
though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace. The
denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one
half of the world’s population and promotes in men
harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the
family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to
international practices. There are no grounds, moral,
practical or biological, upon which such denial can be
justified. Only as women are welcomed into full
partnership in all fields of human endeavor will the moral
and psychological climate be created in which
international peace can emerge.”
Equality of Men and Women
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Bahá’í Teachings:
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Men and Women are compared to two wings of a
bird
Education of women is necessary
Underlying purpose is unity, not polarisation
Sight of God, no differences exist
Differences are of function, not capacities
When equality of men and women is realised,
foundations of war will be destroyed
Paradigm Shift:
Intellectual
Beliefs, Attitudes, Ways of Thinking
Emotional
Prejudices, Reactions, Feelings,
Resistance to Change
Consciousness
Morality and Ethical Issues, costs of
prejudices to Society and Individuals
Spiritual
Humanity is One
Civilisation is a Spiritual Process
Laying the Foundation for a united,
Global Society
Inequalities of the Past
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Nearly all Cultures, all countries
Religions, Societies, Social Institutions
Not specifically forbidden by God
Century of Light
In the Shadow
In the Light
Unimaginable horrors of
war
Ethnic hatreds
Ascendancy of the baser
side of humanity
Leadership gown awry
World-wide and regional
Conflicts
Brilliance of light shows the
reality
Humanity experienced shame
and horror at its actions
Re-examined old beliefs: is
humanity limited to certain
kinds of behaviour?
Implications to a global
society?
Towards Partnership
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Shared responsibilities
Balance of Qualities
Balance of Roles
Benefits of Consultation
Establishment of Peace – qualities of
women as peacemakers
Women as Peacemakers in Africa
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UN Study, 1998, African Women’s Report
Women more involved in sustainable
peace-making efforts
Post-conflict settings
Unlocking potential of women to
contribute towards peace
Resistances to change
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Gender as a social construct
Gender defines us as humans
Social and community pressures
Make issue of equality of women and men
only a women’s issue
Perpetuate our cultures, roles and
definitions of male/female
Changes
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Benefits:
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Eliminates the ugliness of Prejudice
Creates a true partnership
Allows all to act justly and fairly, justice is necessary for
peace
Teaches children that equality is a reality
Allows for the appreciation of the beauty of all humanity
No longer have to exalt ourselves over others
Better educated children
Freedom for women to develop
How to effect change
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Education
Social
Examples in the home
Religious
Political
Beginning of a new History
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History of the Human Race
Advancement of a new civilisation