CHIEF of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman is calling on parents to socialise boys to become men who respect and honour women.

The head of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) made the call recently at a function hosted by Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to mark International Women’s Day.

“It is very important for us to teach boys to be respectful of women and to understand that girls are equal,” said Wemyss-Gorman as she argued that there is a need to stop treating girls and boys in stereotypical ways.

“You know when you were growing up your mother and grandmother would say that girls must stay in the house, cook and clean and all of that stuff — those kinds of subconscious stereotypes you ingrain in boys and girls and make them think that they are different.

“We do have all kinds of stereotypes to differentiate both, and it is very subconscious. You have to consciously think about things that are not stereotypical [in order] to reinforce the respect for women and each other,” added Wemyss-Gorman.

She argued that women must aim to co-exist with their male counterparts and leverage their strengths.

“We also have to accept our weaknesses so that we know how to fix them and mitigate them. We must always stand firm in what we believe, and the principles of equality. When you get the opportunity, earn that place and stand in your power,” stressed Wemyss-Gorman.

Regarding navigating a male-dominated environment such as the JDF the rear admiral confessed that, at first, she never thought of it through gender lenses because she considered herself a human being doing her job, like the other human being who happened to be a man. She, however, acknowledged that despite her own convictions and belief in herself, someone enabled her by providing an opportunity.

“In a male-dominated environment that person quite likely will be a man. We do have good advocates in our male counterparts; it is not always them versus us. Inclusion requires diversity at the table,” she admitted.

Wemyss-Gorman admitted, too, that the military came with its own particular challenges for women as she pointed out that it was important for women to be extraordinarily sure of themselves.

“Globally, a lot of things have come out about how women have been disenfranchised and the limited opportunities they get in the military,” said the chief of defence staff as she pointed out that there is a whole movement geared towards getting policies in place to protect service women, adding that Jamaica is leading in the region in this area.

International Women’s Day is observed to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and to encourage action to drive gender parity.