Beverly Manley – we have to mainstream gender

Beverley Manley, a former First Lady of Jamaica in the 1970s – she was married to then Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manley- was instrumental in the development of Jamaican women during that period.

She served as Jamaica’s representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She is a gender and transformational trainer as well as a consultant on Third World developmental and communications issues.

A vice-president of the Third World Foundation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Manley was active in the politics of the People’s National Party in the 1970s and early 1980s. She was President of the PNP Women’s Movement and Chairperson of the PNP Political Education Programme as well as its Canvassers Training Progamme. She was also a member of the Party Executive and National Executive Council – working tirelessly in the interest of women. This was a period when the women’s movement in Jamaica was very active resulting in changes in many laws that discriminated against women and children.

In addition, Manley is co-producer and co-host for a weekday discussion programme on CVM’s radio, Hot 102 – The Breakfast Club. In the thirteen years of its existence- the programme has become a trailblazer for discussing controversial issues, including issues of Gender, politics and economics. It commands an audience that includes the top decision-makers in the country.

What is your involvement in the Women’s Movement?

My involvement is through my ongoing research on Gender and the State, and the critical importance of “mainstreaming” gender in all policies and programmes – the importance and utility in applying a Gender Analysis/Lens.

Also in addition, my co-hosting – on The Breakfast Club – where we, Anthony Abrahams and I, discuss Gender Issues on an ongoing basis.

I also attend conferences/seminars all over the world to do with Gender Issues.

Where is happening with the Movement now?

The movement needs to take a “great leap forward” to continue to assess why it is so challenging for policy-makers to listen and understand that when Gender is not taken into account it is women in relation to men and men in relation to women who are dehumanised and therefore, development cannot serve the needs of the majority of people.

In addition, it is important to assess and evaluate how different categories of women and men see issues of equality. What is the impact of the freedom and equality of women in patriarchal society? What impact does this have – not only on the women themselves but also on children and how can the State intervene to deal with these critical issues?

What has the Women’s Movement achieved in Jamaica?

Women have made many strides but the proverbial “glass ceiling” is very much in place. Will we have the courage to break through the “glass ceiling” and partner with men in all aspects of society? This demands a clear understanding of Gender and Gender issues. It also demands high levels of competency and the recognition that neither women nor men should be discriminated against because of our biology.

Perhaps the two most important contributions of the Women’s Movement in Jamaica are the changes in legislation that discriminate against women and raising the level of awareness of women and all in the society on Gender Issues. We are seeing this resulting in women being employed in non-traditional jobs (e.g. Construction) as well as women having a new sense of themselves as independent beings.

Where are some of the advocates now?

Many of the advocates from the 1970s are working as Gender Consultants or working in their own businesses, etc, but still very much involved in the conversation on gender.

Any fond memories?

I remember when women’s organisations united to struggle for the Maternity Leave With Pay Law during the International Year of the Child (1979). We were attacked by women and men but we kept educating the women who would be impacted positively by this law and in many cases, they could not believe that such a law could be put in place for women.

We also had to make it clear that in all the countries where this law already existed it did not account for an increase in the birth rate.