How women lead
LIVING in various inner city communities and being socialised with strong moral values by parents who stuck to their responsibilities has helped me to develop some valued characteristics of a leader. Leadership to me is responsibility, accountability, transparency, co-ordination, respect and being able to delegate.
There are some who still think that leadership is not a woman’s place based on their interpretation of the Bible — that women should be subservient and stick to the ancient ways of being caregivers and domesticated. However, I say to them that in a practical contemporary world like ours, we need a balance to survive.
We practise leadership in many spheres of life but I have observed that some persons do not readily recognise or acknowledge the fact that their roles in the home, community and by extension the society are in fact exercising leadership. In the family, the person who is the head of that household maintains, monitors and distributes all resources for the family’s survival. That person also makes decisions that impact on all the members of the family.
I am a mother of two boys and as such, I have a bias for the male gender. I take comfort in the fact that I may be able to save one youngster from the street, the gun, or the grave. During the process of my work at the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre Limited (WROC) as a community mobiliser and community facilitator, I have worked with young men between the ages of 14 and 25. Occasionally we at WROC will facilitate workshops with this cohort. In one such session, my heart bled when I heard, a 17-year-old say his life expectancy is 25 years of age. Reaching such an age, you are seen as an elder in the community. How can this be healthy and productive for any country?
True leadership comes when one unselfishly gives of themselves to change or eradicate a situation. Every day we see our young boys and girls in the inner cities, some of whom are not attending school or who are dropouts. What do we do about these things? We need to take action.
I believe leadership should be exemplified through one’s actions. It speaks volumes when a person can approach you with any situation knowing that it will be dealt with in a lawful, confidential and respectful way. I am of the opinion that if we take a little time to listen, we would be able to hear the many cries of our youth and help. A youth who is having problems at home will come to WROC and simply want to talk. He does not want to be asked any questions or be given any advice, just to talk. A woman who has children and wants a better life for them thinks the only way is to enter into another relationship, and then the cycle continues with another baby. Simply talking with this woman and suggesting an alternative and seeing her taking control of her life reminds me that one intervention at a time will make a difference. That is an act of leadership.
The woman who sells at the school gate with whom parents who are rushing off to work leave their children is a leader. After school dismisses, the children sit with her until their parents return. She encourages them to do well in school among other motherly talks. She too is a leader because she exercises responsibility for other people’s children.
Let us not be fooled however, there is good and bad leadership. The men in the community who influence others to engage in questionable activities, they too are leaders, because they have the ability to persuade others to gravitate to their way or cause. Some people in the inner city think of leadership when someone says “the big man” or “boss.” However true leadership comes when one unselfishly gives of themselves to change or eradicate a situation. Everyday we see our young boys and girls in the inner cities, some not attending school or who are dropouts. What do we do about these things?
The above was contributed in anticipation of International Women’s Day to be observed on March 8 and as part of the conversation around women in leadership positions. Christine Senior-Harper has been a community mobiliser with WROC for several years and is now a member of the board.
