Why do we need an IWD? Is it still relevant in Jamaica?

International Women’s Day (IWD) 2019 is being celebrated this Friday, March 8, under the theme #BalanceforBetter. While we recognise the day, the focus is on building a gender-balanced world, and realising that everyone has a part to play in this — from grassroots activism to worldwide action. This week, as All Woman recognises the theme, we highlight the absence of balance, and celebrate its presence.

THIS Friday, March 8, will be celebrated as International Women’s Day (IWD). In some countries it is observed as a public holiday, while in others it is a day of protests for women’s rights. In other countries, however, the day goes largely unnoticed by many people, because it holds no real significance to them.

All Woman spoke with women and men in Papine, St Andrew, and on The UWI, Mona campus to find out whether they believe IWD is still needed and relevant to Jamaica, and what they believe is the significance of the day.

Jhonae Watson, student:

I think it’s very important to acknowledge women’s day because a lot of the times our women in society – the mothers, grandmother, aunts – they do a lot of the work without any sort of acknowledgement and if we can have one single day dedicated to them then I think that’s pretty awesome.

Calvin Henry:

Yes it’s relevant because women are important like that, and I respect them because dem up like that for real. I have six babymothers, so I put out that respect for real.

Margrette, vendor:

Women nuh supposed to get only one day. We supposed to get everyday of the year, because without woman we couldn’t have any children. Man couldn’t bring them. Women have something special in them. Women are very, very special, so we should get everyday.

Delroy Thomas, entrepreneur:

If it wasn’t for women, you wouldn’t have men on the earth. Women are here for men and men are here for women, but woman a precious, great, something that God put on earth for man, so we have to celebrate women’s day.

Chavoy Reid, pharmacologist:

Women have been the backbone of many societies. They’re there for the men and children. Women have helped us to grow in many ways. For instance, at home they’re the ones who cook, clean and provide support. So I will support women so they can grow as well. Equal rights and equal pay and so on. As men we should support them so that they can push forward and do well.

Carol Curtis:

Every day is women’s day so it’s not anything new to me. Women have contributed so much to society. We bear the children, we go to work, we take care of the men. We do everything. So Women’s Day is really an everyday thing.

Deadranne Baston-Morrison:

I think it’s important to celebrate women on women’s day because women are seriously underprivileged. We don’t get as much privilege as men in society, even though not all men are privileged. You still have women who are earning 60 cents for every dollar that a man makes, so I think it’s important to celebrate women’s day to raise awareness around these concerns. You have different issues such as menstrual problems, maternity leave, and so on. These days raise awareness around these issues.

Ricardo Russell, student:

Women have been discriminated against historically and they have not been represented enough. International Women’s Day serves as a medium to empower women, and to get them to become more active in areas where they wouldn’t normally be. It’s a way to get them out of their shell to become an active part of society, which they have not necessarily been a part of due to patriarchy and other factors.

Julette:

She bears children, she takes care of her husband, she goes to work, she plays the role of mother and father. So IWD always will be relevant.

Alexsis Williams, student:

The work of women has gone unnoticed for years. Women have struggled for years. Most times when you hear about Jamaican national heroes you hear about the six national heroes. What about our heroine? So I think it’s important that we dedicate a day to celebrate women and our progress over the years because it has not always been a case where women have been accepted in society. We’ve been given an equal playground and equity has been observed, so I think it’s important to celebrate how far we have come from, and what we’ve achieved, and just to dedicate this day especially to women.

Nardo Currie, food outlet operator:

Women are the future. Every man needs a strong woman in his life to survive. When rain a fall who you call pon? Woman! I don’t wait on special days to celebrate my love for my woman. My love is celebrated everyday. My wife is my future. She gave me my son and my daughter, that makes it possible to bring forward my name. So we haffi acknowledge that women are very important. We nuh like the man them that beat women and ill-treat women. Me bathe woman, powder them, you name it, anything that good for them. Give them chocolate, birdfeed them, anything that’s nice.