Page 13 - CAPE Caribbean Studies Study Guide Sample_Neat
P. 13

Module 2  Issues in Caribbean development


               underused. The government loses out on tax revenue since some women will   Did you know?
               not be earning a salary.
                                                                                 The Gender Empowerment Measure
               Within the household, women and children often face physical, verbal and   is an indicator that focuses on
               even psychological abuse. Women in the home may still be seen as inferior   opportunities open to women. It
               and in many patriarchal families women are required to be submissive to their   measures inequality of opportunities
               husbands based on some particularistic culture. As a result, the girls of the   in three areas: political participation,
               household are socialised into this lifestyle and may end up perpetuating this   economic participation and
               way of life.
                                                                                 power over economic resources.
                                                                                 It evaluates progress in advancing
               How women contribute to development                               women’s standing in political and
                                                                                 economic forums. It examines the
               Women from rural villages may work on farms or in gardens cultivating crops   extent to which women and men
               that are sold at the markets.
                                                                                 are able to actively participate in
               In modern times, many women have high-ranking positions in organisations.   economic and political life and take
               Their contribution to development comes as a result of the collection of tax   part in decision-making.
               revenues that help to run a nation.
               Women are now also working in national security and defence, for example the
               army, coastguard and police force. Development often results in the adoption   Did you know?
               of institutions that favour gender equality, e.g. women’s enfranchisement and
               property rights.
                                                                                 Laws have also been passed to
                                                                                 protect vulnerable groups, including
                                                                                 people with disabilities. The UN
                                                                                 Convention on the Rights of
                                                                                 Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
                                                                                 mandates governments to enact
                                                                                 legislation to combat discrimination
                                                                                 against people with disabilities.




                                                                                 Did you know?

                                                                                 The Gender Inequality Index
                                                                                 measures the human cost of gender
                                                                                 inequality. We can use this index
                                                                                 to compare levels of equality in
                                                                                 different Caribbean nations, and with
                                                                                 those of the rest of the world.






               Figure 2.2.1  What do you think was the significance of Portia Simpson Miller becoming
               Jamaican Prime Minister in 2006?

               Key points

               ■   Over the last few decades the roles of women have changed from caretaker
                  of the home to income earner. Women have taken on jobs that were once
                  carried out by men, in fields such as politics and engineering.
               ■   Even though women have gained upward social mobility, there are still
                  instances of unfair treatment in the workplace and in wider society.

               ■   Laws have been passed to protect the rights of women and children.
                                                                                                          59



         852345_Module 2A.indd   59                                                                        04/06/2018   11:08
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18