“Gender role discrimination in the workplace in contemporary Caribbean can be described as a thing of the past.” Introduction to Sociology
Introduction Judges, Moderator, Miss Indira Rampersad, members of the opposition, fellow members of the proposition, audience, all. Good night. Today I stand to commerce my teams argument which we strongly agree that “Gender Role Discrimination” in the workplace in contemporary Caribbean Society can only be described as a thing of the past. We the affirmative team believe that the statement is nothing but the truth! Firstly, we would like to thank our opponents for helping us with making our case. My group members and I strongly hold the view that gender role discrimination in the workplace in contemporary Caribbean is a thing of the past. Thus, gender segregation and education arguments presented by the opposing side will be closely scrutinized.
Gender Segregation The Negative team has tried to persuade you into believing in their arguments that gender segregation, gender intimidation and biased opportunities in employment and education is present in contemporary Caribbean countries when this false! As was mentioned by the opponents, “there continues to be a low representation of women in parliament” and made reference to Dame Mary Eugenia Charles of Dominica as the first female head of state from the English-speaking Caribbean. That argument is UNTRUE, in fact! Dame Charles paved the way for females to rise to the highest job position in the Caribbean. Firstly, In 1970 she formed the Dominica Freedom Party and even if the party was dominated by males, she held her own. She was highly respected by all members in the party to the extent that she was voted repeatedly year after year to lead the group. That shows the overwhelming confidence that both genders forming the membership had in Mary Eugenia Charles. So opposers is that really “FEELING STIGMAITZED?!” because, according to your findings women feel “stigmatized when their work puts them in contact with the public.” Secondly, By 1980, she gained even greater popularity and lead her party to win the 1980 general elections and went on to win 1985 and 1990 elections. How contradicting can our opponents be? She ruled the country for 15 consecutive years. Prior to that she was the leader of the opposition from 1970 to 1980. That demonstrates and illustrated that discrimination in the workplace was something of the past. She did not only break that barrier for Dominica but encourage it through the Caribbean and the commonwealth of nations and that approach open several doors for women to hold the top positions in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and now Barbados. Being alienated in politics, she had to face her opponents with exemplary courage as she was verbally assaulted on her personal life issues(Pattulo, 2005) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Dominica has always had women’s presence in the parliament. As early as 1961 Phyllis Shand Allfrey formed the Dominica Labor Party and has been a member of parliament and followed her was Mable James. In 1970 Mary Eugenia Charles formed the Dominica Freedom Party while she was unsuccessful at the polls she was nominated to the senate and became opposition leader. She won her seat in 1980. Dominica over these years has maintained a strong women presence in parliament. One would want to allude to the fact that there was discrimination but Dominicans simply voted for the best candidate whether male or female at the time. Today more women participate in parliamentary elections that ever before.
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