New book launched on women in politics
These are good times for printers as it seems that not a week goes by without the launching of a new book. While today’s ceremony was not dedicated to poetry, art or fiction, it did highlight an important development in Belizean society.
Ann-Marie Williams
Belize can now add the first of its kind comprehensive women’s political publication of the reference section of our libraries.
The ninety-four page book “Women in Politics” was commissioned in 1995 and finished in 1998 by the National Women’s Commission with funding from the I.D.B.
Designed to determine the level and nature of women’s leadership in Belize and viable alternatives for increasing women’s political representation, the project interviewed two thousand and thirteen women all over the country: politicians, former politicians, political aspirants and campaigners at all levels.
The survey gathered basic information on women such as: how they grew up, whether they were interested in leadership in whatever sphere: NGO, religious or party political.
Gender based obstacles were also addressed how women felt about the kinds of support they were getting from their political leaders, if any.
Attitudes women had towards other women politicians.
The use of support groups were also looked at: where do women politicians turn for support.
And speaking of support, one of the project consultants Adele Catzim, says she was particularly moved by the way respondents felt about the support system.
Adele Catzim, Consultant
“One of the things that struck me the most in carrying out the interviews was a deep sense of isolation that women felt. The higher up they went in leadership positions, the more isolated they felt and not just isolated from men, but other women. And I think that’s an issue we really need to grapple with. How do we support women in leadership positions and how do women in leadership positions embrace support from other people?”
Catzim says sixty-nine percent of women polled said they don’t want to lead, while thirty-one percent say they want to. The question remains–how do we encourage the thirty-one percent to get involved?
Ann-Marie Williams
“Why increase women’s representation? Is there a need to increase women’s representation?”
Adele Catzim
“That is one of the questions that we asked in carrying out the survey. I have my own personal views, but in being objective we had to ask the question as to why do we want more women in politics and what do we expect of the women who become leaders in the political sphere?”
“Women just like men have a right to equal representation, so we should not allow the fact that we’re still debating why we want more women in politics.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“So it brings to the fore the question of basic justice?”
Adele Catzim
“Yes, basic justice.”
And on this International Women’s Day, former president of the National Women’s Commission, Kathy Esquivel, felt she was given no justice after working on the “Women in Politics” publication.
Kathy Esquivel, Former Women’s Commission Pres.
“We saw the programme through various difficulties that were logistical more than anything else and it was finally finished in 1998. Of course it is the product of the National Women’s Commission, which I was the president, and when the commission changed of course the new commission took on responsibility for it. But I am disappointed to see that my role in this is not acknowledged. There is a forward by Mrs. Musa, which is okay, but I feel that I should have been asked to say something as well.”
As a fitting observance of International Women’s Day, current president of the National Women’s Commission, Joan Musa, presented a copy of “Women in Politics” to Women’s Affairs Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
“Women in Politics” is available at book stores in Belize City and from the National Women’s Commission.
