The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“Rural women have a triple workday and yet they are invisible.”- Emma Ortega. Historically, women have always faced discrimination. The challenges of rural women are even more intense given that discriminatory laws and cultural practices are more embedded in rural areas. The advocacy concerning women’s rights and gender equality oftentimes eludes rural women and this is problematic. In many societies rural women are frequently deemed as invisible due to the system of patriarchy that renders them voiceless and powerless. As a result the issues of rural women are not given a sense of urgency. Notwithstanding this stark reality, rural women account for about 22% of the global population. They play an important role in the health and wellbeing of their communities. Rural women can face challenges like higher rates of poverty (as both extreme and multidimensional poverty are higher in rural areas globally), as well as unequal access to education, health and other social services, and empl

“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens”. - Michelle Obama. The plight of girls globally continues to be of much concern to various stakeholders. Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today. In many parts of the world, girls have been stripped of their basic human rights such as that of accessing an education. Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age. The statistics are there for all of us to see, however, the call to action has been a muted one in some countries and this is very much unsettling. On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child , to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International D

Eye health is a critical component regarding our overall health and development. Undoubtedly, vision is the most dominant of our senses. Vision plays a critical role in every facet and stage of our lives. We often take our vision for granted, but without vision, we struggle to learn, to walk, to read, to participate in school and to work. Unfortunately, eye health is oftentimes not accessible and is rather costly; this reality is concerning especially as it relates to youngsters. It is against this background that World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October. The day is set aside to highlight the importance of protecting our eyes and vision, raise awareness of vision impairment and blindness, and promote eye and vision care. World Sight Day is also an opportunity to debunk myths regarding vision and move towards a world where all children are free from social stigma associated with wearing spectacles or other corrective interventions for their eyes and vis

“Mental health is not a destination but a process.”- Noam Shpancer, PhD. Oftentimes we discount the association between work and the state of our mental health and this is problematic. The work place is frequently a site of conflicts, gossip, high stress levels and strained interpersonal relationships. The world of work is rooted in a culture of meeting deadlines and eventually this unrealistic messaging takes a toll on one’s mental health. In addition to the complexities and intersections concerning the workplace, there is stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. Unfortunately, many employees do not know where to turn for mental health support and therefore they suffer in silence. Poor working conditions, victimization, and other unhealthy working situations pose a serious risk to our overall quality of life and productivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that with 60% of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to

“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.” - William Arthur Ward. Teachers are the backbone of any society. Unfortunately, in some societies teachers are undervalued and overworked. Notwithstanding, it is always an excellent gesture when teachers are celebrated for their continued sacrifices toward nation building. Perhaps, no other profession plays such a pivotal role in society than that of the teaching profession in scaffolding the society. It is against this background that World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on 5 October to laud all teachers around the globe. The day is set aside to acknowledge how teachers are working assiduously to transform the education system but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to reimagine the way ahead for the profession globally. It is imperative that the voice of the teacher be heard and valued

On this International Day of Older Persons, let’s commit to strengthen care and support systems that honour the dignity of older persons and caregivers. - UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Recently, we called in a stove technician to do some checks for a suspected gas leak. While the gentlemen were in the kitchen, the younger one who is the apprentice uttered a comment that was discriminatory against older persons. He opined that President Joe Biden should have stepped aside long ago and allow a much younger person to take the reins. Of course, I could not allow this opportunity to pass and I asked what he had against older persons. I reminded him that aging is not an option and well all will get there. Discrimination oftentimes is clothed in a humorous manner. Without a doubt discrimination is pervasive in the society and indeed the international community. Older persons are usually voiceless and invisible. Once you get to retirement age the message that society sends is that

“People of all backgrounds deserve access to accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate sexual health education and care.”- Nicole Sheitz. Most men do not usually think about the health of their sperm until they are ready for fatherhood. Most of us tend to be reserved and sheepish regarding any discussion about sexuality in general and bodily fluids in particular. Men in particular are not fond of going to the doctor. The duality concerning how we are socialized and the skewed perception surrounding the construction of masculinity and manhood are largely to be blamed for how men view visiting their doctor. Additionally, the prevailing narrative, in some quarters, that men must be void of emotions has led to some men avoiding the doctor at all costs. The medicalization of the human anatomy serves as another barrier that some men must overcome in order to seek medical help at the earliest possible time. Unfortunately, popular and the counter cultures also operate in a space that dis