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

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.” - Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Culture is meant to be responsive to change. In fact, humans also are responsive to their cultural space. The relationship is therefore one of reciprocity and works beautifully when in alignment. Notwithstanding, culture is shaped by both internal and external agents. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines culture as “the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, not only art and literature but lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, t...

Human sexuality can be a complex topic to discuss. In fact, many are rather coy to openly have a discussion on the issue. As a result a lot of misinformation has been cultivated and have been circulated around this discourse. Unfortunately, even within education circles the half truths and misinformation have been allowed free passage given that the topic is still very much tabooed. Since the start of the 2000’s there have been resurgence regarding sexuality. During our lifetime we will experience various types of relationships. The construction and complexities of human sexuality is impacted through various media. Sexuality is everywhere: in books, movies, on television, in online videos, religion, school, games, in advertisements, social media platforms and on the internet. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexuality as a central aspect of being human throughout life: that encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy a...

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. – Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Who cares about National Heroes’ Day? For a significant number of Jamaicans this public holiday is merely a day for fun and frolic rooted in a culture of entertainment. Many of us as Jamaicans are far-removed from the historical significance of this important day. Unfortunately, our public holidays are seen as a sort of escapism to deflect from the harsh economic realities that so many of us experience daily. The nation’s once rich sense of national identity and pride requires a reset. The discourse concerning National Heroes’ Day needs to be broadened and more inclusive. Without a doubt there is a forced sense concerning our heritage. As a result, the nation continues to grapple with a diminished sense of national identity and pride. This diminished sense of national identity and pride is seen across the landscape of Jamaica. Our people have become fixate...

“So many women I've talked to see menopause as an ending. I've discovered that this is your moment to reinvent yourself after years of focusing on the needs of everyone else.”- Oprah Winfrey. Menopause affects half the world’s population, yet the issue remains shrouded in secrecy including in the workplace. The United Nations Population Fund adds that menopause affects more than one in five members of the global workforce, yet menopause is often dismissed, stigmatized and misunderstood, leaving many women to endure this phase in silence. This discrimination many women face is further rooted in the medicalisation of women’s bodies. This patriarchal process is one in which women’s bodies have been claimed and redefined by medicine. Unfortunately, during this phase women are rendered powerless over their own bodies. The medicalisation of women's body includes their reproductive biological and natural functions such as, aging premenstrual symptoms (PMS), menstruation, menopau...

“Hunger is still one of the biggest and most solvable problems in the world, but it is possible to end hunger.”- World Food Programme. Around 733 million people are facing hunger in the world due to repeated weather shocks, conflicts, wars, man-made humanitarian crises, economic downturns, inequality, and the pandemic. Everyone has a right to food. Food sustains us. World Food Day is observed on 16 October. This special day is organized by the United Nations in order to raise awareness about hunger around the world. This day serves as a reminder of the need to ensure food security and access to nutritious food for all. It also highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture and food production to address global food challenges. World Food Day is an opportunity to come together as a global community and work towards a world where no one goes to bed hungry. This year's theme is 'foods for a better life and a better future' . The world's farmers produce enough fo...

“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 ...