Close Menu
Asberth News Network
    Facebook Instagram
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Download App
    Facebook Instagram
    Asberth News Network
    • Home
    • Latest News
    • Breaking News
    • Local News
    • Regional/International News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Back to School
    Asberth News Network
    Home»News»Local News»What of our women?by Heidi Badenock
    Local News

    What of our women?by Heidi Badenock

    November 12, 20201 Comment4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Statistics say that women make up approximately 50% of our population and even more importantly 50% of persons who are able to vote. Statistics also say that women are more likely to vote and to mobilize others to vote.

    This was evident fresh out of general elections where we recognised that women were at the forefront of political rallies and stood as the backbone of our main political parties.

    Our women can be found in many leadership positions in SVG from Permanent Secretaries to Directors to Managers to Principals. Our women can be found everywhere except our cabinet.

    On 10th November 2020, an all-male cabinet was announced, and the first flag question was what of our women? During this election cycle the ruling ULP had two accomplished women on their ticket, who albeit suffered defeat at the polls. The backbone of the ULP also continues to be a host of impressive women who are more than competent to assist in guiding and developing policy in our country.

    Now is this just about putting women into positions?
    Recently a post was sent to me “To vote for a woman because she’s a woman, is the same as to not vote for her because she’s a woman. Equally sexist” and I was asked what my thoughts were.

    Ultimately, I agreed because I do not support token feminism, but I agreed with this qualifier. “I know that 90% of the times a woman is not placed in an electable position by virtue of her gender, because there will always be a man who considers himself more capable. So a woman a never electable just because she is a woman, it generally is because she is doubly competent.”

    The question can be easily asked whether women are not able to still make a contribution to nation building and development outside the cabinet, and the answer is yes but the follow up to that is why in 2020, do our women have to still sit outside to contribute.

    This is in no way intended to ignore that over the years accomplished women have been part of our government, but 41 years into independence, it is concerning that one is still able to count the women who have been part of the house on one’s hands.

    Now it is difficult enough for women to step forward into the political limelight where she is critically examined from her head to her toe. Women are criticized for their sexual partners, husbands, their wombs, their hair, their shape, everything BUT their ability to do the job.
    On the flipside our men can do everything under the sun, publicly berating women, have multiple partners within their marriages, calling women out of their names, be of unscrupulous character and save from a miniscule subset of the population, no questions are asked, no concerns are raised.

    We jump and scream in support of our male candidates while we monitor the reproductive organs, sexuality, and sexual lives of our women.

    Unfortunately, it appears as if we are still of the view that women should be subject to a standard higher than men and, unfortunately, we will continue to lose out from the guidance and insight that can only be brought by our women.

    Nations such as Germany and New Zealand have seen the impact of women in government. Even the USA will have its first female Vice President, as the world pushes forward, are we moving backward?
    I am cautiously optimistic that in the next election cycle that we would have moved on from this myopic thinking and begin rallying around the women who have given and continue to give so much to our nation.

    To our women, we are good enough. People already say women do everything so we might as well do one more thing and run our country!

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    The benefits of getting involved in Agriculture

    June 17, 2025

    Forestry Department and GEF – UNDP Ridge to Reef Tackle Fire Recovery and Conservation on Union Island

    June 17, 2025

    Former Coast Guard Members Association (FCMA) Donates to Local Feeding Programs

    June 17, 2025

    SVG Civil Aviation Department Enforces Temporary “No Drone Zone” Ahead of OECS Meetings

    June 17, 2025
    View 1 Comment

    1 Comment

    1. Anthony Syewart ,PhD on November 13, 2020 4:57 AM

      The next speaker in our parliament is expevted to be a woman. Will she be neutral, competent, and professional? In this day and age it is not wise to exclude women from our cabinet.

    • Home
    • Latest News
    • Breaking News
    • Local News
    • Regional/International News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Back to School
    Our Socials
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    ANN

    Asbert News Network is the premier destination for local, regional and international news in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s tomorrow’s news today.

    © 2025 Asbert News Network
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Download App

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.