Thursday, March 06, 2008 Oledan: Re-definitions By Radzini Oledan Slice of life
WOMEN, the silent and invisible workers.
In this age of so-called equal opportunities, the fundamental shift between gender and power has yet to take place. Women's efforts are barely recognized and are treated as non-economic entities. Often underpaid, and in some instances even unpaid.
The UN Human Development Report estimated that unwaged and underwaged work is worth $16 trillion internationally. Over two-thirds of this, or $11 trillion, is the non-monetized, invisible contribution of women. The report clearly linked the devaluation of women's work to women's poverty and lowered status in all regions of the world.
This shows that while there are those who have excelled themselves in their chosen careers, the struggle to share power between men and women still continues.
Economic indicators devalue the contribution of women in their own community. In patriarchal logic, occupational segregation ensures that women's work is undervalued, both symbolically and in material terms.
While this may confirm deep seated cultural beliefs that woman's destiny is to be powerless and on the margins while man's destiny is to be powerful and to wield influence, it should also move for the re-evaluation of women's work.
The present convention has to be challenged. If women's work is accurately reflected in the national statistics, then it will shatter the myth that men are the main breadwinners of the nation.
Challenging the present culture will further establish women's entitlement to human, legal, welfare, economic, civil and social rights. Proper valuing of work will raise the value of all work and contribute to sharing of responsibilities between genders.
In the end, an emergence of an informed collective voice able to re-shape thinking and practice to achieve gender equality in all levels is needed. There are choices that women are taking though.
There are those who have redefined success and have veered away from traditional pathways of leadership roles, preferring flexible career schemes and family friendly hours. If indeed the established workings of the upper echelons of the professional is incompatible with women's choices and their family considerations, then their options that may be considered. These alternatives however should be tempered with equal opportunities for women to be able to make an informed choice.
