| Brainstorming
on gender dignity
By Toyin Osawe
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
 |
| •Prof. Alele-Williams,
delivering her papaer. Seated is Mr. Femi Adesina, editor,
Daily Sun
Sun News Publishing
|
|
|
The issue of gender has always been a ready topic of discourse.
Among feminists and pro-women activists, gender equity, equality,
development, among others, are familiar rhetorics.
On March 29, it was another opportunity to talk about gender
issues. The topic for the day was Gender Dignity: “The
Bedrock to Sustainable Development.” It was organised
by Landmark Initiative for Development, an organisation of
students from the Lagos State University.
To thrash the issues of gender dignity were notable people
as Prof. Grace Alele-Williams (former vice chancellor of University
of Benin), Mrs Sefinatu Mohammed (a social critic and Co-ordinator
of Renewed Hope of Nigeria), Ms. Modupe Ozolua, President,
BEARS Foundation and Mr. Femi Adesina Editor of Daily Sun.
All the speakers agreed on the fact that gender refers to
both men and women and that dignity connotes respect for men
and women alike. Mrs Sefinatu Mohammed and Ms Ozolua both
agreed on the fact that the dignity of any man is determined
by the man in question. You choose to be who you want to be,
they both seem to say.
In her presentation, Prof Alele-Williams stated that equal
participation by men and women is necessary to achieve sustainable
development, while economic empowerment will ensure gender
dignity.
As usual, the focus of the speakers shifted to women and the
injustices they suffer. Prof. Alele-Williams while proffering
increased enrolment of the girl-child as the way forward gave
the audience food for thought.
“So long as we are celebrating a woman vice chancelor
because she is the first or a woman chief judge because she
is the first, then we have not arrived. We look forward to
a time when we will have many women in such positions and
we will be celebrating so many of them.”
The other speakers were no less in agreement of the importance
of education. According to Mrs. Sefinatu Mohammed, “…the
dignity you get is what you think of yourself and your first
husband is your education.” She also used the opportuniy
to appeal to the students to shun cultism and prostitution
because that is not what they have come to the school for.
Adesina, the only male speaker, highlighted the stereotypes
that women usually subject themselves to. He said that for
any woman to be accorded due respect, she must be aware of
her environment and develop herself.
Ms. Ozolua, on her own part, said that young people in general
should be focused and have a clear picture of what they want
to do.Citing herself as an example of a self-made person,
she said they could also look outside for opportunities to
achieve their goals.
|
