The evolution of women through the eyes of men

The role of women in society has significantly changed over the past few decades. From housewives to career women, Mauritian ladies have showed what they are capable of. We asked some men stemming from different professional fields to share their perception of this evolution. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"12313","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-20157 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"194","height":"196","alt":"Eddy"}}]]Eddy Jolicoeur: “There remains a lot of ground to cover” The Head of Human Resources of the Mauritius Commercial Bank, Eddy Jolicoeur trusts that it is difficult to provide a general viewpoint about the evolution of Mauritian women. “If one considers the issue from the socio-economic perspective, one might perceive a relative improvement. However, such a broad analysis fails to provide the real picture. There are still a number of areas where there remains a lot of ground to cover. We should not fall into the trap of statistical progression. The way to look at the problematic should be more qualitative. Numbers are not everything,” he says. Eddy Jolicoeur, who is also a champion of the Men Against Violence project created by Women in Networking (WIN), trusts that Mauritius has managed to challenge a number of taboos namely “a number of job traditionally ‘reserved’ to male employees are more accessible. Legislation on inheritance is more progressive. We also practise equal pay for work of equal value.” However, he underlines that some areas remain tough cookies among “gender-based violence, sexual harassment and the glass ceiling in the professional environment.” As head of Human Resources, Eddy Jolicoeur considers that there have been many positive signals when it comes to women holding more important job positions. “The good thing is that there is no gender bias in education and training. When it comes to career progression it is a different story. As long as at the highest level of decision-making, that is, our National Assembly, the culture and mindset do not change, we will still be in the situation we are to-day. In my opinion, we shall pay the price of our narrow mindedness.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"12312","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-20156 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"190","height":"211","alt":"Azad"}}]]Azad Jeetun: “Top management are mostly headed by men” The former Director of the Mauritius Employer’s Federation Azad Jeetun explains that he has noted many optimistic changes in the Mauritian women’s role through the years. “Compared to the last 20 to 30 years, most women now have a career and financially sustain their families. It is the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) that brought the change in mentalities, as it gave women access to the job sector. In addition, more women also had access to education. This allowed many to climb up the ladder in the world of job and career. From the top bass in various sectors like the economic sector to entrepreneurship, the Mauritian women have proved their capacities. This is definitely a positive evolution. It has also become a necessity for women to work as the cost of living has considerably risen.” Azad Jeetun trusts that women are positively contributing to the economic as well as social development of the country. However Azad Jeetun notes that women have not fully gained access to top jobs. As stated by Gender Statistics 2014, working women are more likely than men to be employees and contributing family workers but less likely to be heading business. “There are women who are holding high posts but they are very few. Most women work in the middle level as departmental managers. Top management and posts are mostly headed by men. We thus still have a long way to go.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"12314","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-20158 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"214","height":"213","alt":"Erickson"}}]]Erickson Mooneapillay: “Women should have the right to decide” Barrister Erickson Mooneapillay argues that the evolution of women in society is not limited to giving women the same opportunities as men. “That phase was important in order to establish a balance in society but it is not enough. The story of the Suffragettes and Rosa Parks among others are examples of how women have been vital in shaping the destiny of mankind. Women have been subject to discrimination because laws were man-made and religious bigotry fuelled tyranny of men thereby oppressing women.” According to the barrister, the oppression will continue as long as we have in our statute books old legislations that were enacted well before women were in Parliament. “For example section 242 of our Criminal Code reads as follows: Manslaughter committed by any person on his spouse, as well as his accomplice, at the very moment he finds them in the act of adultery is excusable. Now this section although open to interpretation can arguably be very disadvantageous to women accused of homicide. Prison itself is a man made punishment that is not suited for women. Abortion is still an offence under section 235 of our criminal code. As for prostitution it is always the woman who is arrested and never the client. Although it’s a completely different debate, women should have the right to decide what’s best for themselves.

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  [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"12315","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-20159 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"250","height":"219","alt":"Rajen"}}]]Rajen Suntoo: “Free education gave a boost to women” Sociologist Rajen Suntoo reveals that since Independence, there has been a lot of positive progress of women. “Free education gave a boost to women to step out from their homes and see the world by themselves. Then came the Export Processing Zone, that provided women with the opportunity to work and earn. The authorities also helped women to move forward by providing them with various facilities,” he avers. According to the sociologist, nowadays, girls and women are doing even better at all levels, starting from education. “At the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, girls are outperforming boys. Women are taking jobs in every field from offices to field work,” he adds. However, as highlighted by Rajen Suntoo despite this modernisation, women are vulnerable. “With modernisation, there are problems of rape and aggression perpetrated against women. This always existed but nowadays women have the power to fight against those evils.” The sociologist points out that there is still room for improvement so as to achieve greater gender equality. “More opportunities must be provided for young women to be able to have a career in engineering. Generally, there is a lack of motivation to allow girls to enter the engineering field. Besides, it is high time for a mindset change in the private sector to allow women to occupy high positions, like CEO. There are just a very few women at this position. Nevertheless, in the public sector, women tend to reach the top of the hierarchy, DPS. So why not in the private sector which represents the capitalist system?”