Women could do more than entertain political delegates

At most national events, women are comfortable providing entertainment while the men make the decisions that govern the country. File photo.
The Uganda government increased prospects of women representation in parliament with formation of new constituencies. By 2016, over 300 women shall sit in parliament, and perhaps their voice shall be heard.But following a discussion on “Women and Public Policy” organised by Ghanaian based African Women Development Fund and Uganda’s FEMWRITE, female writers gathered to establish whether they are “Getting it Right?”.
In the sense, they tackled dismissal of women at political events, where while real political issues are discussed behind closed doors, women are left outside, dancing to entertain.
Don’t fear to get into Adam’s spacePublic policy expert and senior lecturer at Makerere University, Dr Tabitha Mulyampiti, encouraged women to embrace male roles because given the marginalisation, “We need to work with what God gave us, but get into Adam’s space.
Public policy is simply making decisions that pertain to society and laying out a frame work to pertain these aspirations,” she said, arguing that from the beginning, Eve has been making contributions from the back yard.
Focus eventually drifted to what women as individuals can do to influence public policy and gender issues.
Beverley Namboozo referred to her role as a poet/ organiser of forthcoming Babishainiwe Poetry Awards and contribution of other writers as setting a platform to speak on about social issues.
Observation was made of women in parliament whose participation is crucial in pushing women agenda. Even with the feminist movement setting into motion several events recognising women participation in growth and development, it is still questionable whether this is creating the desired results.
It is not always the men’s fault
“Women ought to become more self-reflective of what we are not doing. Whether we get into political positions or on the staff board of media or any other profession, we should pay extreme attention to how we conduct ourselves,” Sylvia Vallenhoven said declaring that, “Despite half of the cabinet in South Africa being female, 20 years after democracy, we have not seen massive advantages coming from that.
“Often, difficulty is not always prejudice and bigotry from men especially white men, but inability of women to organise themselves politically, effectively within those spaces.”
Dr Mulyampiti from Makerere University pointed out how women are often spectators left dancing and talking with themselves. While the agenda for Africa was being drawn in Addis Ababa, she notes that none of the 35 per cent of women in public spaces - those entrusted to go dance with the men - were present at the forum. What agenda then would they be drawing?” she wondered
We are worth moreYewande Omotoso, an award-winning writer, recounts how women at the core of politics, including those in Parliament, are harassed, receiving cat calls from men asking them to a date, to be their girlfriend… even at events such as political rallies, bringing to light the chauvinistic prejudice and bigotry they endure among men. She questions what they are not doing right in those spaces.
Drawing comparisons between Uganda, South Africa and Kenya’s constitution, Omotoso argued that what is required is “to see change being effected, a visible difference on the ground, because despite a ministry in South Africa dedicated to marginalised women, children and People with Disabilities, it has not made a difference.
This forum centralised efforts by FEMWRITE to contribute to social justice through writing.
Theo Sowa, CEO of African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), said, “governments pay attention to their constituencies and its people; that when people tell them that by watching a certain film they changed their mind about the policy that the government wants to introduce, that’s what governments think is important.”
The facts• Most governments may not have done enough yet, but they have let women into the doors; women should make the most of whatever opportunities they get.
• We should not settle for providing the entertainment at events where big decisions that affect the countries’ policies are being discussed; be part of the decision makers.
• Let us find what it is that makes men think of soliciting us for sex even when we stand up to be serious and do our part to tackle that. Women should package themselves as being more than sex objects.

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