Flag Women

CAFRA member, Meryl James-Sebro, has completed her PhD dissertation entitled “FLAGWOMEN: The Struggle Against Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago,” which looks at how specific women’s groups address domestic violence. Her research was conducted between May 1999 and March 2001. It examines the increase in incidents of domestic violence in the context of a general perception the women have made tremendous material gains while attitudes and behaviour towards them have not changed significantly.

In a survey of more than 20 women’s organisations and other non-governmental organisations (including CAFRA), James-Sebro suggests that the incidents of domestic violence have increased, although NGOs have been successful in publicising, delegitimising and criminalising domestic violence.

Foregrounding women’s voices, the study examines the strategies women are employing to cope with domestic violence. James-Sebro suggests that gender relations between men and women have moved from the stage of mamaguy - the traditional diplomatic, flattering and ‘soft-soaping’ approach women use in interacting with men- to mask - the more direct, confident, independent, exhibitionist approach evident in masquerading or playing mas’ during Carnival.

The research methodology included in-depth interviews of members of two organisations - Women Working for Social Progress and The Business and Professional Women’s Club/South. Copies of the study are being made available to Women Working for Social Progress, The Centre for Gender and Development Studies; The Network of Non-Governmental Organisations of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women, the West Indian Section of the National Library in Port of Spain, and UNIFEM/Caribbean Region in Barbados. The study can also be obtained from the American University Library in Washington, D.C.

CAFRA News is grateful to James-Sebro for allowing us to reproduce the following short extract from her research.

...while I observed an easy integration of grassroots and middle class women, particularly in feminist organisations, there have been several worrying comments by women, inside and outside of the women’s movement, of the monopoly of these organisations by middle class women with self-interests that take priority over the interests of their constituencies.

Functioning within the context of Trinidad’s gender, ethnic, and class stratification, women’s organisations have been successful in attempts to down-play or ignore these divisions. This head-in-the-sand approach has proven unsuccessful and self-defeating for strengthening organisations and broadening and deepening the reach of the women’s movement. As evidenced in the nurses’ strike, the state is adept at manipulating identities in order to protect its hegemonic mission. Challenging gender oppression could well become an opportunity for easing racial tensions and bridging class divisions in the primary interest of constructing a more cohesive whole in order to address the strategic interest of challenging an oppressive and divisive state…

In Trinidad women’s issues are in danger of being sidelined for funding assistance as World Bank officials prioritise the needs of boys and perceive the focus on women’s issues as emasculating and threatening to young males (World Bank 1998: Interview). While the marginalisation of young males is indeed an increasing concern, it needs to be viewed within the context of the increasing impoverishment and cultural emasculation of the entire country as a result of aggressive globalisation policies that undermine Caribbean economies and pauperise whole nations.