Camile Taylor (left) and Elsa Leo-Rhynie
CAMILLE TAYLOR, 27, public relations account executive at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) graduated with first-class honours from the University of the West Indies and was awarded an academic bursary. She recently returned from the United Kingdom where she gained a Masters of Distinction in Communi-cations Studies from one of the finest communications school, Leeds University, graduating in the top five in her class.
Camille says that having done her first degree and doing so well she craved for the academic challenge, "I wanted more," she said.
She, like all the other women interviewed would like to get married and have children in the future, but is convinced she must be able to make a contribution to the union. "Marriage is a partnership and not a state of dependency", she said.
Miss maths
Twenty-three-year-old, Tanisa Samuel is sales manager at Sandals Montego Bay and the mathematician of the beauties. The former student of the University of London, holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, economics and management.
Tanisa says if she could go on to do a degree in mathematics, the sky would then be the limit for her.
"Knowledge is power. It gives you the confidence to go out and do more... it's motivating," she said.
The pretty young woman feels beauty is skin deep and that one's looks may get a woman's feet through the door of an organisation, but how long will the beauty last?
So why are women really seeking advanced education at a younger age?
"Young women have become more sensible. We clearly see that the market is saturated with first degrees and bachelors degrees. So if you want to move forward and be more marketable you must seek to become qualified," said Sadine Dalberry.
According to her qualifications prepare young women to take on major roles as leaders in organisations and effect change.
Professor Neville Ying of the Mona Institute of Business agrees with her. He said: "Education/qualification is a vehicle to security. It also creates options for the women who are in pursuit of a high level of success."
The beauty advantage
IS BEAUTY an advantage in building a career?
An employer in the tourism industry mentioned last week that his father warned him against employing "ugly women".
"If the salary is the same for both ugly and pretty, I can get more mileage out of the more attractive one. And believe me these are sentiments expressed very often by the Jamaican man," he said.
However, a noted scholar said, "Beauty is an entree, but it doesn't last. If you don't have anything to back it up it doesn't make sense," said Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, deputy principal at the University of the West Indies.
"When you first meet someone your senses are alerted to a pleasant and beautiful appearance. But, that impact lasts for a brief time, if that person can't back it up with qualification," she said.
For her, even if a woman is not beautiful in what is considered the traditional manner, she may be able to present herself well.
Meanwhile, others admit that the male preference for beauty on and off the job is an ingrained one.
"A physically beautiful face and a curvaceous body, with wide hips and a slim waist, seem to be genetically programmed into the male brain," said Montego Bay physician Dr. Jacqueline Chambers-Roberts.
Sadine Dalberry thinks a pretty face can be an asset, but advises that it should not be the foundation on which women build their future.
"Beauty is an advantage in this country, because of the way Jamaicans are socialised," she said.
An executive at the elegant Round Hill hotel, who did not wish to be named, said when chosing a new member of staff he looked for a person with a great personality.
"A pretty face does not influence my choice. The person must have a bubbly and outgoing personality along with the qualifications," he said.
