Glenda Simms, ContributorPATRIARCHAL SOCIETY, rooted in a dichotomous philosophical tradition, has an excess of definitions and lexical categories designed to devalue the essence of women's contribution to development in order to "keep woman in her place".
It is within this framework of the patriarchal constriction of the worth of any woman that this writer tried to understand why, on the occasion of the death of Dame Eugenia Charles, several journalists and some 'wannabee' opinion makers used the term 'iron lady' to capture the contributions of the first Caribbean woman who, against all odds, managed to become the Prime Minister of her country.
For instance, on the memorial page of the September 10, 2005, edition of The Gleaner, a rather dramatic headline declared 'PM pays respect to the Iron Lady'.
The writer anticipated from such a headline a clear definition of 'iron within woman' in the tribute paid to dame Eugenia Charles of the Commonwealth of Dominica by the Most Honourable Percival James Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Instead of any such negative categorisation, Prime Minister Patterson paid tribute to someone he described as "one of our most distinguished and revered daughters of the region".
Extending this framework of sound positive contribution of a world-class citizen, our Prime Minister also pointed out that "Dame Eugenia was renowned for her commitment to regionalism" and the "pursuit of the improvement of the standard of living of her citizens".
All of the qualities described are those that the peoples of the world including Jamaicans, desire in their leaders (men as well as women).
A REMARKABLE WOMAN
In the same metallic vein, the September 15, 2005, edition of The Gleaner carried the content of the Dominican generated headline 'Eugenia Charles Laid to Rest'. The reporter who covered the funeral of his departed leader wrote "Dominicans yesterday joined regional and international dignitaries in paying their final respects to 'the Iron Lady of Caribbean politics'. The article went on to chronicle the life of a woman who requested a simple funeral because she wanted to be remembered as a leader who related to the life of the ordinary people of her small island state.
In fact, everyone who has commented on the sterling characteristics of this remarkable woman remind us that, to the Dominican folk, Dame Eugenia was 'Mamo' or 'Ma Charles'. Indeed she was the mother that everyone needed on both the physical and symbolic levels.
So why is the term 'iron' used consistently to describe the positive qualities that this woman brought to the position of Prime Minister? Could this be a patriarchal and misogynistic plot to deflect from the strength, resilience, political savvy and compassion that the first and only female Prime Minister has demonstrated to the peoples of the Caribbean Community?
This writer is of the opinion that the label "iron" is a subtle rejection of woman's intuitive and intellectual capacity to lead countries and nations in the right direction. It is therefore a ploy to destabilise any woman who has the audacity to believe that it is her God given right to endeavour to participate at the highest spot of decision making in her country.
The term "iron" is also used to further the idea that it is the qualities that men think that they have that are the authentic sign post of leadership, and that for women to be taken seriously they must be "manlike" within the theological "sparerib" paradigm. Margaret Thatcher was the celebrated "iron lady of Britain" because she administered a regime that waged war in the Falklands and she did not 'suffer fools lightly' One gets the impression that Mrs. Thatcher was being compared with an invincible, "tough and no-nonsense iron man".
BUT WHO IS HE?
President George Bush of the United States of America and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain along with their allies annihilated an entire civilisation in a few days but nowhere have they been described as 'iron gentlemen'.
In fact, Ronald Reagan, who was supported by Eugenia Charles when he made the decision to invade a post-Bishop Grenada, was never described as the 'Iron President'.
It is, therefore, important to remind every Caribbean woman who wants to become Prime Minister of her country that she must not be intimidated by the label 'iron' which connotes that women leaders need to try to please the men of their society by being indecisive, lack lustre and 'eye-lash batting robots'.
Dame Eugenia Charles has shown women that "we can, we must and we will".
She has set the pace and the tone and the ordinary folk of her society recognised her 'mettle' and they did not mistake it for 'metal'. Both in life and in death she was "Mamo" to ordinary men and women. That is the legacy that she has passed on to the next Caribbean woman who becomes Prime Minister of her nation state.
In short, Eugenia Charles has set the pace for other Caribbean women to aspire to top leadership and she has given them permission to be decisive, strong, resolute, compassionate and woman.
'Mettle' and 'metal' are two very different concepts. Let's get the spelling right!
Dr. Glenda P. Simms is a gender expert and consultant. You can send your comments to infocus@gleanerjm.com.
