In 1986, Belensky et al published a well-written and carefully researched book entitled Women's Ways of Knowing: The Development of Self, Voice and Mind. The focus of the discourse in this volume was the many ways in which women struggle to claim the power of their own mind. These writers remind their readers that the 'historically and culturally ingrained definition of femininity and womanhood' has been very effective in keeping women in their subordinate and insecure position in all societies.

The writers also elaborated on the fact that, over time, developmental theories have "established men's experience and competence as the baseline against which both men's and women's development is judged". This situation has led to the "dumbing down" or retardation of women's potential over a long period of human history.

While we must acknowledge the revolutionary changes that now characterise the position of significant sectors of the women population in most countries of the modern world, we are reminded daily that patriarchal values are so insidious that in contemporary times we must continue to struggle for our full rights as human beings.

In the June 12, 2009 edition of the Globe and Mail newspaper, columnist Margaret Wente reminded women that in 1963, an angry woman named Betty Friedan published a ground-breaking book about "the problem that had no name" - the stifled lives of talented, creative and educated American women who were "trapped in the suburbs, leading lives of quiet desperation".

In a real sense, Friedan and other women who defined themselves as feminists or womanists laid the blueprint for the critical analysis of women struggling universally to put an end to the "dumbing down" syndrome.

conspiracy against women

We now know, without a doubt, that all the institutions that shape our lives are implicated in this conspiracy against the female of the species:

The home and parent compact which socialised boys and girls into the gendered male and female roles has not changed its ideology in line with the needed social, political and economic changes necessary to transform society.

The world religions and their ever-increasing denominations which are brokering with their holy spirits for our souls, our loyalty and our blind adherence to the doctrines that they espouse are also part of the syndrome.

A perusal of the attitudes and behaviours towards women in the major religions of the world reveal a deliberate "dumbing down" of the female in the name of all their gods and prophets. For instance, in some Islamic societies, honour killings of girls and women who are seen as bringing shame to their families because they were raped or sexually violated continues in spite of condemnation of such practices by national and international human rights bodies.

In the Christian tradition women continue to be dumbed down by the basic tenets of the interpretation of the biblical stories and ideology. While some pastors and priests have been more progressive in their ideas about women in society, the majority of Christians are still of the opinion that women are second-class citizens in the eyes of their God.

the Southern Baptist Church

It is against this background that Ria Misra, a contributor to Politics Daily, reported that after 60 years together, former United States President Jimmy Carter has decided to cut his ties with the Southern Baptist Church whose leaders prohibited women from being ordained and continue to insist that women must be subservient to their husbands.

Misra reported that in an essay the former president wrote that, "at its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjected to the wishes of men excuses slavery, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. "Furthermore, he argues that "male religious leaders had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings to either exalt or subjugate women."

Also, the formal school system which had to be deliberately targeted to force it to perform in the best interest of all students, has had to revisit and debunk the hidden agenda which for centuries has dumbed down women with the idea that girls are incapable of excelling in science and mathematics.

This deliberate fight against this popular mythology was waged by feminists and pioneer female scientists and mathematicians who became the role models for many schoolgirls.

research findings

The June 2, 2009 science section of the New York Times published an article by Cornelia Dean in which research findings on the performance of girls in science and mathematics were discussed. According to Dean, researchers at the University of Wisconsin "reviewed a variety of studies and concluded that the achievement gap between boys and girls in mathematics performance had narrowed to the vanishing point".

Furthermore, the research team argued that, "although girls are still under-represented in the ranks of young math prodigies, the gap is narrowing, which undermines claims that the greater prevalence of preferred mathematical talent in males is biologically determined."

It is in the field of sports that nature and patriarchy seem to have formed an unholy alliance in the effort to dumb down the feminine.

This process continues in spite of the remarkable progress of women and girls in defying the historical blueprint that was designed to ensure that the females of the species do not find true equality and empowerment in their society.

Caster Semenya's case

The case of Caster Semenya, the South African athlete whose sexual identity is being speculated on, has helped to put the spotlight on the "dumbing down" of the feminine in the contemporary arena of sports. An article entitled Feminine Trials, written by Hayley Mick, was carried in the September 16, 2009 edition of the Globe and Mail.

In this well-researched article, Mick discussed what she called the ugly paradox of women in sports. She argued that Semenya's case showed that such a paradox was very alive and well in a broad cross-section of female sports. She also informed us that Serena Williams, the tennis superstar, did not like her muscular persona even though it was those muscles that were needed to blaze her glory trail in her selected sporting activity.

In short, only the athletic activities that ensure that women maintain the lean, lanky and tight-bottomed look are considered feminine.

If women buy into these dumbing down ideas, they will be forced back to the days when they were expected to stay on the sidelines and cheer on the muscle-bound boys to glory and to money making.

Indeed the paradox threatens to become the reality!

the jamaican situation

Here in Jamaica, in the area of public life, the recently concluded horror story of the Armadale tragedy in which seven young women in the care of the state were burnt up, brought the spotlight on the dumbing down, not only of poor unfortunate women, but also of highly paid and high-achieving women.

It was a painful experience for me to listen to women who now appear to be at the height of their career ladder tell the world about their lack of authority to make any significant difference in line with their job descriptions.

Among these was the Children's Advocate, who testified that she had never seen the insides of the Armadale hell-hole which housed children in conflict with the law. The advocate has responsibility for all children in our island home. However, she does not have to be overtly concerned about those who are raised in stable and affluent homes; her main focus must be on the dispossessed, the marginalised, the incarcerated and all those who do not benefit maximally from the commitments made by the Jamaican Government under the Convention on the Rights of the Child .

In line with her responsibilities, she told Jamaica about the many reports that she presented to the Parliament of the land. Apparently, she is still awaiting responses to her recommendations. This indeed is a clear case of dumbing down of a very capable woman!

dumbing down women

In a local newspaper, the current commissioner of corrections, who happens to be a woman, brought to light the following features of Armadale: Understaffing, which resulted in the operation of the institution without the required numbers of qualified correctional officers, teachers, welfare case managers and doctors. These are circumstances designed to dumb down another capable woman!

A woman also heads up the Child Development Agency, which is also implicated in the Armadale debacle.

These are a small sample of women who are supposed to make a difference by their privileged positions in the public service. The reality is that most of them do not have the authority to ensure that they can function adequately. I have no doubt that they sometimes wish that they could be like Greg Christie, the auditor general - only in drag.

the private sector

Because the private sector's motive is profit driven, there is less dumbing down of women managers. By and large, they are allowed to play the games whose rules reflect patriarchal models of leadership, management and profitability.

While a few outstanding companies have demonstrated that even high achieving, wealthy women can be dumbed down by the male boss who might choose to seduce and cut down these stars to size by the power of the penis or lack thereof - oftentimes the power is more in the bosses' minds than in the capabilities of any of their biological organs or extensions.

The struggle for women's human rights and inherent dignity certainly must continue.

Dr Glenda Simms is a consultant on gender issues. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.