In light of International Women’s Day this year, Kevatia De Silva, 17, a student of Barataria South Secondary wrote a poem on gender inequality in the workplace for her SBA.
When I was young, mama said to me
I could be anything I want to be
But how can that be when it’s plain to see
Workplaces that practice gender inequality
Let me tell you a little bit
Of gender inequalities if you permit,
Me, an open mind and a listening ear
To share the struggles women face chasing a career
Let us look at unequal Pay
And discuss the wage gaps that exist today
We could work the same hours, have the same rank
But somehow you get a bigger salary in the bank
Ask female footballers, athletes and cricketers
Check the pay gap between actresses and actors
Just the other day, Taraji addressed the divide
But it’s not just in Hollywood, it happens worldwide
What about access to certain occupations
They say only men could be in those positions
Societal norms say that’s not a lady’s role
But many women could climb up a T&TEC pole
They say we don’t have the strength to lift heavy loads
We can’t operate heavy T trucks and drive on the roads
They think we could only type and operate printers
We are not fit to be Police Commissioner and Prime Ministers
What about CEO and other roles of leadership
Too often we are sidelined for brotherhood and kinship
Climbing the Corporate Ladder is like climbing Mt Everest
And for a woman, our gender is seen as a weakness
This creates a bias in understanding our capabilities
And creates imaginary glass ceilings that stifle industries
Where women can do equal work, for equal gains
Yet the power of inequality reigns
Let’s not forget the trouble women face
In environments where male dominance is embraced
Sexual harassment has become the normal practice
On the job sites and in the office
Statistics show most cases are filed by women
Under the attack at work by superior men
Some chose to stay silent, and some, their jobs they leave
But oh, what a tangled web we weave
Therefore, we need to get gender inequality under control
Create a better environment for women and girls
Bring forth change and amend our policies
Transform workplaces with gender equality
The government must lead the way and remove the divide
Empower our women to stand side by side
With our male counterparts, we make this demand
Let gender equality take over this land