"The Patriarchy’s Role in Gender Inequality in the Caribbean" by Erin C. O'Connor
 

Class Year

2015

Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date of Creation

Spring 2014

Department 1

Africana Studies

Abstract

While gender equality in the Caribbean is improving, with women’s growing social, economic, and political participation, literacy rates comparable to those in Europe, and greater female participation in higher education, deeply rooted inequalities are still present and are demonstrated in the types of jobs women are in and the limited number of women in decision-making positions. Sexism, racism, and classism are systemic inequalities being perpetuated in schools, through the types of education offered for individuals and the content in textbooks. Ironically, the patriarchy is coexisting within a system of matrifocal and matrilocal families, with a long tradition of female economic autonomy due to the Caribbean’s history with colonialism. This irony demonstrates the complexity and difficulty to change the dominant ideology and break the vicious cycles creating gender inequalities throughout many sectors of society in the Caribbean. [excerpt]

Comments

This paper was written for Prof. Hakim Mohandas Amani Williams' class, AFS 246: Human Rights Policy and Practice in the Caribbean, Spring 2014.

It was also a recipient of the 2014 Toni Morrison - Wole Soyinka Africana Studies Essay Award.

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