July 2011


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Politics, Power and Gender Justice

“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn't have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don't have what it takes’.” (Clare Boothe Luce). It is this attitude, amongst other factors, that has propelled women of all kinds to do what was once seen as impossible and sometimes still viewed as abnormal, which is, become politicians.

The steady increase of women in Caribbean governance as political party leaders, ministers, prime ministers and presidents, is a phenomenon which warrants much attention and research. The Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), The UWI, St. Augustine, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is providing an opportunity for such research, through their project “Politics, Power and Gender Justice in the Anglophone Caribbean: Women’s Understandings of Politics, Experiences of Political Contestation and the Possibilities for Gender Transformation”.

It has often been argued that women’s participation in democratic political systems has enhanced the active pursuit of equality and social justice for all members of a society (WRC and IDRC 2009). Yet, direct correlation cannot be assumed between women’s participation in politics and improved gender equality (Meintjes 2010). Dr. Gabrielle Hosein, the project’s director, says that this is one motivation behind the initiation of this research. The study aims to investigate the impact and effectiveness of feminist strategies which promote democratic governance, women’s rights and gender equality in the Caribbean. Its main outcome is the publication of an edited book collection on women’s rights, gender justice and democratic governance in the Anglophone Caribbean. Dr. Hosein hopes that the book “will expand the spaces for realizing women’s rights and gender equality, create greater capacity (among women and men) to achieve transformed gender relations, and shift the gender ideologies that present resistances to women’s effective political participation and leadership… Hopefully, after this book, politics and governance will no longer be taught in androcentric ways.”

The IGDS research team, Dr. Hosein, Dr. Jane Parpat and Ms. Tisha Nickenig, is in the process of recruiting researchers for this study, which will be conducted over a period of 24 months. Motivated by the need for further research into the relationship between strengthening democracy and struggles for women’s rights and gender equality; the team invites both senior and junior social science researchers with relevant experience to contribute a chapter to one of the following thematic areas: Women’s Political Leadership; Quota Systems; National Gender Policies and Feminist Advocacy. The project will take place in Dominica, Guyana and in Trinidad and Tobago in partnership with IGDS, UWI, Mona Campus and also its UWI Cave Hill Campus. Interested persons are encouraged to contact Ms. Tisha Nickenig, Project Coordinator at igds.politics@gmail.com for a copy of the terms of reference. Kindly review and submit a statement of interest, CV and cover letter by August 08, 2011. For further information contact Ms. Nickenig at 868-662-2002 ext. 2123/3573.