May 20, 2006
A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann.
http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/secciones/sexosentido/anteriores/portadasexo_20mayo.html
Gender gap
Foto:
Franklin Reyes
Of all the information published in the
world, only ten percent have women at its core. Female existence
continues bordering with greater emphasis as its role of offering or
refusing pleasure and as a victim or consumer, was declared in the
seventh Ibero American Meeting of Gender and Communication.
Mileyda Menéndez y Yahily Hernández
We have learned to fly like the birds, swim like fish but we have not yet learned the simple art of living side by side in diversity.
This thought, promoted at the beginning of last century by the eminent Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, is also an invitation to accept sexed beings of different ages, skin color, cultural background, tastes and experiences.
There is no reason, therefore, to consider that fortune, sacrifice or oblivion of their identity is superior by complying with the packaged parcels of beauty and much less, to disregard those who do not follow the stereotype of soap opera heroines or heroes.
And also, since sexuality, from social learning of what it means to be born a man or women and to use these attributes to “paving the way” in life, has been a historical struggle for power.
With this conviction, Sexo Sentido takes up the debates during the week at the seventh Ibero American Meeting of Gender and Communication which met in the capital with participants from 15 countries, more men than women, although some were also present.
THE SPIRAL OF POWER Hundreds of theories defend patriarchy as the model of humankind and, “with civility”, deny millions of women around the world the right to decide about their bodies, to chose when and where, with whom and for what reasons “to become flesh of the flesh” without expecting anyhing in return but affection, respect and a space to grow.
Some interpret the liberation of women to mean not washing the dishes, or not caring for his clothing nor acknowledging in man no other value but as bearer of a small particle of life.
Both extremes make dialogue difficult and scares away the suspicious because culture is not a tree that is pruned with one blow.
For decades, women have paved a road to public context and, although many assume formal positions to fulfill what is expected of them, to “equate” them to men and do not supply their essence, their special way of looking on life.
This is the opinion of Mexican journalist, Sara Lovera, an expert in gender studies. For her, a transforming feminine leadership is necessary; one that will leave her mark, both in the post she occupies in society as in the home and in the bed.
An awakening of men, understanding themselves, follows and rescuing the gentleness that machismo has denied them for centuries, the historian and sexologist, Julio Cesar Gonzalez expressed .
The new male paradigm searches for the enjoyment of a family, of a home – whicj is often considered by the mother or wife as incapable – of true feeling, of discovering that his sexuality goes beyond the genitals and efficiency in coital relationship.
It was revealed in this meeting that separating from the world and making it a more plural place, that includes the legitimate right of men and women in all its rainbow of colors, to be visible in the means of communication.
THE SHADOW OF OBLIVION In all the information published in the world only ten percent have women at its center. The existence of women continues bordering, with great emphasis, her role of offering or denying pleasure and her quality of victim or consumer.
To kill or die “for love” is not just a theme of Mexican folk songs. Every three hours a woman is killed in Mexico and often the press justifies it as a crime of passion: jealousy, infidelity, affective dependency, lack of attention by the husband … it is her fault.
That is the country with most gender gaps in America and competes with Egypt for the worst place in the planet, Sara Lovera commented. But it is not the only one where the birth of a girl is a synonym of economic, political, social, cultural and intellectual inferiority.
The event demonstrated that to give legitimacy to the feminine in the human universe is much more than an acknowledgement of her value as mother and wife.
Many communication products from several countries analyzed during these three days offer alternatives, give light to situations kept in the shadows for a long time or at least provoke concern to those who listen and observe.
Why sign posting, for example, that should be neuter almost always shows a man’s figure … except in the difference of toilet rooms? It was the Portuguese Pedro Bessa who moved the subject forward. Why are Homes of Orientation for Women and the Family the place to go when the marriage is in crisis or when the mother “cannot” handle her adolescent, instead of searching before for useful advice on a daily basis? Community projects, educational institutions, the family and press, publicity, transit, theories of gender and communication .. everything shared with human beings in a purpose to improve their lives must start off with respect. That is the way to promote self-perception to accept ourselves as we are and not fall the temptation of the means of “selling” our sexuality to the highest bidder if we do not take up the short skirt of a sensual Barbie doll.
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