Letters & Opinion

Women – Still Many Rivers To Cross

By Earl Bousquet
By Earl Bousquet

WOMEN here, there and everywhere are always said to “have come a long way” in the past 200 years since they started demanding equality. However, few who say so take time to actually measure the real turtle pace of that progress over that very long period of time and history.

We are so consumed today with where women seem to be that we tend to miss the point that women’s progress on the equity front is still much too slow for any woman’s comfort, here or anywhere else.

Yes, a woman is running for the office of President of the USA, a woman heads the US Central Bank (the Federal Reserve) and a woman leads the most economically robust economy in all of Western Europe. Women have broken every glass ceiling everywhere. Now, they are celebrating the possibly of soon being able to actually make babies – with no help from men.

But still today, women can’t drive in Saudi Arabia, ‘honour killings’ continue in India and women are still being stoned to death in other parts of Asia and Africa, to pay for their ‘sins’.

Women in developed countries today are said to have advanced ‘by light years’ ahead of women in developing countries. But the facts and figures paint a completely different picture.

Take the matter of women at work across the world. Whatever significant progress has been made by women in education hasn’t translated into comparable improvements in their position at work.

According to a report entitled ‘Women at Work: Trends 2016’ issued by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to coincide with International Women’s Day (March 8) 2016: “At the global level, the employment gender gap has closed by only 0.6 percentage points in the last 21 years.”

The report, undertaken as part of the ILO’s ‘Women at Work Centenary Initiative’, states that in 1995, 46% of the world’s women were employed globally. However, the number is now much lower today, with the number of men measured at almost 72% in 2015.

Last year, the report also found, 586 million women across the world were “working with their own bank accounts and contributing to their families.” But when it came to working hours, it said “Women continue to work longer hours per day than men, in both paid and unpaid work.” In both “high and lower income countries, on average,” it added, “women carry out at least two-and-a half times more unpaid household and care work, than men.”

Social protection for working women the world over is no better. The report found that 38% of women and 36% of men in wage employment today “do not contribute to social protection.” In terms of pensions, overall coverage is lower for women than men, resulting in “an overall gender social protection coverage gap,” as “the proportion of women above retirement age receiving a pension is, on average, 10.6% lower than that of men.”

Women represent nearly 65% of people above retirement age (60-65 years) globally living without any regular pension,” resulting in “200 million women in old age living without any regular income from an old-age or survivor’s pension, compared to 115 million men.”

Employment trends globally do not paint a bright picture for women either. The report found that between 1995 and 2015, “employment increased most rapidly in emerging economies.” But during that same 20-year period too, “the absolute change in employment levels was twice as high for men, as for women.”

In the past two decades, some 382 million men “changed their employment levels,” the report found, while the number for women stood at only 191 million – “regardless of the level of skills required.” This means, the report says, that “progress in getting women into more and (better) quality jobs is stagnating.”

In terms of wages, despite women forming 66% of the world’s overall workforce today, the Report says women still earn on average 77% of what men earn.

Other real statistics are no better. Women produce more than half the world’s food, but hold the least-paying positions in the restaurant industry worldwide. Women doctors and scientists in developed countries are still paid less than men, for the same work. Even in Hollywood, women actors – Black, White and Minorities — in the US film industry are also still being paid less for the same work as men.

The ILO’s ultimate prognosis, based on its report’s findings, isn’t at all healthy for women’s demands, actions and efforts – everywhere around the world – to bridge the gender and wage gaps.

The sobering – if not chilling — report concluded: “Though there has been some small improvement in reducing gender wage gaps, if current trends prevail, it will take more than 70 years to close the gender and wage gaps completely.”

After 200 years working for equality and equity, women are now being told they do have many, many more rivers to cross: that the world will have to wait until the year 2086, before the gender and wage gaps can be bridged.

This does not at all mean that women will never be free, only that it will take much longer than most adults today have time on earth.

It would therefore seem that women — here, there and everywhere — will have to go back to the drawing board to find some more immediately attainable and more universally effective goals, that every woman today — young and old — can feel proud to aim for, knowing they can possibly see some definite and positive, measurable progress, in their lifetime.

12 Comments

  1. You may not be able to change the way the world treats the woman. But as a person you can start to make a change by honoring your mother in every situation that you can. Award you success in life yo your mother. Make the world know and understand how she is the cornerstone responsible for you seeing and embracing life. Make the world understand who your true hero/ heroine is. Your Mother. Pass the baton and see faster changes. Everyone wants their mother treated with love and respect. That is the type of start we need. People who know me will easily tell you how highly I speak of my parents. They were not perfect but they had unbelievable high morals of themselves which they extended to others. All. They lived their teachings. Which is rare. Their discipline for sticking to values breathed life into me. I am not one third the person my parents were. When it comes to being honest, truthful, humble, respectful and dignified. I struggle in trying to apply those principles into my everyday life because believing and practicing these standards in today’s world is seen as weird. So, start applying those values your mother instilled in you and make others aware who is actually credited for your strengths and success. Make the world better understand the value of the woman by making your mother that woman through your complements of her in all areas of your life and encounters. You have that ability to change others view of women just like any other person. Live the part. Just don’t only talk about it.

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    I consider the lip service given to the advocacy for the equality of the Woman, nothing but HOT AIR, because all the talk and statistics, Earl and the other confused Christians, will not condemn the hatred of women taught in these Churches by these pervert Priest who have perfected the art of masturbation, because of their teachings that the woman is cursed by God, and inherently evil. If you hypocrites are serious about addressing oppression of women, then demand that the source of women-hatred be abolished from the sexist Religion and not to children and people.

    I perceive being celibate as an abnormality; a mutation of the natural order ordained by the Creator. The command if I remember correctly was “Go and have Families!” The words might be “go and multiply” within the parameters set by the Owner and Sustainer of our lives (marriage). God/Allah created the man and the woman as a complement to one another. When we practice fasting we abstain from food, water, and also sexual intimacies with our wives. God/Allah created the female beautiful and attractive to the male – her curves, her walk, her voice are all ornaments in the eyes of the male, pleasing to him. An attribute of God in Arabic is Razzaq = the Provider. His providence though immeasurable, includes food, shelter, clothing, man and woman. If I practiced “celibacy” from food and died as a result, this would be considered a psychiatric illness known as Anorexia nervosa. The people who practice celibacy – Priest and Nuns suffer a parallel psychiatric malady, yet to be named.

    God is a White man, who only wanted a Son and no daughter??? Are you serious talking about women.

    https://www.facebook.com/jahshephard/videos/10153577920934006/

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  3. Correction to the first paragraph above.

    I consider the lip service advocacy for the equality of the Woman, nothing but HOT AIR. With all the talk and statistics spewed by Earl and the other confused Christians, they will not condemn the hatred of women taught in these Churches by these pervert Priest who have perfected the art of masturbation, while teaching that the woman is cursed by God, and inherently evil. If you hypocrites are serious about addressing the oppression of women, then why not demand that the source of women-hatred be abolished from the sexist Religion and not taught to our children and the people who think that it is because of the Woman, sin entered the world?

    why was the ability to make corrections to a posted text discontinued?????

    This is what your Bible says of you EVIL WOMEN

    ECCLESIASTES 25: THE EVIL WOMAN

    15. There is no head above the head of a serpent; and there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.

    16. I had rather dwell with a lion and a dragon, than to keep house with a wicked woman.

    17. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, and darkeneth her countenance like sackcloth.

    18. Her husband shall sit among his neighbours; and when he heareth it shall sigh bitterly.

    19. All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman: let the portion of a sinner fall upon her.

    20. As the climbing up a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man.

    21. Stumble not at the beauty of a woman, and desire her not for pleasure.

    22. A woman, if she maintain her husband, is full of anger, impudence, and much reproach.

    23. A wicked woman abateth the courage, maketh an heavy countenance and a wounded heart: a woman that will not comfort her husband in distress maketh weak hands and feeble knees.

    24. Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.

    25. Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

    26. If she go not as thou wouldest have her, cut her off from thy flesh, and give her a bill of divorce, and let her go.  

  4. S.O.M.
    Here you go again; always coming here writing some crap, copied from some midle-east
    Philosophy from the desert. You’ll blame the woman for everything. Do you have your lady
    covered up from head to foot, with only a tiny opening (with glasses) for her to see, for fear
    she don’t slip and fall, but you guys are free to dress any how, check out all the girls, marry
    twenty of them, live in a Tent 100 degrees with no A.C. Camel crap all over the place, no wonder the kids at school have to be sent home, to get rid of Lice. The grown ups don’t differentiate between a them a flees; S.O.M. how can you guys make love to a woman with all that filthy beard on your faces, on your lips, in your mouth, don’t that itch and stink?

  5. /

    Oh yes, my Christian friend who always prayed for me to return to worshiping the Naked White Male God, but today has resorted to being a Crusader; no more, “turn the other cheek” bible teachings? So now in this journey I encounter the Leopard, full of malice and deceit, now The Virgil has to turn back unable to survive Limbo. Even changing his name to Ricky Wayne and joining forces with The Donald like the lost soul named Ben Carson, in search of the illusive ornaments of the life of this world marked for my inheritance.

    You asked about my wives? But you call the Nuns Mothers, because we have taught them how to dress modestly, then you send your wife to stick her nipples in my eyes and you think that is civilized? Why not just discard all clothing and walk naked like your slave masters did in the caves of Europe? Here’s your wife, a frigging porn star.

    Mastubation anyone ? Mrs. VIRGIL

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153538422898473&set=a.50703768472.51466.627843472&type=3

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  6. THE VIRGIL

    I continue to expand your mind and read the Quran to be able to engage me on an equal plateau. There was an old Negro from Monchy, who loved his position as an House Nigger so much that he called himself Uncle TOM TOM.

    We received news of his demise in a basement fire in NYC a few weeks ago. Had this mentally imprisoned Negro stopped the practice of associating partners with God/Allah today he would have been in Paradise, because in Islam, if one dies by a fire, or drowning that is martyrdom and is sent directly into the Garden of Delight.

    Surah Al-Hijr

    (And it is said unto them): Enter them in peace, secure. (46)

    And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face to face, (they rest) on couches raised. (47)

    Toil cometh not unto them there, nor will they be expelled from thence. (48)

    Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful, (49)

    And that My doom is the dolorous doom. (50)

  7. VIRGIL, SOM’s questions about condemning the degradation of the woman in the Christian Church is certainly deserving an answer. Maybe you and Earl are indeed cowards, afraid to confront the 900 pound Gorilla, not only in the room but in your BED!! Stop playing like you don’t know how God CURSED the woman, HYPOCRITE! you people have been castrated by the Roman Catholic Church, practicing necrophilia. You have my permission to use Mother Theresa in your S & M rituals.

  8. VIRGIL, SOM’s questions about condemning the degradation of the woman in the Christian Church is certainly deserving an answer. Maybe you and Earl are indeed cowards, afraid to confront the 900 pound Gorilla, not only in the room but in your BED!! Stop playing like you don’t know how God CURSED the woman, HYPOCRITE! you people have been castrated by the Roman Catholic Church, practicing necrophilia. You have my permission to use Mother Theresa in your S & M rituals.

  9. Cannibalism, Misogyny, Pedophillia, Vampireism, and I say, ‘Bob-bin-no Bob-bis-kum, et Spiritus esantus”, whatever that means. All this abnormal behaviour can be attributed to these abnormal, psychologically damaged homeless men living in the Presbytery, who spend their lives hating the beautiful woman, while raping little girls and boys age five and six years of age, giving us damaged goods like UNCLE TOM TOM now deceased.

    Yesterday in the Commonwealth (State) of Pennsylvania, a number of these perverts were indicted by the Attorney General for RAPING HUNDRED OF LITTLE BOYS, while Rick John Wayne and the Drag Queen Black Peter Josie, do all in their power to help these perverted freaks teach that if it were not for the woman, none of us would die, there would be no sodomy, and there would be 500 billion people on earth today.

    As much as I love Mary Francis, Pearlette, and these other beautiful black women, they continue to disgrace themselves, kneeling and praying to a Naked white Man as their Master; being complicit in the designation of the Woman as inferior, and the mentally disabled males like Walcott and John Wayne, can find no Black Lucian male worthy of their affection — Suzie, Mary — “WaVett Leglise”, praying to dead people and drinking their precious blood.

    The Pope is the vicar of God, yet one of these perverts is in hiding – who does that ? This Pope, what’s his name? not Papa Francis, the one who got caught and had to resign from being the infallible God?

    Now you ignorant Negroes and Negresses can put a piece of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu panties around your necks to cure your lung cancer, while you smoke 100 cigarettes an hour. Yes, that’s so-called Mother Theresa’s name; Borax, Bojax ? “en Femme FOLL”. God on Earth; the one in hiding said you can pray to her for money. Then you send your little boys to be ‘booled’ by these Saints.

    —–The Pennsylvania Attorney General has filed criminal charges in connection with the priest sex abuse scandal at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

    Three religious leaders were charged Tuesday for their involvement in a conspiracy that enabled dozens of schoolchildren to be sexually abused by a priest, Attorney General Kathleen Kane said.

    Giles A. Schinelli, 73, Robert J. D’Aversa, 69, and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61, are each charged with one count each of endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy.

    The three men served as ministers provincial for the Third Order Regulars and had the “exclusive and total control over the assignment of personnel within the organization,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.

    They chose to assign Stephen Baker, who had been previously accused of sex abuse, to Bishop McCort Catholic High School, where he sexually abused more than 80 students, the attorney general said. The three men knew of the sexual abuse allegations involving Baker but still put in him the assignment at a school settings that allowed him contact with children.

    Baker, who died by suicide in 2013, taught religion and worked as an athletic trainer at Bishop McCort Catholic High School from 1992 to 2000.

    The alleged abuse continued even after Baker stopped working at the school, because authorities say he would return participate in school events until 2010.

    Baker is accused of molesting more than 80 children from Bishop McCort between 1992 and 2010.

  10. /

    “Victim statements detailed incidents involving Baker in which he would grope the genitals of male children and digitally penetrate their anuses, the grand jury found,” the attorney general said in a statement.

    The alleged abuse often happened on school grounds.

    The charges follow a two-year grand jury investigation into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The grand jury report, released earlier this month, was a scathing account of widespread abuse by numerous religious leaders made worse by two bishops efforts to cover up the illegal behavior.

    “These men knew there was a child predator in their organization. Yet they continued to put him in positions where he had countless opportunities to prey upon children,” Attorney General Kane said. “Their silence resulted in immeasurable pain and suffering for so many victims. These men turned a blind eye to the innocent children they were trusted to protect.”

    Schinelli, D’Aversa and Criscitelli all live out of state. Investigators expect their preliminary arraignments to be scheduled in the coming days.

    A hotline created for victims to come forward is still in operation and can be reached at 888-538-8541.

    This is a breaking story, check back for updates.

  11. /
    This indictment only came down yesterday. If any of you Lucian men are victims of these deviants, you have been asked to call the number, and you will soon be able to sue this Necropolis for millions of U.S. Dollars – there’s no need to feel ashame; you are a victim of this perverts, and there is no need to go to your graves with this. So while Earl and the rest of these accomplices TALK about “AB– USE”, they cannot stand up to the deviants in this Necropolis.

    by: Associated Press

    —–Three leaders of a Franciscan religious order were charged Tuesday with allowing a friar who was a known sexual predator to take on jobs, including a position as a high school athletic trainer, that enabled him to molest more than 100 children.

    Giles Schinelli, 73; Robert D’Aversa, 69; and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61, were successively the provincial ministers of a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church in western Pennsylvania from 1986 to 2010. In that role, each had the power to assign and supervise the order’s members.

    Each was charged with conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children. All three now live outside Pennsylvania, and prosecutors said their arraignments would be scheduled in the coming days.

    Brother Stephen Baker, the friar at the center of the abuse allegations, killed himself in 2013 — with two knives to the heart — after church officials in Youngstown, Ohio, announced they were settling lawsuits by 11 former students who said Baker abused them at schools in Ohio from 1986 to 1990.

    More than 100 abuse claims were subsequently filed by former students of Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa., where Baker worked from 1992 to 2000. Millions of dollars in damages have been paid out.

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