Dear Editor,
In Iana Seales’ article, ‘Women still pressing for recognition of unwaged work’ (SN, 8.3.08), it was stated “… after more than a decade since the fourth world conference for women in Beijing in 1995, when a platform for action was set up, issues of inequality remain current. Unpaid work however is not seen as much of an issue in Guyana today.”

The above, Sir, is a situation that appears fixed. I am also in agreement with homemaker Valencia Badder who believes that “if women who do certain unpaid work pull their services, the economy would be in serious trouble.” It is easy to imagine its effect if this happens, but to be practical it’s hard to fathom how it can be achieved. Times have changed and so have we. No more in our society is the term ‘housewife’ accepted as an honourable description; some women themselves see it as demeaning. “She lazy; she deh home s’down, instead she guh and look lil work,” are comments often spoken in utter disgust – mind you I’m not suggesting that a woman’s place is in the home, but the pride and respect for a housewife does seem to be diminishing. As the world turns, many are forced to go out ‘hunting’ for survival because they have little or no income, children to take care of and exorbitant, unending monthly bills. What is there to remain at home and manage, except restricting children to do’s and don’ts, which soon becomes ineffective if they cannot be properly taken care of – one of the factors why so many of them become delinquent. The question of homemakers/housewives and value of their work being addressed is a tough one. A woman out working, no doubt, has it doubly tough when she has to return home to take charge of things. But society and government are the biggest crooks and hypocrites on this issue. An ordinary unqualified housewife is never recognized with much value.

In these perilous and precarious times many of these homemakers and single mothers in their endeavour to make ends meet are brazenly exploited and abused, and the callous perpetrators are allowed to get away with murder, paying dreadfully low wages and imposing long hours of work. However, we do not hear of the relevant government officers getting to these cases neither do we see the vanguard of women’s causes/affairs moving to ensure redress. As for the many female high achievers, high functionaries, super-salaried earners, they do not even pretend to care. They walk blindfolded. It is amazing that we do not seem to make the connection between the violence that goes on at home and the raw brutalization that goes on in the workplace.

In any event to quantify the work of a housewife is surely tough. What format will be used? Will this allow for a new direction in the trade union movement? Will they be called upon to pay taxes?
Labour Minister Nadir is correct in one thing, “that a day of national recognition for unwaged work is likely in the foreseeable future for being an integral part of national development.” However, I contend that what we will not have in the foreseeable future is a wage being attached to it. Nadir’s question on where the money will come from is a good one, but a substantial amount can definitely be had from taking a cut off those who are heavily overpaid for doing very little or nothing. The label ‘housewife’ in these modern times is on sinking sand and receives scant regard, except when another International Women’s Day comes around with lots of excellent speeches and little or no progress.
Still, we have to keep on pushing.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe