Overcoming traditional barriers
Equal gender participation often meets with community resistance from both men and women.
Men are concerned that women who involve themselves in consultative roles will neglect their own traditional duties.
Women lack confidence and, especially without the support of family members or other women in their community, choose to avoid the attention and perceived shame of the public arena.
But it’s important to overcome this initial resistance.
Given the opportunity, women request and create child-focused initiatives such as mobile health care clinics, early childhood learning centres and crèches.
They manage funds and small businesses to provide themselves and others in the community with additional family income.
They attend, and learn to teach, female literacy and numeracy groups and vocational training courses to expand their options and their knowledge.
Involved and educated women are also keen for their daughters to have the opportunities they lacked.
With World Vision’s advice and support behind them, they turn away offers of early marriage for their daughters, enrol them in school, and even encourage them to attend Children’s Clubs where they learn about leadership skills and their rights as children.
 A girl takes part in a traditional ceremony as part of a World Vision Children's Club activity in Sri Lanka. |
Men and women in partnership
None of this is done with the exclusion of boys or men in mind. On the contrary, male support of programmes to promote gender equality is essential.
The move towards equal participation happens gradually but naturally, once the benefits become apparent.
There’s still a long way to go in Asia before women participate equally in society, but greater involvement at a community level is a rewarding and sustainable start.
