SOLOMON ISLANDS: Gender Stereo-typing, a Widespread Problem

Gender Stereotyping is a major problem that has gone unnoticed and unrealized over the years up to this day in the Solomon Islands.

A workshop on Gender facilitated by Peer Educators of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Solomon Islands for members of the local media, NGO's, community and youth leaders revealed this yesterday.

During the workshop, participants learnt to differentiate between gender and sex and also gender stereotyping-a practice that has been ongoing in our communities today.

"Sex and gender have two very different meanings to it.

"Sex in this context focuses more on the differences between the bodies of a woman and man, the physicality of these two different individuals.

"Gender on the other hand is people's thoughts about what is okay for men to do and how they should act because they are male, and also what woman should do and how they should act in the community because they are woman," Peer Educator and workshop facilitator Clarine Toki said.

She also explained that gender stereotyping is an ongoing practice in many communities in Honiara today.

"Gender stereotyping is when people judge or conclude for themselves that all women are the same and that all men are the same.

"Women are seen as weak, child bearers and home carers, and should not be involved in decision making on issues, where as it is the total opposite for men-men are seen as strong, the bosses and are the ones to decide on important issues.

"Gender stereotyping exists in families, their homes, communities, churches, even in our offices.

"Each gender are categorized by past events, experiences one involves in and therefore judged or categorized by others," Ms Toki said.

She said that such issue can only be addressed if more awareness is being done in the communities that people may understand about gender and also, the rights that each individual have in the community under the various United Nation treaties.

Another of facilitators, Diana Ma'ahoro shared various experiences she herself came across through the various activities she helped organised or involved.

Ms Ma'ahoro, the Team Leader for Honiara Peer Educators is a young female with speech difficulties however has helped organised the youths from Mbokonavera over the past two years.

"Even amongst ourselves you can see that gender stereotyping is practiced, however we do not tend to realise it.

"Women are seen as below men in our communities.

"Everyone is equal therefore everyone should have equal opportunities on everything," Ms Ma'ahoro said.

Participants attending the session said that realising such a problem that has existed in our communities in the past up to this day is something new for many.

"Most of us thought that it is part of our culture, however along the same line, we do not realise that we are already practicing gender stereotyping and discrimination of our gender," Participant, Ned Sikua said.