This was stated by Ms. Thelma Kay, former Director, Social Development
Division, UNESCAP at a panel discussion organized by the Gender and
Development Studies (GDS) Field of Studies of the School of
Environment, Resources and Development (SERD).
Ms. Kay elaborated on the unfinished agenda of MDGs stating that while
the targets for achieving primary and secondary education are on
course, the targets on materal mortality are behind schedule. South
East Asia has achieved considerable progress in this regard, but South
Asia is lagging behind and ranks next only to Sub Saharan Africa.
Stating that the Asia Pacific region suffers the highest disasters in
the world, Ms. Kay added that women and children are 14 times more
likely to be affected by natural disasters.
Ms. Silvia Cormaci, Associate expert in Gender and Child Labour,
International Labour Organization (ILO) called for affirmative action
for increasing the number of women in senior positions and
deconstruction of stereotypes. “Job segregation and stereotypes are
linked,” she said while adding that women face both horizontal and
vertical segregation in jobs. Horizontal segregation occurs in various
sectors with the services, health and social work sector being
dominated by women, while men dominate construction and industrial
sector. Vertical segregation implies that women are found in much
lesser numbers in top managerial and senior positions. She cited the
example of garbage collectors in the US earning more salary than
librarians to illustrate that sectors which have more women tend to be
paid less.
AIT President Said Irandoust highlighted the role of AIT in knowledge
generation in the field of gender studies. He stated that AIT is
integrating issues related to gender in all fields of study. “110
million children are currently out of the school education system and
most of them are girls,” he said. People who do not have access to
education will be discriminated. He complimented GDS for organizing
week long celebrations for International Women’s Day.
Dr. Donna L. Doane, Visiting Faculty GDS, AIT stressed that economic
empowerment is crucial, though it is not enough by itself. From her
experience in South East and South Asia, she remarked that there are
very few people speaking on behalf of the informed workers. While the
formal work force has professional work associations, the informal
sector has very little say, she added. The issues of discrimination and
prejudice are clearly linked and assume importance in the context of
the dignity of being recognized as a worker.
Earlier Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe, coordinator, GDS Field of Studies remarked
that while this is the hundredth year of celebration of International
Women’s Day, the year also marks Golden Jubilee of AIT. Ms. Tasnuva
Ahmed, President AIT Students Union elaborated on the increasing role
of female students in AIT Student Union activities.
The function also saw song performances by children from AIT
International school -- Hannah Joyce Dante, Halle Jeanne Dante, Melody
Lawas and Tara Gallardo; and Master’s students from GDS.
(From left to right) Ms. Thelma Kay,
Ms. Silvia Cormaci, Prof. Said Irandoust and Dr. Donna L. Doane at the
panel discussion organized by Gender and Development Studies (GDS)
Field of Study.