Glenda SimmsWHEN CONFRONTED with the absence of gender equity in the political parties in Jamaica, many men who consider themselves enlightened and progressive will try to convince their audiences that there are no systemic barriers that keep women out. Some even go so far as to lay the blame for this situation with women themselves. We are sometimes persuaded to believe that the barriers to access at the highest levels lay in women's insecurity, their fear of the limelight and their fear of the very nature of politics.
These men will go to great lengths to convince themselves that most women prefer to be behind the men; in the backrooms; in the kitchen directing the cooks, helpers and butlers; and in the parlour immaculately attired and smiling prettily - while entertaining the guests, bagmen, hangers on, and the "who's who of the partydom"
While these scenarios might be descriptive of some party women and political spouses, it is not the definitive position of where women in general aspire to be in the political structures of Jamaica and other democratic societies.
Whether women are card carrying members of the party, spouses of politicians or elected members of government, they have the right to play an equitable role in political life and many have done so and set the pace for generations to come.
While there is no formula for equitable participation, it is instructive to be reminded of how individual women have influenced political systems and have given contemporary women a base from which to demand an equitable space.
Kati Marton, in an article entitled 'The Un-Hilary' which appeared in the November 2001 edition of Talk Magazine reminds us of how some women have operated when they have access to the seat of power. In describing the role played by Nancy Reagan in the politics of the United States, Marton informs us that without the drive and will of Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan could not have been elected President.
Marton also argues that "without Nancy's encouragement Reagan probably could not have succeeded in easing Cold War tensions, perhaps his most enduring legacy. Nancy, like several of her predecessors served her husband, not her country".
Nancy Reagan is one example of the women with whom most male politicians are comfortable. Less comfortable were they around other First Ladies such as Hilary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosalyn Carter all of whom made their mark not just as the "woman behind or beside the man" but as women with a policy agenda, not just for their personal career goals but for the greater good.
In the same vein, Kate Round's Clippings carried in the June/July 2000 edition of Ms. Magazine portrayed Cherie Booth as another political spouse who had a clear vision of the difference that she should make.
Booth, a practising employment rights lawyer, advocate of expanded parental leave and wife of Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, shocked her husband when at the age of 45, she announced that she was pregnant. Blair received a further shock when Booth announced that she wanted him to take paternity leave".
These famous First Ladies demonstrated that whether women see themselves as feminist/womanist or not, they must make the "personal the political" and ensure that when they are close to the seats of power, they make the kind of difference that will impact positively on the lives of women who do not share their lofty status and privileged positions.
This world-view was captured in the October 1998 Conference Essential Voices of the Americas: Women in Democracy, which was convened in Uruguay. Jamaica was represented by female politicians at this gathering!
Hilary Clinton who addressed the conference left the participants with her vision of a truly democratic and peaceful society. Among other things she said:
"The countries represented here might find themselves in different phases of their economical and political development, but we all look for answers to essential questions and we share a common goal."
She emphasised the common goal by stating that "progress in a country depends on women's progress" and that the strength of democracy "depends on women being included". She also argued that the "vigour of an economy depends on women's employment" and that "human rights are women's rights", and "women's rights are human rights".
It is within this broad view of women's responsibility to other women and to our nation that I wish to locate the demise of Ms. Olivia 'Babsy' Grange.
'BABSY' GRANGE
Under the headline 'Booted', the The Gleaner of November 2003 carried a picture of Mr. James Robertson and members of his 'all male dream team', who had successfully 'kicked out' Ms. Grange from her unique position of being the 'one and only' woman at the highest levels of decision-making in the Jamaica Labour Party.
Obviously Mr. Robertson must have brought many sterling qualities and skills to the position which he won from Ms. Grange. Only those within the ranks of their party would have the internal view of the capabilities of both persons and the majority of the delegates at the JLP 60th Conference exercised their democratic rights to select the candidate of their choice.
Those of us on the outside hope that there is much more to Mr. Robertson than his distinguished lineage which was chronicled in several pages of the local media.
We know that if lineage was the main criterion on which we select and support political leaders, then the majority of Jamaicans (men and women) would not have a chance and our current Prime Minister, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, would never have been able to rise to the highest decision-making spot in our society.
In spite of this reality, Ms. Grange seems to want to lead us to believe that her lineage was the major barrier in her retention at the highest levels in her party. This was gleaned from her remarks to Olivia Campbell in the November 17, 2003 All Woman section of the Observer. She referred to her inner-city background as a
perceived problem.
In this interesting interview in which Ms. Campbell "unveiled" 'Babsy' Grange, the reader was able to get some glimpses into Ms. Grange's persona and perhaps gain some insight into the world-view and mindset of this veteran female politician. For me, the one issue that stood out amongst all the others was the one captured in the statement which elaborated on her attempt to be elected in the PNP stronghold of Central Kingston in 1989. In Ms. Grange's words: "maybe this is an opportunity to cut that umbilical cord that attached me to Mr. Seaga, and to go out on my own".
This statement informs us that 'Babsy' Grange had much in common with women politicians such as Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Corazon Aquino and other "male dependent" great ladies. They were "male dependent" in the sense that they came to prominence and leadership because of their attachment and connection to powerful men (fathers, husbands, mentors and party leaders). These women are in contrast to others who broke into male dominant systems by virtue of their tenacity and independence. This second group is typified by leaders such as Margaret Thatcher of Britain, Eugenia Charles of Dominica and the short lived prime ministership of Kim Campbell of Canada.
In discussing her contributions to her party and the sacrifices that she had to make in her personal life in order to achieve her political stature, Ms. Grange not only delineated the contours of women's marginalisation, but she also left us to wonder why she was unable to influence her colleagues to ensure gender equity at all levels of the party.
It is well known that Mr. Seaga recognises that when important jobs are to be done efficiently, timely and within budgets, women must be involved. That is why he has the reputation of appointing to public positions several exemplary Jamaican women while he was Prime Minister. Mr. Seaga was Ms. Grange's Mentor - a fact which she underscores! Why then did she not use her access to power to make a greater difference in the "facescape" of her party?
This writer is not naive. I am not assuming that this would necessarily be an easy task. Perhaps it is timely for Ms. Grange to do a critical analysis of her role in her party and help us to understand how women should or should not operate if they do not want to be the "one and only". For in the end, the "one and only" will be booted out by the men who do not plan to bring women into the centre. And, after all, why should they act differently when so many of us women would rather be "cheerleaders" shaking our pom poms on the side lines while boys continue to "play their game".
JLP AND 'MALENESS'
I will now move my lenses from what a lone woman can or could do and focus on the Jamaica Labour Party and its "maleness". The popular line that is being touted by the political analysts and the opinion makers in both the print and electronic media is that Mr. James Robertson and Dr. Horace Chang and others are part of the "great reform arm" of the Jamaica Labour Party and that they must be distinguished from the traditionalists and the "old men".
While the notion of reform is seductive, especially to those who are fed-up with the "old time partisan divisive politics" we really need to ask how "reformist" and progressive the "reformers" are if in 2003 they are prepared to present the country with a solid and predominantly male-driven party.
Furthermore we need to ask why this situation obtains today. If there ever was a party with the opportunity to come to the Jamaican people with a critical mass of good and capable women in its management structure, it is the Jamaica Labour Party.
Why do I say this?
Because the JLP has been in the "Political wilderness" for a long time. The party, therefore, had the opportunity to make dramatic changes to reflect forward thinking on issues of social and gender equity, amongst other reforms.
When the African National Congress was in the "political wilderness", they planned and strategised to incorporate into their governance structures of post-apartheid South Africa both gender and racial equity. To this end, they organised a multiparty and multiracial Coalition of Women's Organisations to seek out and identify the best practices in gender mainstreaming in the western world.
The result of this effort was an ANC lead post-apartheid government that used positive action to ensure a critical mass of women of all racial groups at the highest levels of decision making in Parliament.
Another appropriate example of how to reform when on the margins was the case of the Tony Blair lead Labour Party while they were in the "political wilderness". They recruited a critical mass of women who were very instrumental in ensuring that their party formed the government or Britain. In 1997 the Labour Pray elected 101 women to the British Parliament. In 1992 they had only 37 and the Conservatives had 20.
But the Labour Party did not get this change in a partisan mould. They were greatly assisted by the work of the 300 Group which is described as "an all party campaign for more women in Parliament, local government and in all areas of public life". Its members are women and men from all walks of life and it encourages and trains women to seek and hold public office and to participate in public decision making processes at all levels.
All in all, these collaborative efforts between non-governmental groups and the formal political parties worked for Tony Blair and his Labour Party.
In 2001 his party still had ninety-five females in Parliament. Amongst them is Diane Abbott, who is of Jamaican lineage.
The point of using the examples of the ANC and the British Labour Party is to once again ask the question "why is there no gender equity at the highest levels of decision-making in a party that has had a long period in which to reinvent itself"?
In fact, if neither Prudence Kidd-Deans nor Dorothy Lightbourne manages to succeed in their bid for a position in the hierarchy of their party, then there will be "no woman in the room". If one succeeds, then we will again get "the 'Babsy' Grange Syndrome. But what if they both succeed? Then there will be two - enough to keep each other's company!
But two could be a starting point! There might yet be a "reform" movement in the Jamaica Labour Party! Dr. Glenda Simms is the executive director of the Bureau of Wo9men's Affairs.
