Friday 22 January 2016

Essay: Women in Jamaican Society

Women in Jamaican Society
While we were in Jamaica, I noticed that there were many more men hanging out around town than women. Based on that observation, I wondered where the women were in Falmouth. The only women I saw around town were women who were actively working, in shops or otherwise. Moreover, I wondered, traditionally, what is a women’s role in Jamaican society? I wondered if traditional gender roles in Jamaica are normal in Jamaican society.

In my research I found, historically, women were expected to care for domestic duties such as taking care of the house and children. According to a study done by University of the West Indies, Caribbean Tribes often viewed a subservient wife and dominating husband as “proper relations” between man and women (Brereton). Although, the Jamaican government is working to eliminate bias in favor of men by creating policies that ensure women will not be underrepresented in politics, women still face struggles everyday that traditional gender roles create(Simms) .

According to the United Nations, women are more likely to have a higher education but women are “overrepresented” in the low income category, which is very interesting (United Nations). Since women are more likely to have a higher education which makes them seem more qualified for many jobs, they may be denied based on their gender. For example, women are not allowed to be head of a church and church is a fundamental part of Jamaican culture (Simms).

One other factor of this might be that historically, women were not expected to have paying jobs. They were expected to take care of domestic duties. It is also interesting that this tradition of gender roles continues and thrives in the Rastafari culture. Women are expected to respect men and do whatever they ask. Women are not equal to men. Although, less than 10% of the population identifies as Rastafari this tradition seems to carry on throughout Jamaican society (CIA). As a result of this patriarchal ideology, in 1901 only 13% of skilled laborers were women and historically only about 30% of land was owned by women (Brereton).

From my research, I have found that Jamaican society does not “promote” women being independent and self-sufficient people, but the government is trying to eliminate prejudice in politics. By request of the Jamaican Women Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) a quota was put in place to ensure that no less than 40% of Parliament is made up of women (or men).  Representatives from WROC said it’s a step up from where women stood, but even with the quotas getting women to feel like they should participate in politics and be heard is still an “uphill struggle” (Simms).


Work Cited
Brereton, Bridget. Women and Gender in the Caribbean. University of the West Indies. Print. 2013.

Simms, Glenda. Women on the Doorsteps. The Gleaner. Print. 2011.

United Nations. Women’s Level of Participation in Jamaica Public Life Questioned by Anti-Discrimination Committee.

CIA. World Fact Book, People and Society. Web. 2011.


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