Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697706237892.pdf (Dominica)
Prepared June 2004 by The Bureau of Gender Affairs The Globe Building 106 Independence Street Roseau Commonwealth of Dominica Tel: (767) 448-2401 ext 3344/3023 Fax: (767) 4487855 Email: genderaffairs@dominica.gov.dm A B O U T T H E W O R K S H O P GENDER AND GENDER ROLES What is Gender?
This workshop comes as a result of the response to a value and attitude test conducted with first, second and third form students of Secondary Schools and Junior Secondary Programme on the island after having presented with a case study “A Story About a Family”.

The exercise forms part of a project on the “Integration of Life Skills Within the School Curriculum: A Vehicle in the Mitigation of Gender Based Violence”.
The project is a two-year programme organised by the Women’s Bureau, Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs.
It is aimed at sensitising Social Studies/Health and Family Life Education Teachers and all first, second and third formers of all the Secondary Schools and Junior Secondary School Programme and others in Dominica: on the magnitude and seriousness of the problem of domestic violence and its impact on the family, school and society to take a critical look at gender related issues with specific relations to adolescent mothers, male academic under achievement, the dynamics involved, perceptions, impact and how it relates to antisocial behaviour of youth.
Through active participation, it is expected that the contribution of students will also benefit the wider community through various outreach and sensitisation activities.

Gender is a construct.

It refers to social and power relations as determined by society.

It ascribes to society the difference between men and women, not by their biological being but by cultural norms and behaviour.

Example Girls play with dolls, boys play with trucks, guns, etc.
Girls pattern of what mother does at the home example girls stay home to wash and cook while boys engage in the things fathers do at home or in the community example boys stay on the street to hang out with friends and come home expecting meals etc.
to be on time The nun serves as cathechist while the priest preaches the homily and id portrays as the lead figure in the church Man holds property in his name; woman is expected to do endorsement Gender socialization Gender socialization can be stated as how we teach boys to become men and girls to become women.

In the family, school and society a lot of gender stereotyping takes place, on this paradigm lies the threat of ‘culture failure’ and ‘growth of self- esteem’.
Cultivating shared roles and responsibilities and shared partnership within the family and society helps ensure healthy relationships and good environment for the holistic development of the person.

This is dependent on the circumstances, family situation, age and ability of the individuals.
Prevention and Curbing Domestic Violence SUMMARY OF VALUE ATTITUDES TEST RESULTS There is no one person or organisation that can deal with the problem but we can begin to try Home Look at the behavioural practices at home.

Your family family may be a good model, compliment your If it’s not then you can begin to seek help.

You members.

can make a difference.
There was some positive feedback from students  Recognition that family violence is a problem in their community and in Dominica as a whole and its impact on children  Some of the students especially the boys who felt that a man should never hit his lady but should talk to her Community  The importance attached to better communication Get involved in positive activities, seek help from a good role mode, friends, maintaining a good relationship with institutions such as School, Health Centre and Church Support systems  The value placed on family well being or safety and education over material possession like a car  The large majority who were unwilling to be part of a gang since they perceived gang as violence-oriented and yield negative influence In Dominica today there are areas where one can seek an intervention these include: for AREAS OF CONCERN  Women’s Bureau  Dominica National Council of Women  Social Welfare Division  Family Life Secretariat  Youth Development Division or National Youth Council  Church leaders e.g.
priests, pastors etc.

 There was little understanding of the term domestic violence  There is generally a cultural acceptance of domestic violence  That this acceptance is strongly related to students understanding of gender roles.
They perceive domestic roles and responsibilities as mainly the domain of the female partner and therefore see failure to uphold this as deserving punishment  Some of them were sympathetic to the overburden work of the woman in the home but a large number failed to appreciate housework as work  While students saw little difficulty with the man enjoying a game of dominoes, in discussion with them the large majority suggested that the wife is wrong to watch television drama serial if her husband meal was unprepared  While a high percentage believed that the woman should get out of the abusive situation preference (almost 100%) seem to be given to sticking together even with abuse to prevent family breakdown The large number almost half of the students who felt that there was no reason for the abusive husband to seek counselling suggest that they did not really see too much wrong with the beating of his wife, or thought it excusable since the wife did not play her role.
The majority of students felt that the lady should have communicated in a better manner the reason why she had not cooked.

This would have given no reason for the aggression on the husband’s part.

This was again reflected in the high percentage both male and female who supported the perpetrator over the victim.

This seem to be related to the view that (i) the man is boss or head and (ii) the man is the only/mainly the person working with little value placed on the wife’s domestic work.
In terms of solutions/actions most students gave preference to the forceful refusal of the man leaving the home for a while for the safety of the family.

However a large percentage looked at the more positive action of the man leaving the home for a while after doing some serious thinking over his family’s safety.
Based on students’ response it can be concluded that there are deep-seated beliefs about gender relations and what is considered to be the norm, which will allow for the continued trend of unequal power in gender and social relations.

The cultural acceptance of domestic violence by these young persons indicate that if they are not sufficiently sensitized and internalize negativism associated with violence in order to affect positive change, then the trend of domestic violence will surely continue.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE What is Violence?

Violence can be defined as a threat or actual use of force or power against a person, a group or community which causes pain and in some cases result in injury, deprivation or death.

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence is a broad term that describes a range of violent behaviour such as verbal abuse, economic abuse, using of children, intimidation, isolation and use of power which takes place within the family unit.

Most instances the woman is the victim.


Types of Domestic Violence Act of domestic behaviour generally occur in one or more of the following: Sexual abuse Physical abuse Psychological or mental abuse Why is Domestic Violence common?

There seems to be no single reason for this behaviour pattern.
Yet many factors may play a part in domestic violence, these include: Poor parenting and communications skills Poverty, lack of education, unemployment Lack of adequate spiritual guidance Physical abuse of children Lack of adequate spiritual guidance Neglect DOMESTIC VIOLENCE What is Violence?

Violence can be defined as a threat or actual use of force or power against a person, a group or community which causes pain and in some cases result in injury, deprivation or death.
Domestic Violence Domestic Violence is a broad term that describes a range of violent behaviour such as verbal abuse, economic abuse, using of children, intimidation, isolation and use of power which takes place within the family unit.

Most instances the woman is the victim.

Types of Domestic Violence Act of domestic behaviour generally occur in one or more of the following: Sexual abuse Physical abuse Psychological or mental abuse Why is Domestic Violence common?
There seems to be no single reason for this behaviour pattern.

Yet many factors may play a part in domestic violence, these include: Physical abuse of children Neglect Prevention and Curbing Domestic Violence There is no one person or organisation that can deal with the problem but we can begin to try Home Look at the behavioural practices at home.

Your family family may be a good model, compliment your If it’s not then you can begin to seek help.

You members.

can make a difference.
Community Get involved in positive activities, seek help from a good role mode, friends, maintaining a good relationship with institutions such as School, Health Centre and Church Support systems In Dominica today there are areas where one can seek an intervention these include: for  Women’s Bureau  Dominica National Council of Women  Social Welfare Division  Family Life Secretariat Poor parenting and communications skills  Youth Development Division or National Youth Poverty, lack of education, unemployment Council  Church leaders e.g.
priests, pastors etc.

Physical abuse of children DOMESTIC VIOLENCE What is Violence?

Violence can be defined as a threat or actual use of force or power against a person, a group or community which causes pain and in some cases result in injury, deprivation or death.

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence is a broad term that describes a range of violent behaviour such as verbal abuse, economic abuse, using of children, intimidation, isolation and use of power which takes place within the family unit.
Most instances the woman is the victim.

Types of Domestic Violence Act of domestic behaviour generally occur in one or more of the following: Sexual abuse Physical abuse Neglect Prevention and Curbing Domestic Violence There is no one person or organisation that can deal with the problem but we can begin to try Home Look at the behavioural practices at home.

Your family family may be a good model, compliment your If it’s not then you can begin to seek help.

You members.

can make a difference.


Community Get involved in positive activities, seek help from a good role mode, friends, maintaining a good relationship with institutions such as School, Health Centre and Church Support systems In Dominica today there are areas where one can seek an intervention these include: for Psychological or mental abuse  Women’s Bureau Why is Domestic Violence common?

 Dominica National Council of Women There seems to be no single reason for this behaviour pattern.
Yet many factors may play a part in domestic violence, these include:  Social Welfare Division  Family Life Secretariat Poor parenting and communications skills Poverty, lack of education, unemployment Lack of adequate spiritual guidance  Youth Development Division or National Youth Council  Church leaders e.g.

priests, pastors etc.