Dad, meet the vacuum cleaner

What’s happening, Mauritius?

Despite articles in our Constitution which condemn all forms of discrimination, I am sad to say that a recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) report notes that discrimination against women is still well-anchored in our society.

However, the survey: Economic and Social Indicators – Gender Statistics 2009, also found that although women work in mostly menial jobs, they are scoring higher grades than men at all educational levels, even in subjects considered to be of the male domain. It might be time to re-think gender roles in Mauritian society.

The 2009 pass rate in science was 87% for girls against 81% for boys and the figures are the same for computer studies. In mathematics the pass rate for girls was 70% compared to 60% for boys. The trend is similar at high school level.

“Although there is no discrimination in the education system as boys and girls have equal chances, I can find one form of discrimination,” said former Attorney General Rama Valayden. “This is with regards to the state scholarships. Girls do better than boys, they are greater in numbers with better results and yet only 50% of state scholarships go to them. If they were given according to results girls would obtain more scholarships than boys.”

But scholarships or not, what kind of jobs do women get after their primary, secondary and tertiary education? This is where stereotyping reigns. According to the CSO survey, women are employed at 53% in teaching, nursing and health-related jobs as well as low-paid jobs in the manufacturing sector, and 61% in sales work or as clerks.

Women do so well academically that it is truly hard to believe that there are only 19% working as legislators, professionals and semi-professionals according to the same survey. The glass ceiling is likely to remain over women’s heads for a long time to come if nothing is done to redress this imbalance.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development highlights that there must be 50% women in decision-making positions by 2015, but Mauritius is one of two SADC countries (along with Botswana) that has yet to sign the Protocol.

Sadly, the current reality is that women spend more time working and yet they are more likely than men to live in poverty. The work-life balance and time use findings of the report are quite revealing.

It notes: “Working women spend more time than working men on household chores. A working woman has around one hour free time less than a working man everyday and on Sundays the working woman spends an average of four hours 30 minutes on household chores and caring for children and two hours at work compared to a man spending two hours and three hours respectively on these activities.”

The report also notes that women’s income is disproportionately much lower than men’s, even though their real workload tends to be greater.

There are many arguments that we should stop using the word gender, and some feminists even snigger that the Ministry of Women’s Rights has been changed to Ministry of Gender Equality. For my part I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam for having changed this appellation. Gender is more than biological – it is a concept related to societal norms and if we want men to change mindsets it is about time that it comes parallel to greater sharing of gender roles.

The CSO report is a wakeup call. It begs the question what would happen if women decide to stop doing household chores? Or if they demand pay for those jobs or insist that men should learn them. The education findings in the report certainly provide fodder for the argument that more women in decision-making positions results in a stronger country and a healthier economy.

A gender role-reversal might certainly make our men go berserk. Do stay-at-home husbands know how to operate a vacuum cleaner or washing machine? Press clothes? Feed little kids or cart them to school? Some do but many others still have to learn.

I must admit that my husband taught me how to use our new washing machine. He followed the demonstration when the new machine was delivered and is now proud to say he is the house manager, simple as that.

Nevertheless, in most Mauritian households, unpaid chores such as cooking, cleaning and the care of family members (including both children and the elderly) are done by the same women who are scoring higher than men at all national educational levels.

Men, please do stand up! Please break these stereotypes. Understanding gender concepts and adapting them can make us live in a just society where gender justice will prevail and women and men will both share the benefits.

Times are changing and you must learn to adapt to your new gender roles. You, too, can give love and care for children. You cannot breastfeed but you can certainly give the bottle. Why are you depriving yourself of this joy of caring and loving?

Husbands and fathers: Instead of watching television while women are in the kitchen cooking after a long day’s work, why don’t you join them and lend a hand, or pick up the vacuum and clean house? You might be surprised and find you like it.

Loga Virahsawmy is the Director, Gender Links (Mauritius and Francophone Office) and President of Media Watch Organisation-GEMSA. This article is part of the GL Opinion and Commentary Service.