Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told delegates to a regional conferencethat in order to succeed female politicians may still be required to be genderless in speech and manners and curb their feminine nature.
She made the observation in a speech delivered on her behalf Sunday by Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin at the Third Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region in the Parliament Chamber, Port of Spain.
She said based on her experience she knows that there still exists within the psyche of many in the region a certain image of a woman in politics and as a leader.
"The desire to make women politicians feel as though they are somewhere they do not belong, or to want to see them behave in ways that are not natural to them, is a difficulty that women politicians must overcome," she said.
She said women continue to be women when they adopt political roles. "It is this womanhood coupled with political commitment, which should be fully utilised, since it brings with it different creative potentials and intellectual strength," she said.
"Obstacles that are not insurmountable continue to complicate women's entry into the political arena but men and women must continue to work together as agents of change," she said.
She said the obstacles that have hindered the entry of women in politics include socio-economic, ideological and psychological factors.
The Prime Minister noted that research suggests that women continued to have difficulty accessing political institutions because of established and organised male standards and political attitudes.
He said a lack of resources has also contributed to the low representation of women in politics at the highest levels. These resources include party support.
She also said there is usually a lack of funding for women's campaigns, insufficient attention by the media on women's contributions and potential which results in the lack of a constituency for women.
Persad-Bissessar said there is a need for support from women's organisations and other non-governmental organisations to boost women's low self-esteem and self confidence. She added that certain cultural patterns also impede women's progress in advancing political careers.
However she said women are becoming less complacent about their contribution to the political process and moving forward despite all the obstacles.
Persad-Bissessar noted that the current 27 per cent membership of women in Trinidad and Tobago's Parliament is above the global average. However she said women still have a long way to go.
She made the observation in a speech delivered on her behalf Sunday by Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin at the Third Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians of the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region in the Parliament Chamber, Port of Spain.
She said based on her experience she knows that there still exists within the psyche of many in the region a certain image of a woman in politics and as a leader.
"The desire to make women politicians feel as though they are somewhere they do not belong, or to want to see them behave in ways that are not natural to them, is a difficulty that women politicians must overcome," she said.
She said women continue to be women when they adopt political roles. "It is this womanhood coupled with political commitment, which should be fully utilised, since it brings with it different creative potentials and intellectual strength," she said.
"Obstacles that are not insurmountable continue to complicate women's entry into the political arena but men and women must continue to work together as agents of change," she said.
She said the obstacles that have hindered the entry of women in politics include socio-economic, ideological and psychological factors.
The Prime Minister noted that research suggests that women continued to have difficulty accessing political institutions because of established and organised male standards and political attitudes.
He said a lack of resources has also contributed to the low representation of women in politics at the highest levels. These resources include party support.
She also said there is usually a lack of funding for women's campaigns, insufficient attention by the media on women's contributions and potential which results in the lack of a constituency for women.
Persad-Bissessar said there is a need for support from women's organisations and other non-governmental organisations to boost women's low self-esteem and self confidence. She added that certain cultural patterns also impede women's progress in advancing political careers.
However she said women are becoming less complacent about their contribution to the political process and moving forward despite all the obstacles.
Persad-Bissessar noted that the current 27 per cent membership of women in Trinidad and Tobago's Parliament is above the global average. However she said women still have a long way to go.
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