Women and their bags are inseparable
and JANE ONSONGO
The recent comment by an MP that women MPs should not carry handbags into Parliament caught our attention for two reasons.
First, it is hardly enough to put women in top positions in organisations. The structures that govern those organisations must change in tandem.
Second, when women go into a domain traditionally seen as men�s � for example, politics � they are expected to toe the line � behave like men lest they are seen as misfits.
Politics is, indeed, a men�s domain and women obviously must find it very "chilly" up there. This fact is documented. According to research statistics, the average world percentage of women parliamentarians was 14 in 2001. The figure for black Africa was 11.8.
It is important to appreciate that men and women have different needs that must be factored in when designing workplace rules and practices. Some organisations have established systems which allow women with small children to breastfeed during breaks.
What about handbags? Has anyone ever asked why women carry them? Many may have heard the joke that no one ever looks into a woman�s handbag! But why?
It cannot be because they are feared to be carrying bombs or guns. But there is something about a woman�s handbag that is so personal that without it she feels completely empty and incomplete. Whatever she puts in there is part of her life.
Our guess is that it is the equivalent of a man�s wallet. Why are men�s jackets always designed with at least four pockets? Some have six. We are yet to see women�s jackets that have so many pockets. We guess the designers know that men need to put all their staff in their jackets.
They then enter Parliament chamber with all those things in their pockets. Women put the equivalents of those very private and personal things in their handbags and yet are not supposed to carry the handbags into chamber. Before we design such jackets for women, or handbags for men, it is only fair that women be allowed to carry their handbags and men to wear their jackets. Why not let men be men and women be women and let us get to work?
Handbags aside � it is important for Parliament to lead to the rest of the country on gender equity. It is not just about having women up there. It is about changing attitudes from the top to the grassroots. How can we expect women to compete with men when the structures and rules favour men?
Most of the laws alienate women and perpetuate male domination. Some are based on culture and do not provide a conducive environment for women to participate effectively in political and economic development. At best, most laws are gender-neutral. We need to make them gender-sensitive.
Research shows that success in broadening opportunity for marginalised groups is not achieved simply by increasing the numbers of these groups that "enter". It is much more important to ensure the new entrants� like women MPs � receive the kinds of support they require to perform in their new environments.
That is why it is important to realise that even providing free and compulsory education for all may not improve girl performance if school practices, curriculums and pedagogy are not gender-sensitive and girl-friendly.
The law-makers must bear in mind that this is a world of diversity, and diversity is wealth. So, as women take their rightful positions in leadership, we must make sure the structures they find there are friendly and will not discourage others from even trying to enter.
Once you open the doors, keep them wide and do not use the backdoor to make them feel out of place and then justify the notion that women are not fit for these positions.
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The writers are doctoral students at the University of London.
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