|
Constitutional equality
Cuban
women in the new economic model
Yenia
Silva Correa
In its role as state
signatory of the Agreement on the Elimination of All
forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Cuba
has achieved results on issues of social security,
sexual education, employment and female empowerment.
Professor Magalys Arocha Domínguez, Committee expert
on the elimination of all forms of discrimination
against women from 2005 - 2012; spoke to Granma
International about the implementation of the
agreement in Cuba.
How are the principles of CEDWA achieved in a
context marked by the updating of Cuba’s economic
model and the recently held Federation of Cuban
Women (FMC) Congress?
One of the recommendations made is
the adoption of measures supporting rural woman.
In Cuba there has been a
strong political effort in regards to all rights
concerning women. We were the first country to sign
the Agreement and second to ratify it. Women in Cuba
have equality under the Constitution, which remains
unchanged, but the updating of the country’s
economic model raises a series of related questions
concerning rights and equality, about issues such as
modifications to the management of property and
organization of work. All these changes represent a
significant challenge to maintaining women’s rights
established in the sphere of employment, and
strengthening them under the new conditions.
Cuban women enter into this process with many
advantages, such as having a high level of education
and professional training. The challenge is how to
overcome mental obstacles so that women feel
empowered. Outdated subjectivity, by which a woman
feels as though she can not fulfill a relevant role
in the face of changes to the modes of management,
must be tackled.
We must carry out relevant discussions with local
governments to identify opportunities for female
employment and how women can become more involved in
agricultural spheres - working land in usufruct in
rural areas - and all sources of employment in the
country. These new conditions will help more women
to enter into self-employment, as well as become
proprietors and administrators, moving away from the
role of employee, commonly assumed by women.
New opportunities in non-traditional occupations are
opening.
Potential risks however, can
not be overlooked. These new modes of management can
perpetuate the idea that women’s place is in
services, care and that they only cook, make beds
and clean the house…
We have a new woman who can not be easily exploited,
but I am concerned that perhaps, finding a better
paying job as a self employed person, running a bed-and-breakfast
for example, she leaves a job in a different field,
that she enjoys, to then go back and work in the
home. There is no reason to be alarmed by this risk,
but we must continue to work with women. I believe
that women are in a good position in their work and
those who embrace the new modes of management, do so
because they are going to succeed.
How does this all fit in the context of low birth
rates in the country?
The challenges we currently face, with the updating
of the country’s economic model, as well as
discussions held in the FMC Congress and women’s
participation in the economic life of the country,
have arisen due to the changes in fertility and
birth rates. The transformations that took place in
Cuba – women’s education and access to work and the
professional world - were revolutionary, because
they provided women with a better standard of living
and greater social recognition. But, when we started
to run the risk of a decreasing population rate,
this became a concern, not specifically for women,
but rather, for society.
Economic factors are also an influence. Postponing
having children has frequently resulted in women
having just one child. I think that it is a
challenge for the country to construct the best
conditions for the couple deciding to have a child.
We must continue working; Cuba is aware of this
issue and it has been discussed extensively by the
Federation, in Congress and other spaces.
Reproduction and birth are not just women’s issues,
although they are can’t be achieved without them.
They are society’s problem, as it is society which
needs to reproduce and therefore it is society which
must tackle them.
|
