4. The Views Of Men About The Women Organisations
The organisations under study are women only organisations This chapter contains the interviews on the views of eight men about the Women organisations chosen at random in the
Gunjur and Brufut communities The men are in the sub-sector in which the organisations studied are engaged but do not belong to any of the women organisations in this study. The interviews focus on the divergent views whether or not these women organisations should include men. My first respondent was Nyakassi Saidy, a retired extension worker who is now in the artisanal fishing industry He is of the view that Women Kaffos or organisations should include men His views were expressed as follows
.. women Kaffos should incorporate men as members This will foster unity among the two sexes in the community Women should no longer uphold the traditional norm or values that men are the driving force among them. Rather, they should see men as Co-partners in development in any multi sex organisation set-up. This, I believe could bring about increased productivity which enhances sustainability - an integral part of modern development. |
My second respondent was Malafy Jammeh of Gunjur, a driver closely associated with the fishing industry. This respondent is of the opinion that women organisations should be left as they are and shouldn't include men Malafy has his reasons:
…ours is a tradition where men still dominate women which is yet to be influenced In any organisation where one sex dominate the other the tendency is that dominant sexes productivity is adversely influenced. Women organisations should be left on their own in order to achieve their long desires of independence from social cultural. traditional and economic frustrations |
The third respondent was Mr. Faburama Barrow, a tailor also from Gunjur Mr. Barrow is of the opinion that women organisations should include men According to him
... men and women coming together under one umbrella organisation would only result in solidarity Common issues that concern both genders are better discussed in that sort of an organisation This fosters better understanding of strategies to follow to solve problems which enhance the overall organisational objectives. Men and Women working together can only bring about effectiveness and sustainable development effort. |
My fifth respondent, Bajamba Bojang, is the community leader of Brufut who also works in the fishing industry. Mr. Bojang thinks that women and men coming together in one organisation could bring development The detail of his comments is given:
…men who are generally more dynamic than their women counterparts could be instrumental to women productivity. The women organisations lack the managerial skills that affects their viability, sustainability and to a larger extend progress. With men joining these organisations, the organisation would be better managed to be able to attract funds from supporting institutions and Government. |
The sixth respondent was Mr. Paul Momodou Gassama, driver from Brufut whose second occupation is gardening. He strongly believes that women organisations are not doing badly and therefore the composition should be left as it is. According to him:
... the African woman, particularly the Gambian woman, is very industrious and highly committed to improving the living standards of their families. If men and women should come together in one organisation men will always dominate the women. In this way the women who work harder do not participate effectively in taking the decisions on matters that affect them. |
The seventh respondent, Momodou Ceesay, also comes from Brufut He grows and sells groundnuts for a living. He too is of the opinion that women organisations shouldn't include men. His reasons are given below.
... although the women organisations lack the necessary managerial skills and financial support they work extremely hard at both individual and organisational levels in the horticulture and fisheries sectors. The men folks are generally lazy, always appealing for some donor assistance. Women organisations should be left on their own and be suported. |
The final respondent was Alagi Manneh, a driver from Brufut. He is closely associated with the fishing industry. He also prefers women organisations to be left as they are. He argued that:
…a multi sex organisation in a traditional society as ours where men dominate women often results in an undemocratic set-up in the structure of the organisation Key positions within the organisation get occupied by the men relegating women to the background in the decision making process. The existing women organisations should only be strengthened through capacity building in the form of training, financial aid from Government or NGOs, rather than change their composition. |
CONCLUSION
The views expressed by the respondents are diverse, but the momentum seems to gather around the fact that women organisations can do better without changing the composition. In a traditional society where men dominate the women, the women organisations should be encouraged to stay as they are in order to exercise independence in decision making on matters that affect women. Government and donor assistance in the capacity building, in the form of training and financial aid, could go a long way into empowering the women by turning the organisations into sustainable and viable organisations
