CHANGING TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN
Press Release
WOM/913
CHANGING TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES DISCUSSED IN COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN
19960318 Traditional attitudes towards family responsibilities could only be changed when the double burden of women trying to manage their public and private lives was recognized, the Commission on the Status of Women was told Friday afternoon, 15 March, by a panel of experts. They were addressing the Commission on child and dependent care and the sharing of family responsibilities. Women made more sacrifices for the family and much of their work was unpaid, said panel members. They worked longer hours in the work place, but men had not made commensurate efforts in the home.The experts also spoke of the need to involve all family members, when attempting to change behaviour, including the young, adults and the elderly. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which now promoted men's increased involvement in child care programmes, had learned that inter- generational groups were a critical element in changing attitudes and behaviour.
A UNICEF-sponsored contest in Viet Nam to encourage men's participation in child care and improve their knowledge of health and hygiene practices revealed the importance of grandfathers in the lives of their grandchildren and resulted in the promotion of "grandfather coalition for children". An expert from China said the concept of shared parenting was promoted through schools which both parents must attend and a class for grandparents was very popular.
Both sexes must learn the benefit of changing gender roles as women were often the staunchest upholders of the sexual division of labour, the experts said. According to an expert from the Population Council, "It is the mother that trains the young boy to do no household tasks, to expect to be waited on by his sisters, and to ignore his responsibility to girls he might want to have sexual relations with." Mothers were key to every intervention regarding sons and daughters, she added.
The Commission will meet again at 10 a. m. today to hold a dialogue among Governments on child and dependent care and sharing family responsibilities.
Women's Commission - 2 - Press Release WOM/913 10th Meeting (PM) 18 March 1996
Presentation by Panel
CATHERYN TOLBERT, of the Population Council, Mexico Office, said that more and more women in developing countries were working to support their families. More than at any time in history, children were living without the care of their fathers or some father-figure. In many cases, women had to take their children to work, where they were exposed to a variety of hazards. Older children may have to work themselves, sometimes in the streets. "These children, whom we all know about, do not get counted, because their mothers are not counted in labour statistics." Aside from single women, many married, divorced or widowed women require child care. Demand for such services was often latent. In traditional societies, suspicion of non-family centre care was great, and not unfounded. Further, many women may feel that they did not have the right to seek child care. "The explicit demand on the part of women in developing countries is growing, but needs a stronger voice."
"If I told you I knew how to get men to participate more in sharing family responsibilities, you would have to nominate me for the Nobel Peace Prize", she said. Working to change gender perceptions was hard, because changing gender roles could threaten everyone's sense of values. Persuasive role models, such as sports figures, could influence young people regarding issues which were threatening to traditional stereotypes of masculinity. Both genders must see some benefit from changing gender roles. "We know that many women are the staunchest upholders of the sexual division of labour; after all, it is the mother that trains the young boy to do no household tasks, to expect to be waited on by his sisters, and to ignore his responsibility to girls he might want to have sexual relations with." Mothers were key to every intervention regarding sons and daughters.
R. STANOIU, Secretary of State on Women's Affairs and Family Policies, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Romania, said that in Central and Eastern Europe, the transition process was bypassing women, who suffered unemployment at rates exceeding those of men. Paradoxically, men seemed to be accepting the notion of sharing family responsibilities even more so than women. Sexual stereotyping was prevalent in schools. Even if the abilities of two children were the same, they would be taught different subjects depending on their sex. A media campaign had been launched to correct sexual stereotyping. Other government measures included maternity payments to all mothers, whether they worked or not, as well as payments for child care. Special attention was being paid to women living in rural areas.
MISRAK ELIAS, UNICEF Senior Adviser on Gender and Development, said child care and sharing of work and family responsibilities have been viewed from divergent perspectives. Advocates for women's rights see child care responsibilities as obstacles to women's effective participation in the economic arena and their career advancement. On the other hand, advocates for children maintain that their right to nurture are compromised by women's work outside the home. The dual rights of women to nurture their children and economic independence should be juxtaposed with the child's right to care.
Women's Commission - 3 - Press Release WOM/913 10th Meeting (PM) 18 March 1996
She said traditionally social services for children, especially education and information were targeted at women, but studies had shown the important role of other family and community members in achieving the goals for children. The health and nutritional status of children improved when men, particularly fathers, had a better understanding of their needs and rights.
ANNE HAVNOR, Counsellor, Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Norway, described the experience of her country, which she said was representative of other Nordic countries. Demands for child care had arisen following the entry of women into the labour force in large numbers in the 1970s. In response, the Government had taken a number of reforms to provide child care, parental leave, and other benefits. As a welfare State, Norway provided social benefits to all citizens. "Solidarity is strong. Everybody contributes and everybody benefits." The high percentage of women in the Government had served to put family issues on the political agenda.
Despite the provision of State benefits, it was women who made sacrifices for the family more than men, she said. Women did not work longer hours than men, but much of their work was unpaid. As a result, their income lagged considerably behind that of men. Women allocated more time to paid work, but men had only increased the amount of time they spent on housework by one hour per week since the 1970s. "This situation is not acceptable to us." Less than 2 per cent of eligible men took advantage of parental leave. Measures were being taken to raise that figure through incentives.
CHEN GUOMEI, Vice-President, China Family Education Association, and Professor, Beijing Normal University, said the employment rate of women in China was high, raising the question of how to alleviate their responsibilities in the home. Most children had the benefit of day care starting at age 3. Day care centres were funded by local governments, and they were often run by neighbourhood committees. Families sending their children to day care received financial subsidies. The concept of shared parenting was being promoted through schools for parents which both parents must attend. Once they had been to those schools, they received a certificate which would entitle them to parental leave. A class for grandparents was also very popular. Arrangements were made to care for the children while the grandparents went to class.
Discussion
Namibia asked about the increasing regression of social family norms and values. Concern arose over the growing incidence of sexual abuse by fathers against their girl children. If fathers were excluded from family-rearing activities, would that risk be minimized? Questions also arose about the fate of street children who had no parents.
Women's Commission - 4 - Press Release WOM/913 10th Meeting (PM) 18 March 1996
Ms. TOLBERT, of the Population Council, Mexico Office, said it was hoped that increased levels of violence in families, particularly towards young girls, was a result of better reporting rather than an actual increase in the crime. It might also be a result of mounting pressures on the nuclear family and incidents tended to be higher in families where men used alcohol. A Mexican study found that there seemed to be a relationship between the incidence of such violence and an increase in the number of women working. Strategies to deal with it included making pre and after school child care more available.
Ms. HAVNOR, Counsellor, Ministry of Children and Family, Norway, replied that attempts were being made to involve men more actively with caring for very young children. As they became more comfortable with a nurturing role the incidence of child abuse seemed to drop.
Mali recommended that the Secretary-General designate an expert to study what could be done to encourage the sharing of family responsibilities in Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms. ELIAS, UNICEF Senior Adviser, replied that there were initiatives under way in sub-Saharan Africa to promote the sharing of family responsibilities. Technological advances had resulted in changes in gender roles as men stepped in to use new equipment. The UNICEF's approach to child care did not call for fancy settings; rather, older women in the community were trained in child care so they could earn money by caring for several children in the community. Young mothers could also care for other children to gain income. In some countries, a cooperative situation was promoted whereby men or women could work either on the farm or in the child care centre. Interestingly, both women and men chose to work in the child care centre.
Austria asked if they had any experience concerning joint actions between governments and other social partners to address discrimination in the work place.
Ms. ELIAS said that UNICEF had cooperated with non-governmental organizations to involve men in parenting. Its advocacy programme, based on the theme "it takes two to parent", were being implemented.
Italy said that in her country the number of old people was increasing due to progress in health care and other positive trends. Never the less, the elderly needed care, and the burden tended to fall on women's shoulders. She asked panelists how best to address that problem.
Ms. CHEN, Vice-President, China Family Education Association, said that there were special centres for the elderly in her country. Non-governmental organizations had a critical role to play in caring for older persons. In addition, there were some match-making services available to those who did not have partners.
Women's Commission - 5 - Press Release WOM/913 10th Meeting (PM) 18 March 1996
Italy also said that since men had higher wages than women, it was more difficult to subsidize their incomes when they took parental leave. How could that challenge be overcome?
Ms. HAVNER, Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Norway, said it was true that it cost more for the State to pay for paternity leave because men earned more money. Although that presented a problem, men did receive equal leave in Norway.
Finland asked how international organizations could promote the concept of shared responsibilities.
Ms. ELIAS, UNICEF Senior Adviser, said that agencies within the United Nations system were carrying out activities to promote shared responsibilities based on their specific areas of competence. For example, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was working towards that end with refugees, while the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was taking action as part of the follow-up to the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994). "Unfortunately, our record is spotty." Initiatives were under way to develop more effective strategies, and it was hoped that in the future it would be possible to achieve progress.
Representatives of Austria, Netherlands, Sudan, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, as well as a representative of the Non-governmental Caucus for Shared Responsibilities, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the International Federation of Women Lawyers also took part in the discussion.
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