Día 99: I had this article saved within my email and finally had a chance to read it…
“The hard reality is that in too many areas, data doesn’t exist. What’s more — even where it does exist, it’s often sexist. It misses women and girls entirely, or undercounts and undervalues their economic and social contributions to their families, communities, and countries.”
Just within the first week here at Isla de Chira, the value by type of work is obvious. Our first day with our counterpart, we learned: fishing is king. Literally, a position fit for men. We were told that 99 percent of the island’s economy is fishing, which is a role held nearly exclusively by men. Upon reading this article, I now feel desperate to find the true answer. How can we calculate the economic effect of the women’s groups working on mangrove reforestation or the time spent washing the family’s clothes? How do we quantify meal preparation and cooking and it’s effect on Isla de Chira? Of course we know general benefits, but without more calculated impact, their time, work, and worth is undervalued, perpetuating machismo, sexism, and gender discrepancy. Our goal as community economic development volunteers is to promote local ventures, support formal and informal businesses, and advise and train as possible.
But we are also here to ensure women can lead and contribute in economic opportunities, to reap the benefits of financial growth, and most importantly, to be valued equally for all their contributions to their community.