Arshaad

mikC · Sun Nov 19, 2006 7:35 pm Politics and women

With the rise of Segolene Royal in France, the question that pops up is whether this will ever happen in Mauritius? There has been progress with the actual government. Since they presented more female candidates in the last elections and have two women ministers. But has there really been a change. I mean is the normal citizen able to see beyond sex. That is, judge the person according to merit. :?: To my appreciation, the mauritian public cannot do so and has not been doing so. The only hope is that it will happen in some decades :!:

Arshaad · Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:33 pm Women PM

During the last general elections in Mauritius, there has been a party for only women. I cannot remmeber the name of that party, but they did present a women as future PM.

Obviously they lost the elections. None of their candidates was elected.

And the funny thing is that according to all statistics, there are more women than men..

So if women canot support women ....

I do not think it's a matter of seeing beyond sex. It is just that Mauritians have been moulded into a certain kind of political sytem that cannot be changed.

Beside, I cannot see any women at present in any political parties in Mauritius, having shown enough maturity to be a future PM. Is someone can think of some names .. drop them down :D

Aniisah · Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:35 am A woman PM

I remember when i was back in college, we had a debate on that in our GP class. What a great time we had ;-)

For me, there will be a woman prime minister in the future. It has happened in other countries and i do not see why it cannot happen here.

However, the main problem is that politics remain a man-dominated field in mauritius. And then, the mauritian way of thinking, where politics are concerned, stinks!
Women are not given the chance to explore politics. Also within mauritian families, it is the men who make all the decisions. There are dads who dont allow their daughters to vote! husbands who wont agree to their wives joining politics.

I will not be a sexist here. It is right to say that few women support women in politics. I believe it is because that they do not trust those female candidates to achieve much. Mauritians have been brought up to think that women are weak and their place is behind the stove. It might sound incredible that people(both men and women) still think so in this day and age, but it is absolutely true. Female ministers are not given the same respect as their male counterparts. This is so obvious in the Parliament. When any of the female is talking, people are either talking among themselves or acting not interested.

With the appropriate support and skill training, women in this country can make good PMs and good leaders. Politics should be introduced at an early stage in the mauritian girl's and boy's life. This way there will be acceptance and tolerance on both sides.

I think Leela Devi Dhookun is good candidate for PM. Placed in the right political party and given the right support, she could have achieved much. She has got what it takes. ( that is my personal opinion uh!!!)

ud · Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:54 pm

Yeah women views are important and I definetely am for a woman PM for a change!!!!

They are more sensible and react to the needs of the people rather than some gaylords actually in

the legislative assembly and municipality quarelling over some trivial matters.

Apart from Mrs Dookhun we've seen some really performing ladies like Mrs Labelle and Mrs Perrier.

They all deserve to have their say.

I wonder what would happen if we had a "pour elle" legislative assembly. That would be fun innit?

Don · Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:57 pm Politics and Women

I disagree with mikC's opinion concerning the fact that the Mauritian public cannot do so and has not been doing so. The real question is that:'' Have the Mauritian people had the occasion to vote for a charismatic and capable woman leader?''
So far, I cannot see any woman politician back in Mauritius able to assume the leadership of a political party and later aspire to become Prime Minister. I sincerely think that if ever there are women politicians in the callibre of Margaret Thatcher, Late Indira Gandhi, Angela Merkel, the Mauritian nation will definitely vote in the right direction. People in Mauritius have enough political maturity in these 38 years of democracy to be able to see beyond sex. Even in third-world African countries, there are women who lead their countries.
The only reason lies in the fact that the Mauritian people have not had the chance to vote for any great woman leader. Should they be given the opportunity to vote for a capable woman leader, i'm sure they will do so.

ud · Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:23 pm

Quote: People in Mauritius have enough political maturity...

ROFLOL!!! Sure that's why we continue using symbols to make it easier for people to distinguish

between parties.

I disagree with you Don and there's a long way to go.

Before crossing the barriers of sex, there are some hurdles that needs crossing:

Don't tell me u can't spell communalism and corruption?

These are actually in the way of those capable people including women who should be leading this

country.

ud · Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:24 pm

The forum server went down when I was posting...sorry for the double post

Aniisah · Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:00 pm A woman PM

Don, for me the real question is:"Have the Mauritian women been given the chance to show that they can be charismatic and a capable leader?"
As i said above, women are not given the appropriate support in this country....

Margaret Thatcher has been born in an european country, where the values and mentality of the people vary greatly from ours. Late Indira Gandhi has been surrounded with a "political" family.

All in all, these female PMs were rightly supported and were given the chance to grow!!!

Moreover, if the Mauritian people are so ready to vote for a woman with the appropriate calibre, why don't more woman join the political parties? In that vast population of highly educated women in Mauritius, dont you think there is atleast one who has the capabilities and skills to be a good leader? Duh! this woman is maybe afraid to be looked down upon by her own family or the public in general...or she doesnt have the financial support needed...or for many other reasons.

I still maintain that Opportunities should be created for the Mauritian women to be in politics. They should be supported...it is said that no man is an island....no woman is either ;)

Arshaad · Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:37 am

The real issue is that is there any female capable of representing the country? We do not have to give chances to women. They are the majority. They can chose who they want as leader. Let's say they will not get the support of 'man, but will they get the support of fellow ladies?

Aniisah · Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:37 am A woman PM

Even if women are in the majority, it doesnt mean that they have the power. Many women dont even vote...
So, there should be a program of awareness....to raise interest in poiltics (either to become a candidate or to vote)

Arshaad · Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:15 pm

Raising awareness to make women vote?

Where the money will come from to do this?

We are in 2006. No awareness shall be made to make women vote to to make them be potential candidates.

If women cannot even think about voting or thinking about being a candidate, then how the hell will they be able to become a leader of a party, a leader of a country?

ud · Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:43 pm

I find the women in the legislative assembly mature enough for some greater roles.

What the hell does mature mean to you lots for a start?? do u really find the actual goverment ppl

mature. Well I don't although I've been reading the newspapers online....

Or did u mean mature in like porn movies?

I'm surprised by your answer Arshaad

Arshaad · Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:28 pm

all i wanted to say is that women should take steps further by themselves. I do not have to give them chances. You do not have to as well. The chances are there. They should take it.
And if they are able to take theiur chances, this will be maturity, and they can hope of becoming the Prime Minister someday.

Aniisah · Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:38 pm A woman PM

They do take the chances when offered....but still they are not rightly supported to go further...
Where does the money to finance the political parties during the legislative campaigns come from?

mikC · Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:16 pm

Financial support of the parties is totally another topic.

Certainly the Mauritian public did not get the chance to vote for a capable woman. I would not say that there is no woman capable of endorsing this role of PM but for sure there is no one on the political scene.

Dookhun, Labelle, Perrier... Is that a joke :?:

For the record, many will agree that we, in Mauritius, dont have mature voters. People cannot see beyond communism, how will they see beyond sex :!: But communism and politics is another huge topic.

And i do agree that women do not believe in themseves in our country. Why would they vote for a woman if they think its a man´s job. I hope the coming generation will prove me wrong :arrow: