Webster: Much to be done in changing mindset. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
FAITH WEBSTER, acting head of the Bureau of Women's Affairs:
THE BUREAU of Women's Affairs has been attempting to educate and sensitise the public, and in particular, we have school education programmes where we speak to students about the issue of gender-based violence (and) issues of self-esteem. In looking at the whole issue of sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
I know there is a lot of work to be done ... in terms of changing our mindset and changing our culture as to how a man or a woman is defined in our society and what is expected of them. We know that is going to take a little while. It is something that can be changed, but we have to recognise that it is a process that is going to take place over time.
ABSTINENCE OF PRIORITY
I wanted to pick up from what (was) said about the idea of abstinence and chastity and all of that, and I recall discussions at some of the Youth Conference on Population and Development issues.
I think the ABC (Abstinence, Be Faithful, Condom Use) method was something that was being encouraged ... Everybody can know that abstinence is also a choice, but then I think sometimes in our own society, we tend to have double standards. If we are going to attempt to change the culture any at all, we are going to have to deal with some of the double standards that we have.
If I should say to you tonight, I am 40 years old and I never had sex yet in my life, some of you would laugh. There is an expression out there that says that (age) eight you are late. Somebody aged eight is still a child. These are some of the things that I think we really have to deal with, the whole issue of our values and our attitudes in the society.
