Patricia Donald, Women's Media Watch:
WOMEN'S MEDIA Watch is concerned about the media's input. We have breached the responsibilities we have, as a people, to manage what we present: the images and pictures of men and women and the consistent message that the woman is equated to sex. Even the idea of a woman enjoying sex is anathema.
As Women's Media Watch, we to say to others, let us continue to engage and challenge the media about the pictures presented. Censorship is something that no society can handle, so what we work toward is to try to educate ourselves on how we can be critical of what we are consuming.
We are saying now to parents, talk with the child. (This is happening) while we are challenging the people who produce the programmes to think a little differently about it. The Broadcasting Commission has been working with the Women's Media Watch and others and there are posters (programme rating codes) which come up on the screen.
FAITH-BASED FAILURE
Yvonne Foster, counselling psycho-logist and associate, Family Life Ministries (panellist):
I think many faith-based institutions don't even mention the word 'sex'. It's almost as if it doesn't exist. As soon as a boy looks at girl, the pastor calls and says, "When are you getting married?" I think churches need to accept that sex exists and I think they need to get involved in the training of parents because many parents today weren't taught about sex either. The Church can do a lot to help ease the whole learning and understanding and appreciation of it.
Evie Vernon, lecturer, United Theological College of the West Indies:
I know the church has created a great path in empowering many women. I want to say that the Church in recent times has become even more involved in working with HIV and AIDS. (But) sometimes we stick with old stereotypes when realities are changing.
FACILITIES LACKING
Audience member:
With regard to the alternatives that a woman has when she finds herself in a situation where she is being abused, do you think that we have the social infrastructure to deal with a woman getting up with her children and walking out of her financial stability?
Joyce Hewitt, coordinator for the Public Education Committee, Woman's Inc. (panellist):
Unfortunately the answer is no. We do not have that structure in place.
FIDELITY AND CHASTITY
Audience member:
Of all the speakers, the person who hit the nail on its head in the direction you have to go was (Ian) Boyne (in) his comment about going back to the rule of chastity before marriage and fidelity after marriage. Are we putting programmes in place or facilitating the change in mindset of not only children but adults. I heard a speaker speaking about a term called 'secondary virginity' and I think that's very interesting.
