Reserving 22 seats is a step backward

I SYMPATHISE with the women, old and young, who were pictured on your front page (“Women are winners”, Nov 24) celebrating the passing of the proposed constitutional amend­ment to the Equality and Participation Bill.
The women, including the sponsors and 72 MPs who voted in favour, were naïve, narrow minded and emotional, rather than rational, critical and logical.
Women are not and will never be winners under the proposed changes.
The amendment, reserving 22 seats for women, flies in the face of democracy and gives the notion that women are a minority.
It begs the question, are women a minority in PNG?
No! Women are the backbone.
In some of our cultures, women are the head.
So why reserve seats when they are not a minority?
Gender equality, fairness, participation and representation in parliament for women will eventuate when the people’s (particularly men) mindsets are changed.
Many people still see women as homemakers, child bearers, gardeners, dish washers, cooks, etc, not as decision makers and political leaders.
To get more women into parliament, we need more awareness to change mindsets not only in politics but other areas too so that women are accorded with equality, respect, etc. 
We must first remove inequalities in our minds so it translates into our deeds and contributes to a better and developed society.
When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster, children’s health improves and there is less corruption, among others.
Women will have equal representation when more women have access to basic literacy skills.
The women who pushed for reserved seats think being in parliament is the only resort to promote and create equal representation.
They are being misled and are blinded by the perks, privileges and power.
Dame Carol Kidu, Dame Jose­phine Abaijah and Nahau Rooney have proven that women can get elected under the current system.
They were forerunners and set the precedence that with the right ap­proach and mentality, women can enter politics.
Our women have proven to be leaders in business, development sector, mining sector, accounting, law, engineering, etc.
Many women are doing a good job and are capable of achieving better results.
I am sure, if given the opportunity through the normal election process, they can apply the same vigour, determination and leadership in parliament.
Forgive my pessimism but I predict that when the 22 reserved seats take effect, a new trend will be set.
 Men will be voted in and women will be neglected because they have
22 seats reserved for them. 
When this happens, the hundreds of women in the 89 districts with political aspirations will now have to fight to access the “limited” 22 seats.
This will result in conflict among women, because not all will have the opportunity to enter parliament.
You have seen men struggle for power, wait until you see women.
I also wonder how this arrangement will work when the 22 women enter parliament.
Since the 22 women are not grouped as a political party, will they have one resolve, the same policies, goals and directions? 
I seriously doubt they will be a cohesive and united voice.
Until we acknowledge how much more needs to be done, equal participation and representation of women in politics and other sectors, nothing will change for the better.
The 22 reserved seats are not a viable option and is simply a band
aid approach to acquiring political gains by the previous Somare-led government and now the O’Neill-led government.
It is not in the best interest of PNG’s womenfolk.
If our women were to stand as one body, one mind and one voice, I gua­rantee that there can be more than 22 women rightfully voted into parliament through the normal democratic process called election.

BOP
Port Moresby