A space to voice victimisation

DISTINCTION: There is a major connection between ‘Gender’ and ‘Society’. There is a major difference between gender and sex. Gender is something socio-cultural and artificial which is created by human beings. There is a very clear distinction between ‘gender’ and ‘sex’.

The term ‘sex’ is entirely related to biology and has nothing to do with a man’s or a woman’s social status, outer appearance or duties he/she does. But ‘gender’ is everything about a person’s social status.

Therefore gender has nothing to do with biological structure or biological functions of a human being but his/her socio-cultural status.

Unfortunately most of the people still do not know what ‘gender’ is and usually interpret it as ‘sex’ or something related to the biological difference between a man and a woman.

The word ‘Gender’ has been translated to Sinhala in a strange way giving an inaccurate idea that gender is something meant only for women.

The most important fact is that this ‘gender’ is being created by people according to their society and culture.

This creation causes different problems for women when parents do not treat their sons and daughters equally. Gender discrimination has become a social issue as a result of this. Gender related issues are part of the society and its problems.

There should not be ‘woman’s stuff’ and ‘man’s stuff’ and there should not be ‘woman’s work’ and ‘man’s work’.

The problem of present day society, especially in Sri Lanka is that women are willing to do all men’s work but men are not willing to do women’s work. Social problems are rising day by day despite all counselling services, morals and ethics uplifting religious programmes available for the public.

Rapid social change, cultural invasions and the extending gap between rich and poor may cause these social problems. Social problems are on the rise, some which are really brutal crimes. Therefore it is very important to discuss social issues including gender related problems.

When considering the present social context, it is obvious that space should be given to discuss all social problems including gender based discrimination.

Although women represent over 52 per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka, the problems they face are being created within the society where both men and women live. Most of the time it is the society which stands behind the problems ‘created’ for women.

Therefore the main intention of this space will be to give a voice to all who have been victimised by social and gender related discrimination.

Although women represent the majority of the victims of all crimes and related issues, children, elders, disabled persons and dependents who represent the society suffer with them.

This space will also be used to expose the nakedness of real trouble makers of Mother Lanka who carry out their ‘tasks’ wearing masks and pretending that they are ‘serving’ to the country and its people. Here is the first step.

During ICAAP held at the BMICH recently one woman attached to an NGO asked a very funny (cunning) question from one foreign gay participant who sat in the head table of a press briefing.

She asked how he felt visiting and staying in a country (Sri Lanka) where homosexuality is illegal! The gay person replied “I am very scared and feel so bad. I feel like a criminal here”. She received the exact answer she was eagerly waiting for.

What is the relevance of that question? What was the intention of asking such a question in a press briefing which was attended by many foreign journalists and getting that kind of an answer? Is it to challenge an independent nation’s legal system? Challenge its religions and precious culture? At the Colombo International Airport no officer checks your sexual preference before entering Sri Lanka.

There were no reports on ill-treating any of HIV positive persons or gay/lesbian persons attended ICAAP. We have to protect Sri Lanka from certain persons who are ‘serving’ in certain ‘organisations’ because there is a huge difference between serving a country and tarnishing its image.