In defence of women

Dulshani Gunawardena

Women show comparative gain in university enrolment, bagging a 58 percent of total university enrolments. However, though female figures are higher in the fields of medicine, law, management and arts, the figure is very low in the technological and technical streams, with female enrolment being as low as 17 percent for engineering

Today is World Women’s Day. Comparative to the rest of South Asia, Sri Lanka is often considered as a country with positive gender indicators. Yet, where do we stand? The situation though not wholly disastrous, need much improvement in consideration of attitude and opportunities.

According to the mid-year estimation of 2009, 50.38 percent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million population are women. The majority of them are in the age group of 16 to 24.

School enrolment rate

Women hold a favoured position in the context of education. As at 2009, the female primary school enrolment rate was 91.4 percent in contrast with 92.2 percent for males. This situation shows an improving trend in secondary and tertiary education.

The secondary school enrolment rate for females is 96.4 percent compared to 93.3 percent for males.

Women show comparative gain in university enrolment, bagging a 58 percent of total university enrolments.

However, though female figures are higher in the fields of medicine, law, management and arts, the figure is very low in the technological and technical streams, with female enrolment being as low as 17 percent for engineering.

Higher education

In contrast of the higher participation in education, women participation in the labour force is extremely low, comprising of only 33.2 percent of the total labour force. Even Colombo, which boasts the best education facilities show a figure of just 31.6 percent of female labour force participation.

The highest percentages are in the Nuwara Eliya (49.7 percent) and Badulla (49.9 percent) districts, mainly due to the large number occupied in the plantation sector.

The only fields in which female employees show high participation is in the garment industry (90 percent) migrant workers in the Middle East (70 percent) and in the plantation sector (60 percent), even this participation is in semi skilled to unskilled categories with little opportunities to move beyond this level.

Unemployment rates

Female unemployment rates as at 2005 (11.9 percent) are double that of men (5.5 percent), despite women in general being more qualified than men. Women play a minor role in the decision making process, with just five percent (13) of all seats in Parliament held by women, with the upcoming General election, it is much hoped that fresh changes will be brought forward.

The need of the day is for each and every woman to be aware of her strengths and seek to carve a niche for herself in society. There is no use of rights when there is no incentive for independence.

Source: ICDP@15 (UPFA)