Our first caregivers and educators
Forming that bond:- mothers breast-feeding their little ones
Forming that bond:- mothers breast-feeding their little ones

By Margaret Burke
EVER SINCE the beginning of time, women have always been (mostly) the first caregivers and subsequently the educators too. They have always been more influential in one way or another – as mother or guardian; as wife; as teacher or mentor; or in whatever manner required. Of course, there is always the exception to the rule; but, in general, women are always thought — especially by the young, the old, the most vulnerable, and by men — to be faithful to the call. But these ‘thoughts’ could raise much debate, depending on the experience of who is reading this article.

Teachers standing in front of children in classrooms of a nursery and a primary school
Teachers standing in front of children in classrooms of a nursery and a primary school

A woman’s power has not tapered; and, in fact, today the advertising industry exploits this power by the use of attractive, seductive women in order to sell everything – from a simple soft drink or some food, a holiday, cars, phones, a bed or pillow, a mouthwash or toothpaste; and it can get really ridiculous with the blatant sexual images to catch a man’s glance and capture his attention. With all this, every day men walk away from wives, children, friends, parents, siblings —risking careers and reputation.

In the meanwhile, the woman is, in many cases, compelled to hold the fort – to keep the family together; many times as she continues to work in and outside of the home, steering a career as well as ensuring that the children, both boys and girls, receive all the necessary care and attention plus a good education.

“The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”

Single mothers
Power is a relative term. However, in general, it relates to a situation of control, authority, supremacy and the like. In addition, it has been established that women are more often than not put in a position to exercise their authority over the young ones from early in their lives – from conception. Poet William Ross Wallace titled probably his most popular poem “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”
In fact, some of the most famous men (and women) across the world can attest to the fact that it was the ‘woman’ who, to a large extent, single-handedly raised them. In Guyana, for example, there is a very large percentage of single-parent mothers. A few are by choice, but the majority had this situation forced upon them; therefore, to highlight a few on this occasion would be difficult. So acknowledgement is made of every mother who made a difference in the lives of their children; some becoming very powerful and influential themselves.

Executive women executing their various tasks
Executive women executing their various tasks

Education: formal, non-formal and informal
Outside of the home, the education system is one of the most powerful in influencing the lives of most people, once allowed to penetrate and impart. One cannot underestimate the influence of those who might be allowed to ‘school’ children and adults too: to nurture their minds; having a long process of orientation and/or re-orientation; to disciple them. The fact is that education is about the academics, the ‘Sunday’ or Sabbath schools – spiritual education, the moral education, and much more.
If no other place do women occupy the larger amount of seats in the education system, be it formal, non-formal or informal. In fact, at the youngest age of formal teaching, which is the nursery or kindergarten, school is manned primarily by women. This is at one of the most crucial periods of the individual’s life. In the primary school system the situation remains the same, but changes somewhat at the secondary level. At the tertiary level (university, technical and other) , the situation changes even more in favour of a larger percentage of males. Still, the early impact of school, in addition to the continuum of the women in the classroom and other places of teaching, cannot be downplayed.

Occupational power
Other than the academia, almost in every aspect of the workplace women can be found – be it in technical or formal positions. Women are now more oriented towards taking up the challenges of the technical work — of flying planes; of leading in the mathematical, financial, scientific, and other occupations. They are readily working as CEOs, entrepreneurs, board directors, labour leaders, leaders in almost every type of organisations. They occupy traditional men’s roles, such as top positions in security organizations, in government, international organisations, as well as in industry and business.

More male dominated
Some occupations, especially in areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEMS), are still more male-dominated, although the situation is changing to show more and more women taking up key positions. In the medical field though, although there is a very large workforce of women doctors, and despite the increase of women being trained as specialist doctors, there are still far more consultants and high-positioned male doctors within the hospitals and related spheres. However, here in Guyana, there is an acceptable amount of women who hold high offices in most, if not all, of the major sectors. Studies have shown that women can be more loyal, more disciplined, more discerning, more calculative, and yet more thoughtful and responsive. Studies have also revealed that the mother instinct in the woman, even when she had not (biologically) mothered a child, kicks in whenever it becomes necessary to bring change where needed.
But then there are also the “Thatchers’ / iron-women type” who can be as tough as leather. The fact is that a woman can be irrepressible, unbeatable, unfathomable, irresistible and mysterious, but most effective.

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