Lately, much has been said by many stake holders on this subject matter. It may just be that the present crisis facing our youth, particularly our boys all over the Caribbean, has forced our leaders and others in society to speak out and confront this problem of male marginalization and the resulting youth delinquency. The fact is that this problem has existed for decades in one form or another.
Caribbean men and boys have been systemically marginalized and underdeveloped in many subtle and not so subtle ways. This has sometimes been done , both consciously and subconsciously in the name of gender equality and other agendas which have not had men’s and society’s best interest in mind. The time has come for some very sober reflection to be done on the definition and role of our men in Caribbean society in the twenty first century and beyond; and this definition of manhood and the role of men needs to be done by men ourselves!!! Very often , our society and its institutions such as the church, home and the school have failed to socialize our boys to embrace their critical spiritual leadership role in the society as men.
Secondly, since the structure of the economy of Caribbean has shifted away from agriculture and other predominantly male forms of employment ; and most Caribbean economies and structured around tourism and other service industries; the rate of male unemployment has increased rapidly. This has been further complicated by the fact that our education systems across the region has not adequately prepared our boys to find employment within the service sector which is set to form the major portion of our Dominican and Caribbean national economies in the foreseeable future.
This has meant that the traditionally established role of the man as bread winner and provider in the home has not been supported by the rapid changes in the economy. Further, most of our boys have not been adequately prepared at home to embrace all educational opportunities so as to broaden their options for gainful employment. Most of our parents have been much too bush educating and disciplining our girls to the highest levels while our boys have been allowed to fall through the cracks. We as home and school, seemed not the realize that these educated and disciplined girls will one day need equally educated husbands .
The most vivid evidence of this almost total neglect of our boys is the major absence of equal numbers of males and females in our institutions of higher learning across the Caribbean. No wonder the overwhelming majority of those in prisons across the Caribbean are men!!! At the same time, our female graduates have arrived in their places of work unable to find equally educated potential husbands. Some are very reluctant to speak frankly and honestly on this crucial and sensitive topic!!
Our media personalities need to break the conspiracy of silence on this subject in Dominica!!!
We, as a society, have created this ticking time bomb!!! And, we need to diffuse it before it’s too late!!! We need to rebalance the scale ; not in terms of putting men against women or vice versa ; but in terms of the best long term interests of the family, school, church and the wider society !!! It just makes sense!!!
Fortunately, there has been a rediscovery of the critical importance of men in the home, school, church and wider society. This is because the negative effects of the absence of God fearing men within these core institutions are everywhere for all to see. Only very decisive action ; however , in restoring the balanced role of men and women in the home, school, church, economy, the public and private sectors will solve this problem. There is therefore need to have frank and honest dialogue at all levels of all institutions of society.
For example , in keeping with the theme of Teachers’ Day 2011 ,there is need for action to ensure that more qualified God fearing male teachers, heads of department and principals are placed in our secondary schools. This will go a very long way to improve the level discipline at our schools where delinquency is rampant. Many of our students lack an male role model at home; as a result we need to ensure that all our students, boys as well as girls , are exposed to the influence o God fearing and qualified male teachers, heads of department and principals to guide their development . The presence of God fearing male role models is critically important at home and within our churches and wider community groups.
For much too long in Dominica and the wider Caribbean ,society has been over burdening our women with the role of being both mother and father !!! The evidence is there for all to see ; just look at our churches, PTA Meetings, and our homes!!! Too many of our men have not been playing the role intended for us by God to care for, protect, guide , provide for , love and cherish our families!!!
Some of our homes and schools have not been doing enough to adequately prepare our boys to take on their rightful responsibilities as men in their homes and within the various institutions of society!! Also, some of our women continue to encourage and defend very negative behaviors and habits in their sons ; the very negative behaviors and habits that they as mothers hate and resent in their husbands and boyfriends!! TOO MANY TIMES SOME OF OUR PARENTS FAIL TO CORRECT CHILDREN FOR FEAR THAT THEY MAY LOSE THEIR CHILDRENS’ LOVE !! THIS VICIOUS PRACTICE HAS SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED OUR STUDENTS’ ABILITY TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TO PRACTICE MATURE SELF DISCIPLINE.
Further, the improper socialization of some of our children has created major problems in the social, emotional and spiritual development of these children and the dysfunction of some of our homes!! As a result, the divorce rate in Dominica and the wider Caribbean has been rising out of control!!! Also, Crime and youth delinquency , particularly among our males, has been on the increase!!! We just need to look around every single one of our communities to see the evidence!!
While, we need to salute our women for having gone beyond the call of duty; the time has come to demand that our men step up to the plate and play our God given role at home , in schools , churches ,agriculture, tourism and the wider society.
Our children will be better off for it !!!
Is this man still in Dominica teaching people children about being role model and fatherhood when he is the worst of the worst on both counts. Boy, boy boy some people really have no shame!!!
Thank you Mr Gordon for pointing out an obvious problem where the major root of our problems in this society is that the African male has failed to take his role as the spiritual leader of his household. Instead of man with woman it has become man versus woman which is sad.
yOU HAVE no idea what you are talking about…AND PLEASE give other people an opportunity to say their logical piece ok
i dont know why DNO does not TAX YOU
Why do people have to put religion in everything?
What we need is an article on he importance of Educated, responsible male.
we will be together, heaven knows we will be together, when we understand religion is not an ansewer; reality and sprituality that can help our society. go figuer.
Satan correcting sin in those last days!!!!!
If u were ever caught copying in an exam hands up please
U SO RIGHT
AND DATS A DEGREE HA HA HA
I was shocked to see the number of negative comments on this article. Seems like some people are looking at the messenger and not the message. In my opinion, I think this is a very good view on the possible root cause of the problems in society today. There is a obvious degradation of the family structure, and the male sector seems to be the one most affected. I did not see it as an attack on the role of today’s female, but I see it as helping us to reflect on some key issues that makes the family function properly – hence the society, as a whole. A good men (morally, spiritually, etc) can only better society. Good men as the head of the family doesn’t mean men are superior- there can be mutual respect irrespective of your role. A man has to listen to a woman, who are also thoughful, and can give good direction.
um MONKEY HILL… are u trying to ‘imply’ certain things about my distinguished past teacher… i’d really like to know… cause i would be surprised… this article shows the depth of knowledge mr gordon has…. but it seems mr gordon is on the skerro ship.. nonetheless having had a teacher/student relation with mr gordon.. i know he’s a bright bulb… lets hope he can shine some knowledge on mr skerrit
he was not distinguished as far as im concerned
check your dictionary
I am so impressed with the people who critiqued this article!! Love your critical thinking, we need much more of that in Dominica; from top to bottom!
A man who writes IN ALL CAPS LIKE THIS and uses multiple exclamation points (!!!!) is hardly a model of an intellegent essay writer, and so I can safely say you do poorly from a technical standpoint, and I suggest you yourself learn more about reading and writing before having the audacity to think you may lecture others there.
Your points, furthermore, vary from the sensible to the insane. I’ll focus on the insane. How on Earth is “gender equality” a bad thing, firstly? If you think men and women should not be treated as equals, then you are a disgraceful human being to speak in such a manner in this century.
Furthermore, why should “god-fearing” people be good role models for anyone? All of the things on your list that are good, like boys going to school and becoming critical thinkers and having good families, are possible without the influence of any “god-fearing” person. Moreover, your role models there would be who, exactly? Child-raping priests? The Crusaders? The torturers of the Spanish and Goa inquisition? The mass-murdering Samson? The would-be-child-murderer Abraham? Lot having sex with his daughters under god’s sanctioning?
Being “god-fearing” has nothing whatsoever to do with being a good person. And frankly, I suspect people like you don’t even know anything about the god you supposedly fear.
Being ‘God-fearing’ has everything to do with being a good person if you regard the Bible as the overall authority for morality in our society.
If not, defining a ‘good person’ would depend solely on individuals’ perception on what is regarded as being ‘good’.
If the bible is an authority for morality, you are saying that everything in the bible is moral. Therefore, if god asks you to murder your son to prove your faith (as he did with Abraham and his son Isaac), this is moral. Samson murdered tens of thousands of people; this is moral according to the bible. Lot has sex with his own daughters. God explicitly orders for the genocide of entire people, as well as allowed the capture and rape of women. It is a written law that children be stoned to death for disobedience and that women who get married without being virgins be executed. Wearing clothing with a blend of fabrics is defined as evil, as is eating shellfish.
If you can possibly believe any of this is moral, then, quite frankly, I want none of your morality. Morality is not simple; a good precept is simply following the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. But morality most certainly does NOT come from having the bible as your source.
Many excellent people in today’s world have achieved success without following the bible. Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, and Bill Gates are prominent atheists; Steve Jobs of Apple fame was either an atheist or a Zen Buddhist. Many of our world’s greatest thinkers and achievers today reject religious dogma.
Humanist You sound like a troubled individual and you are getting sick! Attacking the messenger once again. your understanding of God’s ways is typically ‘foolish’ I’d admit! Man has fallen short of the glory of God by choice and the consequences followed naturally. Defining ‘good’ and ‘morality’ in the absence of the bible, makes it relative only to ones own understanding/interpretation. Just like our national constitution the bible protects itself from ambiguity. Take sometime and understand what you read, death came upon us through our own choice, Not God’s!
Huh? I explicitly used the bible to show the immoral passages in it and you accuse me of defining morality “in the absence of the bible.” How uneven of you, Uneven. Nonetheless, I am glad you say the bible is not ambiguous. That means all the passages I referred to above are to be taken literally, right? All those murders, rapes, incest, genocide, etc.–all of that is unambiguously god’s word, correct? Since that is what you said, you surely cannot condone it as moral. If you do, you are terribly immoral.
Moreover, many people have and do live just fine without the bible. We just need to all be decent people to each other. Nothing more, nothing less. Life isn’t perfect, and you just have to accept that.
“God fearing men” is a very subjective term – To many times have we been duped by people who come in the name of religion. While I understand and applaud MR Gordon’s perspective I quite understand that our society is failing our young men because the people that we trust as leaders in churches, schools and government most of them come under the pretence of spirituality. The problem therefore is how do we get rid of the imposters. Take the PM for example – he came with his slogan “ God is good and good all the time” – I have since recognized that god is good only to him. I have also recognized that behind the pretence is a hypocrite who is very dishonesty; I’d like to say more but DNO will not allow me to do so and I respect that .
The many pastors who are drinking the forbidden soup everyday only to protect their personal interest. When a pastor is accepting all kinds of gifts , including the constant payment of his personal utility bills when the person paying the bills have a job that the pastor knows cannot support her lifestyle much less to pay his bills. That pastor is an accessory to the unscrupulous behavior of this young lady. The pastor’s wife is also liable. The truth shall come to life and we will soon find out that the pastor was not just providing spiritual guidance to this young lady – figure it out readers.
My intension is not to disagree with Gordon but rather to echo his sentiments in a more “wasin” manner. I will also admit that I am using this issue to high light the things that so many Dominicans are afraid to touch because they are simply afraid of the truth. The truth that I am talking about is intertwinded in the old cliché “ Birds of a feather flock together”. Criminals hurdle with criminals ; unscrupulous men form alliances – are we surprised. Notice how quickly this pastors episode will be swept under the carpet. Why because of connections – R connected to S , S connected to B; B connected to C. It’s convoluted but if you play the game of scrabble well the puzzle is not at all difficult.
I have sons and that has actually changed my views on the subject matter of male marginalization. I used to think that boys just did not step up. Now I pay closer attention to things that affect my children and have come to observe what this writer is referring to.
Yes – I have noticed that our classroom setting and curriculum is much better suited to girls than to boys. I have observed how in a co-ed school, boys feel that the teachers like the girls more. My sons have actually complained about that – even at a young age they realized that the teacher was much gentler with the girls. Gentleness is important to a child.
I then realized that boys could easily fall away in class without the teacher caring or noticing. Restless boys were ignored or sent outside, quiet boys will be allowed to stay inside and learn.
We need to allow our boys to learn, to feel important, to know that they can succeed. Parenting is of major importance here as we are powerful influences on our child’s self esteem.
So many problems today fall back to bad parenting. This is the issue that we must be tackling.
DNO are you assisting anyone to launch their political career? The DLP is looking for a new candidate for Marigot to replace the one that they have. After his poor showing at two elections the DLP has decided at a private meeting a few weeks ago to have a new candiate to challenge EDDO. a CERTAIN SO CALLED ROLE MODEL has been short-listed to take on our beloved former prime minister.
So I am of the view that there are some of us who have a sense of arrogance some of us are ashamed of where we come from some of us have turned our backs on our roots and dont even want to identify ourselves with our village of origin. I think role models must be proud of where they come from so that they will be able to inspire others. But I im unsure if role models are truly role models you know. Many a times we point our fingers on priests pastors yet we forget all those teachers/lecturers who continue or have had sex with schoool children and they scars are still there ……..many of them are on radio. tv panel discussion and they pretend as if ALL IS WELL I sometimes wonder about if such people have a conscience !!!!!
so ALL those who want to get into the electoneering RACE let them come. In marigot its still the uwp and edisoon c james he is our true positive role model and he remains within our haerts and on our ballot paper. SO KING PRODIGALSON WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING TO SEND A CONRIBUTION TO THE TREASURY WHEN PM SKERRO CALS THE ELECTION.
SO IF YOU WANT THE WHOLE DOMINICA TO KNOW ALL WHAT YOU DID WHILE YOU WERE IN THE CLASSROOM COME AND RUN I GUESS IT WILL BE NICE READING IN YOUR MARIGOT MANIFESTO- THE WAY FORWARD FOR LABOUR ! TRUST ME THAT MAY WELL GET YOU ALOT OF VOTES BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED A ROLE MODEL ! ALL THE BEST I HOPE YOU DONT CHANGE YOUR MIND……….
I wholeheartedly agree.
However, the reality is that ‘God fearing’ sounds quite fundamentalist, archaic, and rigid and is a complete turn off to most youth.
Religion has largely lost its basis for authority yet its still serves many individuals as a basis for personal morality and ethics.
For those youth without a specific connection to religion, it is important not to underestimate the belief systems they hold from families and friends and perhaps spirituality rather than ‘God fearing’ has a place in engaging youth in (for example) making sense of their lives and how they fit in with the world and their environment, how they connect with others, and their personal and social responsibilities as it affect themselves and others.
Many men, mature and youth have no concept of what it means to be a man and their responsibilities as a man. Many also feel totally emasculated in society today.
The only way to resolve these issues is education, good parenting providing good role models and spirituality/belief systems.
Michael Manley said in The Politics of Change: If a man is denied responsibility and power long enough he will lose the ability to respond to the challenge of one and to the opportunity of the other.
“Many men, mature and youth have no concept of what it means to be a man and their responsibilities as a man. Many also feel totally emasculated in society today.”
No 1 on the list is Gordon himself
..male marginalization- How ?? Where??? When they have ruled with laws, silenced with naming, violence, control with fear of rape etc…..What are you talking about?? Man go and do you research and will and come again. They have freed the salves, the Jews, Indians, etc but women are still oppressed in this patriarchy society.
“The most vivid evidence of this almost total neglect of our boys is the major absence of equal numbers of males and females in our institutions of higher learning across the Caribbean.”
I have a bit concern with your argument as you seem to forget that women inclusion in academia is fairly recent as they were forbidden to go to school.
“While, we need to salute our women for having gone beyond the call of duty; the time has come to demand that our men step up to the plate and play our God given role at home , in schools , churches ,agriculture, tourism and the wider society.”
In you conclusion one is lift with the idea that men are born to rule which is total BS. The narrative of genesis has two parts in the first God created man and woman equally and second is the male birth.
What we should suggest is that Women Studies be introduced into school system at an early stage so that our children have a better understanding of social construct of gender. The world is changing my friend and as the calypso says …”Its woman time….” so Deal with it and may I suggest some bell hooks, Patricia Hills, Collins, etc for your reading pleasure during the Xmas holidays before you come back their with your BS
you have placed every thing into its proper perspective what you have said makes so much more sense than the STUPES I READ IN THIS ARTICLE………
THE WRITER NEEDED TO HAVE RESEARCH BEFORE WRITING BUT DATS ASKING FOR TOO MUCH WE YOU DOH NO WHO WRITIN DAT ?
WHO IS THE NEWEST SKERRO ADVISOR ?
I DONT ALWAYS comment on articles of this nature. however I think some of us so called educated …. i did not say intelligent,must think before we write. We fail to realise the subjective elements that exists within the framework of role model.The mere substance of our role modelness is subsumed within the public perception of who we are made to be. IN our scheme of things perception and reality are part of a concretised body of opinion which is formulated by our own reality. Such a reality is made picture perfect by our everyday experience which in itself can be crippled by a myriad of interluctory forces.
DNO I dont think the writer made the necessary research on this subject matter and was not able to bring the vague issues to light in any intelligible manner.
Myopic reference was made to TEACHERS DAY and clearly we are all aware of the levels of sexual evil which takes place and have taken place at our educational institutions…as an OLD BOY OF DGS/CDCC I have hardcore evidence to substantiate my claim that there were so called EDUCATORS who sexual harrassed and had sexual encounters with students at the school yet people still are not brave enough to speak about such evils. It is such silence thats killing me. Others continue to hide behind their EDUCATED PENS to write as if they are THY KINGDOM COME but but but huh…….
i think your next article you should be approached by DNO to write is INSANITY AND EDUCATION.
oNLY GOD KNOWS WHO ARE the real role models. There are some people some of them former teachers/lecturers and education division people who have done serious mischief to the future advancement of others. The sickening thing about this is that THEY THINK THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DISCOVERED but WHAT IS HIDDEN HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE KNOWLEDGEABLE to those affected. So many people love pointing fingers at others and pushing that so called ROLE MODEL STUFF but when you enter their cupboards is there you will find enough wikedness you know. There is no respect for DGS/CDCC ETC SCHOOL GIRLS….ALOT OF THINGS TOOK PLACE AT THAT HOUSE IN CASTLE COMFORT.
At times im worried why is it that these students have not reported such to the authorities because this is what role models would love them to do ha ha ha ! The dominica Council for women and the womens bureau must investigate such complainrs with the Special Branch. Note also that alot of TAMPERING with the papers of some kids/students continue to take place in that office where so many so called ROLE MODELS WORK…….however there are ways in which those affected have found out and time will tell. Some people have too much guts and theyre the ones who go to church every time and play most pious but its easy to see the bitterness on their faces. I sometimes wonder how such a person/people sleep(s) at night and which God they say a prayer to…certainly not mine.
we really need some role models in and out of the church, educational unit, schools, college and in our community.
GOD EXPOSE THEIR SINS I GUESS UPON CONFESSION THEY WILL FIND REDEMTION
woooshh only if u would have named names… that is things… dgs/cdcc… that must be some long time business… and what home in castle comfort hhmmmm
KEEP your radio tuned to q95 and at some stage you will hear more about it
yes that famous house in castle comfort
some people playing most technical but DA have no secrets and we are older and wiser now so we wil talk and expose such intellectual fakes if dr sharma or dr benjamin do get ……first!
IT DO HAVE TABLETS FOR MAD PEOPLE AGAIN ?
Wow, sounds like you need to go on M in the morning. You left us wondering about lots of things.
House in Castle comfort, tampering with papers… do us some justice… call m in the morning.
yes this nonsense happened at the home of this so called ROLE MODEL TEACHER……..WE WILL bring this out at the right time. I hate hypocrites !
BIG ENGLISH NO SUSBTANCE NONE OF US COULD EVER UNDERSTAND chupes THIS was serious times you know and the effects continue to be suffered….ALL of a sudden people playing most moralist !
TIME WILL TELL may take up your offer on the M SHOW IN THE MORNING AFTER we/I seek legal advice !
WE hope other students all over dominica at hi schools, cdcc/dsc/uwi speak out against such sexual predators in sheep clothing TASHA P SAID let children be children……protect us against such SICKO !!!!! CXC etc must investigate CORNWALL STREET
great article ! WE as men have to step up and reclaim our position in society by any means necessary.
Tell that to the writer of the article.
I wholeheartedly agree.
However,the reality is that the phrase ‘God fearing’ sounds quite fundamental and rigid and is a complete turn off to many these ‘youth in crisis.’
Religion though it has largely lost its basis for authority continues to serve many individuals as a basis for personal morality and ethics.
For those without a specific connection to organised religion it’s important not to underestimate their belief systems and perhaps spirituality as opposed to ‘God-fearing’ may engage youth better in this respect as a way of (for example) making sense of their lives,a deeper understanding of self, personal responsibility,connecting with others and how their actions affect wider society.
Many grown men as well as youth have no concept of what it means to be a man, and some men and youth feel totally emasculated in society today.
Education,good parenting and spirituality/belief system is the only way to resolve these issues.
As Michael Manley said in The Politics of Change: If a man is denied responsibility and power long enough, he will lose the ability to respond to the challenge of one and to the opportunity of the other.
Gordon, you are making the very point made over 100 years ago in the field of phylosophy by Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey; by economists loke Norman Givan, Clive Y Thomas and in culture by Rex Nettleford. Nontheless, we have, as my grandma would say “brock stick in ahwe ears”. I think that we will ONLY take this isssue seriously when push comes to shove; when we really start to “ketch arse”. I wish I could have said something different but this is our herendous reality.
WHERE HAS DR SHARMA GONE TO ?
WE NEED TO REMOVE THE ICE CAP FROM SOME PEOPLE
JOLLY PLEASE ORDER SOME MORE MEDICATION
SOUR SOUR IS A MAD MAN WE HAVE A NEW SOUR SOUR MAN ?
LORD HELP OUR PEOPLE
I SO HAPPY I LEAVE SCHOOL PAPA
ALL THOSE BAR-VAYING DONE LOL
FROM ONE TOPIC TO ANOTHER
LOOK BOREDOM IT WAS LIKE TIME 2 SLEEP WE AND DAT WAS SO MUCH OF AN IMMORAL THING TO DO sleep while your teacher talking…….dice say THESE WERE THE DAYS …those boys use to take their kicks !
up to now i cannot even understand aht mister use to say no wonder d exam borgar me and it did d same thing for me when i went college in mister you know who class…..i so love role models we love role models we girl
dno is our role model we a goood thing i never went to castle comfort for marks or makoroni
At least someone else is not afraid to talk about God!!! I agree that the boys are not trained to take up their spiritual roles. However, too many lazy men in D/ca which has nothing to do with education. Those who want education get it. The sun too hot for too many men to go do hard labour. To see for yourself, hire a gardener!