France, where women did not vote until 1944, has had its share of backwardness over the years with its clerical obscurantism, fascistic ideologues, anti-semitism and male chauvinism. But France has also led the way with its revolutions, radical thinkers, commitment to universal rights, separation of Church and State, and now with its new law on parity for women in politics. Under this revolutionary law, parties (in order to receive funding) are obliged to give nomination to an equal number of male and female candidates in local and national elections. This controversial law was sponsored by the socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin, backed by his wife Sylvane Agacinski, a university professor. In a poll taken on the new law, 63% felt that the result would be better governance and a better choice of candidates, and 65% hoped that women would be mayors of their towns in 2001. Today 7% of mayors are women.

In France only 8.7% of national legislators are women. This contrasts unfavorably with the Nordic countries. Sweden topping the list with 45%. the figures for other countries of Europe are Holland 33%, Britain 17%, and Germany 29%. National politics in France has for long been dominated by men — mostly graduates of France’s famous elite institutions. But under Lionel Jospin, there are already 10 out of 33 women ministers in his cabinet.

In Sri Lanka in comparison, the situation is dismal. The October 2000 election led to a decrease in the number of women MPs from 4.8% to 4%, with only one woman on the national list. The proposal for a 25% quota for women in local bodies was dropped in the latest draft constitution presented to parliament but withdrawn last year. The excuse was that the Muslim and Tamil party leaders opposed the quota on the grounds that they would not be able to find women candidates. This is not only an absurd argument but also reflects badly on the minority parties who claim equal rights for all communities but are lagging on the issue of gender equity. Politically, women are not in purdah, but given the chance will enter politics in large numbers.

The good news, however, is that of the nine women in parliament two are Muslims, and this is the first time, that Muslim women have entered parliament. The new MPs are Ferial Ashraff, the leader of the National Unity Alliance and the Minister for Rural Housing, and Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the Eastern Province, and Anjani Umma of the JVP who had been earlier an elected member of the Western Provincial Council. The representation of Muslim women in parliament is a hopeful sign for women of the community who are keen on the social advance of Muslims.

Wake up call to Muslims

Today, all women in Sri Lanka have to campaign against archaic laws, and introduce new laws on domestic violence, sexual harassment at the workplace, divorce and abortion. The Muslims have the added task of changing with the times (as many Muslim countries have done). They should reform some of the blatant aspects of their customary law, starting with the age of marriage which is 18 for all women of Sri Lanka, except Muslims, where it is 12. Moreover there are provisions that enable a Muslim father or guardian to marry off a girl without her consent. Rather than leave it to social reformers of other communities to campaign on these issues, it should be the task of the politicians, professionals and intellectuals of the Muslim community to start the process of change. In earlier years Orabi Pasha of Egypt and Ayesha Rauf of Kerala were catalysts from abroad who pioneered modern education and social change among local Muslims. Now in the Third Millennium, it should be the task of the Sri Lanka Muslims themselves to prove that they are a forward-looking community.

Women achievers

While Sri Lankan women deplore the lack of women in politics, there has nevertheless been a slow erosion of some of the male bastions of privilege. Apart from distinguished women doctors, lawyers, academics and diplomats who have been around for some years, there has been a steady emergence of women in senior posts.

There are two female vice-chancellors, Savitri Goonesekere in the University of Colombo and Uma Coomaraswamy, the recently appointed vice-chancellor of the Open University. There are also more women teaching in University faculties than even before, which means that with seniority, many will soon rise to the top, as heads of department, deans and vice-chancellors. Many women have also made their mark as heads of organizations in the human rights sector and several NGOs are headed by women. In the government sector, women rising to the highest levels have been fairly significant.

Some appointments have been a challenge to sexism in language; we have a woman Post-Master General Mrs. Kotakadeniya, (why not Post Mistress?) and now a woman had been appointed Legal Draftsman. She is Therese Perera, a lawyer who opted to join the Department rather than practice law. Many other women lawyers have also chosen the Legal Draftsman’s Department where there are 22 women to 4 male officers. Perhaps we can soon rename it Legal Draftswoman’s department.

While there has been comment on the paucity of women at top management levels, the private sector has some dynamic women including Soma Edirisinghe of the EAP television and media network, Otara Chandiram of the trendy shop Odel, Preethi Jayawardena of the House of Fashion, Sita Hapuaaratchi the winner of awards for exports of quality garments and Aban Pestonjee the founder of Abans. In the banking sector we had Dayani de Silva former Chairperson of the Bank of Ceylon (and now Commissioner for Inland Revenue) and Rohini Nanayakkara, the Director and General Manager of the Seylan Bank.

The best of Cat’s Eye

This week Cat’s Eye, is publishing the belt of its articles over a five year period called Cat’s Eye: A Feminist Gaze on Current Issues edited by Malathi de Alwis.

Cat’s Eye has provided a feminist point of view on the political, social, cultural and historical issues immediately relevant to contemporary life — particularly in Sri Lanka and South Asia. Since its first appearance the column has provoked thought and debate, while being critical, and controversial. This book of the best of Cat’s Eye will introduce new readers to a range of its feminist analysis and encourage them to reflect on gender issues. For its regular readers this book will be a return to the alternative voice and vision for society that Cat’s Eye stands for. The book contains eleven parts devoted to the following areas. The Rights of Wronged Women; The Body Politic; Labouring Women; On Bureaucrats and Bigots; Sports, Sex and Silly point. Men Behaving Badly; Some Sacred Cows; Feminist Readings; Free Speech and Sexism; Eyeing the World and Tributes. Cat’s Eye has had its share of critics, but has had many supporters. One of them Dharshini Seneviratne of Media Monitor, states:

"Cat’s Eye is among... the most commendable of women’s pages... using an overtly feminist discourse, it is perhaps the only column that deals with the issues of power, family, personal relationships and ideology... It was the only women’s column... which spoke out against... "the demonizing of Susanthika."