Fayola K J Fraser
Following the tragic death of a Japanese tourist Asami Nagakiya after Trinidad Carnival 2016, along with the subsequent hurtful and sexist comments made by the then mayor about the woman’s attire, a national dialogue was sparked on the issue of gender-based violence in T&T. Every Carnival, women are subjected to the constant flow of inane commentary and advances of men, which, when met with rejection, foster defensiveness or backlash.
Year after year, women who elect to dress in carnival costumes are considered responsible for their victimisation by men and receive some version of the comments that “she deserved it” or “she was looking for it,” as some believe that men’s self-control hinges on women’s attire. The culture of gender-based violence or violence against women and girls (VAWG) in T&T exists across the spectrum–from ‘sooting’ or catcalls in the streets, to unsolicited advances, to domestic violence.
According to psychologist and former independent senator Dr Varma Deyalsingh, “a culture of harming and murdering women continues to flourish in T&T. We have a patriarchal culture where men think they should be in charge, women should be subservient and they treat women as property.”
The negative ramifications of this embedded cultural norm stretch far beyond the individual women and their families, as there are significant implications for societies that do not value the safety of their women.
A study from the World Bank, published in 2019, examines the economic costs of violence against women, stating that “in some countries, violence against women is estimated to cost countries up to 3.7 per cent of their GDP.” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has framed the issue of violence against women as “not only a moral imperative,” but very detrimental from an economic standpoint.
VAWG should therefore be at the top of our government’s agenda, if not for reasons of concern for women, then for concern for the economy. This phenomenon is a societal thread regardless of the time or season, as there are so many cases reported constantly of domestic violence.
However, especially during the Carnival season, VAWG rears its ugly head in the public sphere. There are so many cases of seemingly minor comments or approaches that make women feel deeply uncomfortable while going out and enjoying themselves during the season. Additionally, as Trinidad is awash with tourists participating in Carnival festivities, much like the aforementioned woman who was tragically killed eight years ago, it is even more critical that the Government treat with this issue. International reporting of these incidents or negative experiences of foreign tourists can sway visitors away from attending Carnival–our major tourist attraction, thus affecting the influx of foreign exchange during this period.
The IMF further quantifies the cost of violence against women in a variety of ways. The results of their 2021 study suggest that “an increase in violence against women by one percentage point is associated with a nine per cent lower level of economic activity.” How do the two correlate? Firstly, higher levels of domestic violence in the home decrease women’s likelihood to seek productive work, and women who are in homes with an abusive partner “tend to work fewer hours” and are less productive at work. In the long term, “high levels of domestic violence can decrease the number of women in the workforce, minimise women’s acquisition of skills and education, and result in less public investment overall” as more public resources are channelled to health and judicial services.
Although this information is based on studies from the international community, in the Caribbean, statistics of gender-based violence are higher than the international average. According to UN Women, while the worldwide average for rape was 15 per 100,000, “The Bahamas had an average of 133, St Vincent and the Grenadines 112, Jamaica 51, Dominica 34, Barbados 25 and Trinidad and Tobago 18.” This report also suggests that over 30 per cent of women in the Caribbean are fearful of possible sexual assault.
In the region, VAWG affects the already burdened healthcare systems, decreases women’s ability to be productive and increases state expenditure on justice and policing institutions. For example, a study conducted by Mansingh & Ramphal (1993) found that the “Jamaican Government in 1991 paid 90 per cent of the direct medical costs of US$454,000 for treating 640 victims of intimate partner violence and other types of violence at the Kingston Public Hospital.” These numbers are staggering and indicate the urgency with which VAWG should be addressed.
Some solutions
What are some immediate solutions aside from a much-needed cultural reframing that does not continue to reinforce patriarchal norms?
According to Dr Deyalsingh, “It may be necessary to fast-track applications for pepper spray and firearms for women especially those who we assess to be in danger and who are willing to defend themselves.”
He also suggests creating more well-protected safe houses for victims, in the case of domestic violence. In terms of policing, although acknowledging that enforcement of protection orders is difficult, it must be done, as stalking and breaches of orders have been linked to femicide.
If protection orders are breached “we need to escalate the punitive measures to imprisonment.”
He further suggests that if perpetrators are imprisoned and applying for bail, GPS bracelets should be mandatory, and this cost should be borne by the perpetrator.
In the long term, Deyalsingh insisted, society must reframe the way young men are brought up and educated, as “the expectations of this toxic masculinity encourage men to show they are dominant and in turn, aggression and violence are used to exert control.” Ultimately, gender-based violence requires a multi-sectoral approach, as state institutions, community groups, NGOs and families all need to take action to resolve this societal cancer. The need to protect and support our country’s women must be taken seriously for our country and region’s social and economic development.
Make a report
If you are a woman suffering from gender-based violence, report to the TTPS Gender-Based Violence Unit, call 555/999/911
Other resources include:
Domestic Violence Abuse Hotline 800-SAVE
Coalition Against Domestic Violence 627-7273.
Families in action 628-2333