Males bashed, expectations too high
published: Friday | December 20, 2002
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I read recently after the University of the West Indies'
last graduation, Sir Shridath Ramphal's comment on the poor performance of the graduating males, not copping enough honours degrees.
We can never win. Over the years, females far outnumbered male attendance at the university. Now that we have entered, not that our numbers are anywhere near the female population, we are still being bashed.
As males, we are expected to perform to high standards in every aspect of our existence. Granted, we were expected from creation to be the leader and were thus placed over our female counterparts. In business, family life, physical and sexual prowess, spiritual leadership among others, great things are expected of us and if we fail in any or all of these areas (God forbid) "dawg nyam wi supper". We made ourselves become marginal and the females have stepped up to the plate and are now in command in various fields of endeavour, holding their own quite well, I might add.
I simply ask of Sir Ramphal that, he give us some time to regain our footing in the areas that we are expected to do well, before he starts decrying our performance in attempting to redeem ourselves. Rome wasn't built in a day, as the old adage goes.
I think it would be fair that if after five years our attempt to take ourselves from the margin fails and there are no significant changes in the society at large, then will I be willing to welcome any comments that anyone wants to make at our persistent self-marginalization.
