Speeches & Articles

Remarks by Consul General Beth A. Payne
Confederation of Indian Industry
July 30, 2009

July 30, 2009

Mr.  Hora, Chairman CII North Bengal Zonal Council
Fellow Panelists
 
I am very pleased to speak today on the very important issue of empowering women and particularly pleased to be in Siliguri.  Countries will never realize their full potential if half their population is not given the opportunity for education, health care, access to employment and credit - the full range of rights that are available to men.  Therefore, empowering women is an essential ingredient for India and West Bengal's economic growth. 
 
Discrimination is like a bird in a cage.  Each wire in the cage represented an act of discrimination.  If the bird only had one wire to worry about, it would be free in no time and could fly wherever it wanted to.  But, a whole cage of discrimination wires stifles anyone trapped inside.  So, the first step in ensuring that women are free to pursue their goals is to prevent individuals from creating new wires of discrimination.
  
Preventing discrimination often involves changing norms and attitudes -- making employers and colleagues aware that it is to their benefit to value talented women workers and treat them accordingly.  Employers must not only address those managers and co-workers who actively discriminate against women, but also help their staff recognize when negative perceptions of women’s capabilities hinders the organization.
 
This awareness can be as simple as pointing out that negative stereotypes about women are simply incorrect.  For example, I was working with a manager recently to hire a new employee.  The finalists were a man and a woman.  The woman was more qualified, but the manager had selected the man as his favored candidate.  I insisted that the manager give me concrete reasons why he preferred the man and when he could not name any reasons he finally admitted that he believed that women simply were not as "reliable" as men.  At that point, I pointed out the fact that I am a woman and most people would consider me reliable!  Once he recognized that his perception was possibly not correct, he happily agreed to hire the woman - and, she's reliable and competent and the most qualified for the job!
 
The language we use is also critical since language does not merely reflect our thinking but it shapes our thinking.  Therefore, if we use words or expressions that indicate that women are equal to men, soon everyone will take this equality for granted.  Gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language aims at minimizing assumptions regarding the gender of an individual.  For example, replacing words such as chairman and stewardess with terms such as chairperson and flight attendant implies that any person can fill these positions.
 
Even when there is a full cage of discrimination, a strong bird can break the wires and be free.  So, while it's very important that we work to minimize gender discrimination it is equally important to empower women so they can break through the wires of discrimination and the glass ceilings.  We women often limit ourselves for a number of reasons, including the fear of challenging societal norms, self doubts or simply the lack of women role models who can guide us as we progress in our careers.  Until we remove our own self-limitations, we will still be easily trapped by discrimination.
 
And, I believe that the key to removing these self-limitations is through empowering women and giving them the education and skills they need speak up for themselves.   How do we do that?  Evidence suggests that women are empowered by giving them control over their environment through education, employment and political rights. 
 
Educational attainment is, without doubt, the most fundamental prerequisite for empowering women in all spheres of society, for without education of comparable quality and content to that given to boys and men, women are unable to access well-paid, formal sector jobs and advance within them.  Without access to education that is relevant to existing knowledge and real needs, women also cannot participate in, and be represented in government and gain political influence.
 
Education programs that train low income girls only for “feminized” professions, such as nursing and teaching, office work, handicrafts and care of the elderly and disabled, reinforce the ghettoization of female labor.  I would challenge those of you who support self-help projects and vocational training programs to think about other skills that could be taught to women - such as carpentry, electrical engineering, truck driving and security related expertise.  Having access to all types of education allows a woman to chose what she does best and is key to empowerment.
 
For example, when I was in school over 20 years ago, the girls were sent to a class in homemaking - where we learned how to cook and sew.  I found that class very boring and wanted instead to join the boys who were learning woodworking and other construction skills.  Luckily, the school let me shift and I learned skills I still use today.  But the skills were not as important as the confidence I gained from working alongside the boys and demonstrating that I was just as good as they were.  Learning at such a young age that I could do anything I wanted was my first step in achieving my professional goals later in life.
 
Another major factor in empowering women is economic freedom.  When women earn an income and are not dependent on anyone else for their basic necessities, they develop the self confidence they need to break down barriers.  By paying women a fair wage - and an equal wage to the men - and letting them chose how to spend that salary (rather than providing benefits that remove this choice), we are creating the positive conditions for empowerment. 
 
Just last month, I met a young woman name Malti Tudu who drives an industrial shovel in Eastern Coal Limited's coal mines in Rajmahal, Jharkhand.  She is from the local tribal community, where her job prospects were limited.  ECL, however, gave her an opportunity in the mine and now she's one of their best drivers and earns a good salary.  I was inspired by the self-confidence this young woman displayed - self-confidence that came from being economically independent and a valued employee. 
 
Political empowerment refers to the equitable representation of women in decision-making structures, both formal and informal, and their voice in the formulation of policies affecting their societies.  India has a rich history of exemplary political leaders who happen to be women.  From the might of Rani Ahayla Bai, Rani Laxmi Bai, to the continued influence of Indira Gandhi – all attest to the strength and wisdom women have brought into the political domain.  Panchayats have given women in India more opportunities to enter the public sphere at the local level.  Women must also be included in the informal networking structures and I am pleased to see that male only clubs -- where many political discussions take place -- are an historic footnote. 
 
Women also become empowered by having strong role models -- women who have overcome barriers to achieve their goals.  I have been lucky to have had strong women role models - starting with my own mother who grew up in a small farming community and overcame social pressures to remain a housewife - to become a teacher and reading specialist.  Several senior women in the U.S. Department of State have mentored me as I progressed through the ranks of my profession.  I now consider it my duty to return the favor and serve as a role model for young women everywhere - reminding them that with hard work and dedication, they can break through the glass ceiling, that they can achieve their dreams.  I encourage all the women here today to pledge that they will also serve as mentors and role models for the next generation of women behind us.
 
But I cannot close without also acknowledging the importance of men in empowering women.  Again, I had a father who encouraged me to do anything I wanted - he taught me to cook and clean and to do yard work.  He treated my mom as an equal and, therefore, I also expected to be treated as an equal in social as well as professional settings.  It is amazing how often people met those expectations and how easy it was to confront those who did not.  I have had several male mentors in my profession, who looked beyond superficial differences in things like gender, race and socioeconomic backgrounds, and gave me opportunities to excel.  So, I also challenge the men who are here today to do their part in empowering the women in their lives - both at home and in the office.
 
By empowering women, we will build a more economically vibrant and inclusive society and a better community for us all.

Thank you and Namashkar.