By Chenelle Fernando
A forum geared to discuss various topics on the empowerment of women, SheForShe 2.0 took place on 6 April at Sooriya Village. Organised by the Leo Club of Colombo Knights under Leo District 306 C2, the forum was graced by a multitude of speakers including Nadeesha Paulis – content writer/sustainable traveller; Nathali Devinka – writer/aspiring filmmaker; Kapila Rasnayaka – global advocate on gender, human rights, and sexuality; and Manisha Dissanayake – Attorney-at-Law/Arka Initiative Founder. The forum, which was moderated by Oxfam Coordinator Sheshadri Kottearachchi, aimed at creating awareness on the persistent issues faced by women in our society and encouraging them to strive to take decisions on their own.
Apart from this, the forum sought to highlight the importance of women supporting each other in reaching their goals of gender equality.
The role of support systems
“I was in a meeting with this bank manager the next day and I was able to have a conversation and hold him accountable for what happened that day at his bank.” Focusing on the gist of her experience, she was able to realise in terms of empowerment that women need to use their voices, loud and clear. “You are very likely to find another woman who feels the exact same way as you. As for support systems, one must understand that there’s always going to be someone who identifies exactly what you’re going through because these problems are very widespread. It’s not very difficult to create a support system.”
Social media as a tool
Kapila and Nadeesha, who often through social media tend to uncover the bitter truths and harsh realities of life, were questioned next on how social media is used to empower both genders and thereby, the current changes that have taken place.
Placing emphasis on the importance of creating a positive impact through social media, Kapila shared that the issue doesn’t lie on either gender, but on how one perceives things as a man or a woman. Societal issues must regulate around the notion as to why an individual does a certain thing in a certain way. Thus, engagement from all levels – individual, family, media, economic distribution, and educational institutions – becomes imperative.
Social media for Nadeesha encloses a space which is grey and filtered as the number of individuals who actually take initiative is limited. “What I try to do is to influence these very few people because we can’t change the whole world.” She then went on to focus on the ever-so famous phrase “don’t cry like a woman”, which supposedly marks the start of the differentiation seen between men and women. Be it social circles, schools, offices, or home and even amongst our siblings, it’s visible everywhere.
“We need to break these demarcations,” she added. Turning towards the inadequateness of social media (involvement) throughout our country, Nadeesha later emphasised on the importance of carrying these ideas to where it’s required – the grassroots.
Living and winning in a flawed system
The good news is, through laws on sexual harassment in Sri Lanka, women are able to seek justice and redress everyday indignities they face. The law which was an amendment to the Penal Code of Sri Lanka stipulates that sexual harassment can even be committed by words or by conduct. “You don’t have to rape somebody to sexually harass them.” One can be prosecuted or convicted of sexual harassment by words, gestures, or actions, which is followed by a penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.
“As you can see, one tool we have is the law. And as women, we have to take a stance,” she asserted.
Moving forward
What you see is a flawed system – one that isn’t going to change overnight. Getting about it is a slow process. The session concluded that evening by questioning the panellists on the way forward and here’s what they had to say.
Nathali: “Be who you want to be by reaching your dreams and taking your own decisions and taking that power and the right to live your own life. You have to have the power to change your own life. That’s the only way you can empower. You also need to have your peers’ support; we need to have the support of men, women, children, parents, and teachers. Empowerment is a team effort.”
Manisha: “Empowerment is a process of self-discovery and self-exercise. It’s not a destination – it’s a journey and is something we need to tackle on a daily basis.”
Kapila: “For me, it’s starting with small steps and understanding impermanence.”
Photos Indika Handuwala