A practicum on gender equality and empowerment underway
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 24
To strengthen the advocacy of gender equality and empowerment, a workshop on Gender Equality and Empowerment was jointly organized by Indigenous Women Forum North East India, Naga Women Hoho and Naga Indigenous Women Association (NIWA) in collaboration with Henry Martyn Institute (HMI), Hyderabad.
The workshop (March 22-26) which is underway at Don Bosco Center, Duncan Bosti, Dimapur stressed on the issues of Inter-ethnic conflict: Women’s involvement in peace building, strengthening local women’s leadership and knowledge, technology and its values from a women’s perspectives, challenges for women in the biblical context, and dialogue initiative between men and women in relation to women’s role in social cultural and economic governance issues.
“We already have a command at home but we have tougher challenges when we come out of the house. And being a woman, we have more challenges,” said Ela Mary from YARD who spoke on strengthening the local women’s leadership and knowledge on March 23.
Mary, while pointing out the strength of Naga women in their homes where they manage the house and nurture the family besides multitasking other jobs and responsibilities, at the same time, deliberated on how women can do leadership differently.
Further outlining the need for women to navigate in a male dominated society, Mary said, “Our roads are not blocked, we just need to be tactful enough to find our way.” She encouraged the participants to increase the networking, be well informed, to read more, and to create an environment which is resilient.
“As women, we have lots of obstacles. Unless and until we take care of ourselves, we will not be able to take care of others. Be strong enough to be able to look after others, take on to what you believe,” concluded Ela Mary.
Speaking on the challenges for women in the Biblical context, Dr. Achan Mungleng, independent researcher affirmed that the Bible and Jesus are the strongest advocates of women but also questioned the limitations of the role of women in the Church or full participation as cited in few scripture verses.
Although the Bible is God’s word, Dr. Mungleng stressed on the need to understand who wrote it and in what context while also explaining the different writing styles and narratives of the Bible which helps in interpreting the meaning. “Scriptures are written from a cultural milieu that is extremely different from today’s world.
Therefore, if not careful, the Bible can be interpreted to support nearly every human agenda,” asserted Dr. Mungleng.
At the opening session, Khesheli Chishi, Advisor, IWFNEI spoke on technology and its values from women’s perspectives.
Participants during an open discussion counted better and faster communication, educative, networking, easy access to resources, saves time and energy as the advantages of technology. However disadvantages of technology outnumbered the advantages with cyber crimes, wrong education, barrier in mutual relationship, laziness, promoting negative mindset, isolating oneself from society, affecting family budget, time etc.
The workshop will conclude on March 26.
