14

WOMEN AND MEN CAUCUS

The joint caucus did not begin on a right note, as prior to the session, there was tension between the men and women participants. The women participants, as in the past HRD programmes felt the need to caucus because of their social status, therefore, they met several times on their own before the formal session between the sexes as scheduled in the programme. Their meeting together caused suspicion and uneasiness among the male participants.

When the women and men met for an exchange of views and sharing of one's feelings, many issues, both on individual/personal and social level surfaced, Due to the intense dynamics and diverse background the discussion ended unresolved. The women participants felt that the opposite sex had only dealt with the theoretical aspect of the women's issues, but had avoided to express their true feelings.

Being the final week of the programme, the Workshop sessions were scheduled to begin after the morning worship, but, this was shelved to later as the Scripture read by a male participant sparked off another more hurtful outburst. The passage read stated that all wives should submit to the domination of their husbands. The female participants protested and challenged the chauvinistic attitudes, behaviour and thinking of many male participants (while some were sympathetic and understanding). The debate was finally defused when the male participants apologised and acknowledged their limitation in understanding women's issues. Some of the male participants admitted they have never taken a keen interest on women's issues and the open discussion made them aware of their close mindedness. They expressed that in future they mill keep an open mind and try to understand women's issues.