Supporting And Helping Women During The COVID-19 Pandemic

By Ettie Rutherford
Contributing Columnist

As a child growing up in Jamaica, I, along with everyone else, because of our affiliation to Britain, was awash in every aspect of English literature.

Our entire educational system, from infant school to teachers’ college, was based on the British system of education. To this day, I am still inspired by English authors, whenever I speak truth to circumstances.

One of my favourite authors has always been Charles Dickens, who, in the opening lines of his 1859 classic, A Tale of Two Cities, wrote: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”

During this global upheaval with the coronavirus crisis, some businesses are doing well, depending on their services or products; but, as usual for the majority of women, it is “the worst of times”.

Yet, very little has been said by government, community groups or women’s groups to assist women to cope on a daily basis — the silence is deafening!

Not too much concern has been evident although, during this pandemic, most women, regardless of race, age, religion, financial or marital status, have seen unheard of changes in the workplace, in employment practices, in parenting, with health concerns, the education of their children, emotional and physical abuse and, most importantly, with the emotional strain that goes with serious life-changing circumstances. Additionally, for Black and other non-White women, we are also faced with the added burden of heightened incidents of racism.

So again, I ask: where do we go from here?

Since we all know that a burden shared is a burden lessened, I propose that during these unprecedented times, all women, whether Black, White, or Brown, make a concerted effort to join hands and abilities to enrich our lives and the lives of our families. We all have far more in common than in differences.

Moreover, there has been very little evidence that women, working in segregated groups, have made the progress, which we so undeniably deserve.

Consequently, through my organisation, Women Are Worthy, I have launched a project for ALL women and teen-age girls, in the areas of Health, Education, Leadership, Parenting, Housing, Racism and Sexism. Please let me know if you are willing to join me in developing Worthy Women In Action, so that we will be able to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually as we all empower ourselves and assist our “sisters” to overcome during this, “the worst of times”.

In Sisterhood!

Award-winning Ettie Rutherford, B.Ed, Dip.Ed, M.Ed, is an educator, life coach, consultant and author of “Why Perch Like A Chick When You Can Soar Like An Eagle?”. An accomplished public speaker, Ettie is the Founder and CEO of Women Are Worthy, which provides step-by-step strategies for women to achieve their goals, with a minimum amount of stress. She can be reached at ettie@womenrworthy.com