Feminist group Womantra has shared some friendly advice on ‘wining etiquette’ after debate continued online regarding whether men should ask before dancing with a woman over the Carnival period.

Police confirmed in last week’s statement on Carnival safety that wining on a woman without her consent is unlawful.

Approximately one week away from the opening of the new school term and restrains of finances from a contracting economy sends mothers into survival mode.

News Power Now spoke with Amanda Mc Intyre, Director of WOMANTRA who indicated that given the current economic downturn, women will find innovative ways of ensuring that their families are fed. Mc Intyre also added that several social transactions such as sou sous are heavily conducted during the July/August holidays in an effort to secure back to school items for their children.

‘Where is Womantra?’

Predictably, there were several snarky Facebook status updates pointing fingers at Womantra, a regional feminist lobby group whose focus is to advocate for gender justice. In the past, the group has been criticised for only speaking up on issues when it is convenient. However, Teocah Arieal Ainka Dove stemmed that tide very early on:

Feminist group Womantra is also having a discussion on Saturday, titled “She Look Fuh Dat: A #LifeInLeggings Discussion” which encourages citizens put forward suggestions for ending gender-based violence in T&T. The project is part of a United Nations campaign, aimed at reducing gender-based violence around the world.Protest performance at Brian Lara Promenade today

VIDEO: Elysse Marcelin Terry-Ann Roy discuss the #LifeinLeggings movement in T&T

The Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago (AFETT), Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA), Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), Domestic Violence Survivors Reaching Out, Down Syndrome Family Network, UWI Faculty of Law (St Augustine Campus), Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT), Maloney Senior Activity Centre, Maloney Women’s Group, Mamatoto Resource and Birth Centre, Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women, PSI Caribbean, Say Something, Silver Lining Foundation, WOMANTRA, Women’s Caucus, Women Working for Social Progress (Workingwomen), Young Women’s Christian Association of Trinidad and Tobago (YWCATT) and the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) have joined forces to press the Trinidad and Tobago Government into aligning the country’s marriage laws with the legal age of sexual consent, which is 18.

Poverty and Women

Stephanie Leitch, director of Womantra, a feminist, civil society organisation, said women are challenged by poverty on levels that are greater than men.

"The poorest people throughout the world are women and children. I think it could be even worse locally, where there is less opportunities for entrepreneurship."

According to Latoya Nugent, Associate Director of WE-Change, participants were particularly grateful for the self-care session because it made the conference not just about strategies aCWSDCXyogaXX2Xnd ideas about how to do the work and how to do it effectively, but also about strengthening the bond of community and support among advocates and emphasizing personal wellbeing. Stephanie Leitch, Founding Director of WOMANTRA, expanded upon the importance of self-care for the advocates at CWSDC, saying: “We lost one of our own this year, Guyanese activist Zenita Nicholson to the strain of this work, and so it is important for us to remember that self care is a revolutionary act and one we must demand for ourselves and each other”. In addition to the self-care session, there were opportunities for physical activity such as yoga, swimming, and masala bhangra, giving advocates time to focus on their physical and spiritual wellbeing.

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