International Women's Day: The Indominable Spirits of Jamaican Women

shero
/ˈSHirō,ˈSHērō/
noun
INFORMAL

1. a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine.

International Women's Day (March 8th, 2022) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. This year we are celebrating International Women's Day by highlighting ten facts that prove how great Jamaican women are. Jamaican women are a great example of why we should all work together to #breakthebias.

​In tribute to international Women's Day, Treasure Our Youth listed ten facts that proves the greatness of Jamaican women.
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One
In 2015, an International Labor Organization (ILO) study found that Jamaica has the highest number of women managers in the world. The ILO found that nearly 60 per cent of managers in the country are women.

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Two
Jamaica is one of only 62 states that has elected a woman - former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller - as its leader.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

Three
A Jamaican woman is blessed with exceptional entrepreneurial skills. This is evidenced in the many female vendors, small business owners and their effect on big business in the country.

Four
At home and abroad, Jamaican women are well known for their culinary skills as cooking comes second nature to her. Many a man have fallen prey to the Jamaican woman’s skill around the kitchen. Simply delicious.

Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh

​Five
The Jamaican woman is known for her beauty as is evidenced by the multiple Miss World wins (Carole Crawford, Cindy Breakspeare, Lisa Hanna and Toni-Ann Singh) and top five finishes in both the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants over the years.

Six
Jamaican women have broken ground on the world stage with many firsts. A few examples include Una Marson, the first black woman to be employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Marson was a writer and activist. Alia Atkinson is the first black woman to win a world swimming title. Tessanne Chin is the first non-American to win The Voice US talent show. Carole Crawford is the first woman of color to win the Miss World title. Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce is the first female sprinter to win the 100m, 200m and 4X100m in a single world championships. Jody-Anne Maxwell is the first non-American to win the US national Spelling Bee contest, and the list goes on.

Seven
On the political front, Jamaican women have also made strides on the world stage. A Jamaican woman is a queen in Nigeria and a Jamaican woman is the first lady of Liberia.

Eight
Despite myths about men being the head of the home, it is the Jamaican woman who runs her house. In some cases, men may make more money but, for the house to become a home, the bills paid on time, the children fed and cared and things to be comfortable, it takes the loving touch of the Jamaican queen.

Nine
In the field of security, the Jamaican woman also stands out. Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent is the first woman in the Caribbean region to rise to that rank in the constabulary. Antonette Wemyss-Gorman is the commanding officer of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) Coast Guard, the first female in the Caribbean to be promoted to that rank.

Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman

Ten
​Many Jamaican women sometimes get little or no support from the males who sired their children but still manage to eke out a living for their families as single mothers and have produced some of the nation’s greatest sons and daughters.
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That is the strength, beauty and undeniable class of the Jamaican woman. Treasure Our Youth salutes you on International Women's Day. #breakthebias