Challenging Gender Inequality in The Bahamas: A Documentary Review

Abstract

While The Bahamas has made notable strides toward gender equality, it still suffers from various forms of cultural norms, systemic discriminatory practices, and workplace barriers that foster a society that accepts the mistreatment of women. Providing striking realities, given the nation’s agreement with the United Nations nearly 25 years ago (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - 1993) and 57 years since women gained the right to vote. The documentary, ‘So You Think You is Woman Hey’, produced by Juliette Storr and Dante Massey (2018), is a social commentary targeting a broad audience of Bahamians. It provides insightful portrayals from citizens through candid interviews and firsthand perspectives on the deeply rooted biases against women that shape The Bahamas’ policies and societal outcomes. One of the interviewees, Professor Ian Strachan, states it best, that the nation exhibits an attitude that can only be described as “hostile towards women”. This statement sharply contrasts the belief that since the country is referred to as matriarchal in nature - it cannot be misogynist in behavior (leadership). Recognizing this, we agree with the documentary’s acknowledgment, that despite formal progress, The Bahamas still exhibits societal factors that sustain gender discrimination. This critique will analyze the many challenges women face from a young age, the outdated institutions perpetuating them, and the path forward for nurturing a more inclusive society while using the documentary perspective as a basis for our understanding.