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{
    "id": 669307,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/669307/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Gwendo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13121,
        "legal_name": "Joy Adhiambo Gwendo",
        "slug": "joy-adhiambo-gwendo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I believe that I have very beautiful legs. Therefore, if I fell down right here, the ladies will be concerned about my health while the men would be concerned about other things. I did not mean it in a derogatory manner. My point is that women deal with things emotionally. Another woman would understand my concerns and problems more. I know that the men are there to support us and we are grateful for the support that we receive from them in our houses, Parliament and society. However, we need to get away from the belief that women are their own worst enemies. It is the women who vote in the male Members of Parliament. Back at home they go to the women groups, the same ones we go to, and they bring the belief that we are our own enemies. Men who are in this Parliament even today are here because of women. So, why can a woman not be brought to the decision-making table with the same gusto and energy that she makes a house be a home? Why are we trying to make the world believe that a woman’s place--- She makes the society and the family complete but she cannot be a leader? We aired our concerns on that day and realised that the only way we can bring out the leadership qualities of women is if all women came together and agreed that they are not their own enemies. We are friends although we support men, we should find a way of softening them to support us. Mr. Speaker, Sir, another point that was brought out in the conference is that women’s problems can only be understood by fellow women. Therefore, we need to enlighten the men on the problems we have and the kinds of issues we experience in our leadership. Through that, they will be in a position to support us differently. Also through such mechanism, we will have more Members of Parliament who are women and in the society we shall have leaders other than teachers and nurses. Most of our parents are teachers and nurses. My mum is a teacher and I am proud of her. This goes way back in believing that the only jobs that women can do is teaching and nursing. Women can make good leaders and be on the decision-making table but that cannot be so if we cannot accept the fact that women make the society a better and happier place. This will not be understood if we do not come out and speak this to the people. We should also endevour to enlighten our women back at home. This conference took place at the time that elections were going on in Uganda. The Speaker of Uganda was giving us an experience about the way women who were campaigning to be Members of Parliament were stripped naked just because they came out and expressed their need to vie for elective position. She asked us how she could advice such women to go back to politics. Then again who said that there is something easy in life? If we go for the easy, I am not sure where we will end up. It is more tough for women, both in Parliament and outside as leaders. For women who have had bad experiences--- I have had bad experiences myself but I do not believe The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}