Changing self-perception, giving voice

It is 2022, and the time has never been riper to amplify female voices, create safe and supportive spaces conducive to female empowerment, and to break through centuries of staunch cultural and societal norms. We look to SDG 5 – Gender Equality – where the UN seeks to empower women and girls. The rate of change in our region has been slow, and COVID-19 has resulted in setbacks; however, with a few strategic developments we can deliver gender equality.

As the Social Responsibility Programme Manager at Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), I manage Just Play, a Sport for Development programme that uses football as a tool for behaviour change, educating children and youth on water, sanitation and hygiene, health, gender equality and social inclusion. 

Throughout the outer regions of Solomon Islands, there are strong cultural perceptions, which can cause barriers for women seeking empowerment in their lives. It can often be seen as disrespectful for women to speak up where the norm is for women to be seen, but not heard. In many instances, we see this within the programmes women run, particularly as instructors and during volunteer training sessions for Just Play. However, the more we involve both men and women in the design and create opportunities for women to show their leadership potential, the more we can realise change.

Through this programme, we travel to many rural and outer islands across the Solomon Islands, where there are strong gendered roles. Addressing these requires locally empowered approaches that work towards gender equality. We strive for an equal gendered split, comprising of both males and females in the room for our trainings. The trainings create an opportunity for women to have their voices heard and reshape their self-perception of needing to remain quiet. Creating space for all voices also provides men the opportunity to hear women’s voices within the room; in an environment where they have to listen, their perceptions of women’s capabilities also shift.

The mixed gender training sessions are facilitated in a manner that encourages equal representation and equal time share of individual voices and, as a result, we have witnessed shifts in self-perception among females, and in the perceptions of men. It is ensured that each person gets the same opportunities to speak and have their voice and thoughts heard. In many instances, it may take more encouragement and support from the facilitator for women to share their opinions. There is increased respect for women, demonstrated by both the men and the women of the program. Women are encouraged to change the perception of who they are and what they are capable of doing.

Women need to be given opportunities to explore who they are in a safe space and be challenged on stereotypical gendered roles. Likewise, both men and women can have space and support to enquire about and reflect on gendered norms within capacity building programs. Capacity building facilitation techniques can be used to encourage self-confidence and reshape self-perceptions, create space to hear women’s voices and question gender stereotypes. We leave this conversation with one question in front of our minds – how can we safely honour societal and cultural traditions whilst creating space for women to self-determine their needs?

We have some reflections and examples of actions used to encourage self-determination:

• Involve both women’s and men’s voices in the design of programming, feedback into design and monitoring and evaluation. Giving time and space to voice and (re)imagine the type of environments and programs wanted can help practitioners to (re)shape what is offered
• Understand that this can be a process over time, where safe spaces are continually created, and honouring that a safe space can be both physical, emotion, mental, cultural, and spiritual safety. This may look different for individuals
• Facilitators are essential in holding and controlling the space, for example explicitly announcing that it is time for the women to speak up. Telling the men in the room they have had their time to speak can encourage women to express their perspective.

Challenge gender roles through a series of questions for all participants and highlighting the differences and similarities between men and women can demonstrate how men and women are equally capable of sharing household load, providing an income, and participating in sport, amongst many other activities and capabilities. We look to how we can (re)imagine and (re)shape the future, where there is no need to facilitate environments for women to have their voices heard. Men and women equally share the household load, allowing time and space for women to engage in recreation of their choice. Women are seen in leadership positions with their voice amplified and heard within communities, countries and globally. Histories and cultural traditions should be honoured, but in modern ways that respects the past and the connection, while still creating space for women to self-determine their needs.

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Maria Rarawa has been working for the Just Play programme since 2010 for Solomon Islands Football Federation, two years as a Programme Assistant and eight years as the Programme Manager. Maria loves working for children and believes that there is more we can do that is yet to be explored to help children in our society. Maria finds it gratifying knowing that most children who have gone through the programme have personally developed. Knowing that she was part of the team of people involved to help develop this child is very satisfying. Maria has five children – four girls and one son.

Chelsey Taylor currently works as the Social Responsibility Impact Manager for Oceania Football Confederation. As a researcher, Chelsey believes that data designed and collected with communities and community voice can tell stories of and provide insight to the creation social change driven by, and for, communities. Chelsey is currently completing her PhD at Swinburne University of Technology, exploring the social and cultural impacts of Australian football with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.