An article in The Guardian once again highlighted the discrimination meted out to women when talking about employment and profession. This time it is an arena where women can do wonders but are not being allowed to. I am talking about one of the most important professions in the international arena - the negotiating process, where people talk their way to peace avoiding any kinds of bloody battles.



Despite the popular notion attached to women that says - women have a monopoly over men when it comes to communicating, and women are any ways better communicators...there are precisely no women attached to this kind of a profession.



Though there are host of women who are tackling with a number of dispute cases at family level or those pertaining to the corporate sector, but still one can hardly find a woman when it comes to official conflict mediators. The high-level, experienced women are there and they’re not afraid to do the job, but despite all the experience and ability men are preferred over them.



We have live examples in Monica McWilliams and Pearl Sagar who broke the shell when given an opportunity to work towards achieving a lasting peace. Other current woman mediators like Heidi Tagliavini, Carolyn McAskie and Betty Bigombe have already proven themselves on the touchstone of skills, experience and talent. The aggressive male political culture could not put them off.



So I think its high time one starts respecting women power in these matters as well. You never know the gender turns out to be an advantage in the highly tense and even aggressive encounters.



Via: Guardian