Are there a lot of domineering women in Jamaica?

Question

I have read several articles saying that women in Jamaica are very intelligent, assertive and dominant, and are now moving into management and professional positions at a much faster rate than men. Don't get me wrong! I think that's very cool. is it true?

Answer 1

Yes it is true, if you meant to say domineering in the sense that women are taking over the more important/high paying jobs.

A part of the reason for that (and I am speaking from what I observed, a touch of personal experience and opinion) is that over the years, (and still today) some women are left to fend for themselves with their children. I can say this because It happened to both my grandmothers, an aunt of mine and several other people I know. Now, because of this, the mothers (or at least some of them) will tell their daughters "don't become like me; make something of your self." That, or the daughters see how hard their mother have to work, aspire to be just like her, or just want to make her mother and perhaps father proud.

Daddies (the ones who really care, like mine :) ) are not to be left out either. They too push their little girls to success. I would go as a far as saying  that some seem to push their girls more than they do their boys but I can't because I observed this in one family and it is just my assumption. (the two girls are university graduates, the two boys are not.)

Basically it is an evolution of womankind in general. It's not only a Jamaican thing, though it is very evident here.

And in Jamaica where some people still  wont take a woman seriously, we have to be dominant and assertive to get the respect we deserve.

Well, Positivlymb: If you come here and act like you are the sh*t, rest assured you're going to be treated like sh*t. Don't know where you went, but in Jamaica, most women take pride in how they look.

Answer 2

I returned from JA on Monday. It was my second visit this year. I've been to JA at least six times. The island is a nice place to visit. The women are as they always were. Intelligent, assertive, dominant???.....the articles you read must have been written by them. These women are the most unfriendly, nasty, frowning beings I've encountered in a long time. It is hard for me to imagine any of these unkempt women being moved into a professional position. Help must be hard to come by.

By the way...if you are an American Black Female, you can rest assure that you will be treated like S**t by most of these women. It will start at the airport and will not end until you leave the island. Don't be intimidated. It is jealousy.  Enjoy your vacation.

Answer 3

Not domineering- that suggests dictatorial behavior.  We are assertive, intelligent and very blunt. We go after what we want with drive and passion and almost never take no for an answer. You will not find many Jamaicans who believe they cannot achieve something that have set their minds to, this is often misinterpreted by others who do not understand us as a take over attitude instead of the get it done attitude.  We often do not spend the time to correct the misconception because we are focused on our goal and not on opinions, if an misconception gets corrected along the way great but that is not our focus and quite frankly not our problem.

K

Answer 4

positivly

these are harsh things for two visits... how many women did u meet? customs officers are intimidating everywhere.

The one thing I can say is that Jamaican women tend to be very intuitive, not usually hypocritical and very strong minded... I say this to say if they encounter foolishness they wont hold back.. and can be quite blunt...

Perhaps your expereince says more about what u are putting out there than what is actually out there to be recieved.... just food for thought.

To answer the questian... we are a dominant force... but not domineering.  We can be somewhat agressive perhaps a bit competitive... We make up a large percent of the white colar workforce.  But im sure there is a social issue as well in that men are not completing university or msc level education as much as women.  

This might be a flaw in teaching pedagogy and a sign for the need of curriculum reform.. In short

its not that women more driven than men... they just seem to be more equipt at this level

Answer 5

Very interesting question.......

You are right that Jamaica women are intelligent and assertive. I would beg to differ, however, that we are domineering.

I mean, if you use the word 'domineering' in its strictest sense, then you're implying all Jamaican women are overbearing, and seek to control things and people in a tyrannical and despotic manner.

This sounds to me like a serious character flaw! Assertiveness, independence and intelligence do not necessarily (and should not) equal to a domineering woman.

There are, however, Jamaican women who do become domineering, but this is either their natural manner or the result of some perceived superiority. Additionally, what you may perceive as 'domineering' may be completely acceptable in some Jamaican circumstances.

The same applies to women of all nationalities, races and backgrounds, so I wouldn't limit being 'domineering' to Jamaican women alone. That would be an unfortunate  stereotype.

~*

Answer 6

Jamaican ladies are strong, assertive, independent women, if the man is lazy they will kick him out and keep productivity going, they will do whatever it takes to keep their families alive. they are survivors, like any other strong woman elsewhere.

To positively, if you go to Jamaica and show Jamaican women respect, you will receive 'nuff' respect and love.....but..if you radiates the attitude of a know-it-all, egoistic, wanna-be goddest, ill mannered  American, well..they will just P***k  you up. and you will return home as a humble well mannered child.... True as the Gospel

Answer 7

This is generally true and the first two posters gave some good explanations of why this is so.  Girls, moreso than boys are pushed to get an education and, as a result, Jamaican women now outnumber men in our tertiary institutions and are consistently getting better grades.  It is for those reasons that more and more women are being given top positions in their respective fields.  

<positvl.... You have been to Jamaica 6 times but it's unfortunate that you have yet to use the opportunity to try to understand what you see.  Your comments do not in any way reflect the average Jamaican woman.  Here's something to think about:  What we perceive in others is sometimes a reflection of ourselves.