History and Impact of Caribbean Feminism:

Slavery:
Women committed infanticide and even mutilated themselves to cause infertility to essentially
decrease the supply of slaves. This was how they responded to their gender-based oppression by
preventing the (further) exploitation of their reproductive systems. In addition to this, they carried
out active and passive forms of rebellion ranging from pretending to not understand instructions to
burning fields and killing their masters.

Post Emancipation:

Caribbean women realized that now they had to fight for the same rights as their exslave male
counterparts. They saw that they could do this through education and especially literature. Some
women wrote books on the female experience in the Caribbean and sought to educate other females
on the new ideas about femininity.

It was thought that Caribbean feminism was born after the suffragette movement in England of the
19th to the 20th century wherein women fought for the right to vote. Over time, it was found that
political equality was not enough and thus research began on the gender inequality of the time. This
began as “Women’s Studies”, such as the Women in Development (WID) programme at UWI and the
University of Guyana which attempted to uplift women by providing equal opportunities for both
genders.

Then, gender studies came to be where the relationship between males and females was researched
thoroughly. The WAND (Women and Development) Project of the UWI, for example, is concerned
with how to incorporate a gender system into national, political, economic, social and cultural life so

that both men and women can contribute and benefit equally.

CAFRA (Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action)

Vision of the Organisation: We are committed to understanding the relationship between the
oppression of women and other forms of oppression in the society, and we are working actively
for change.

Mission of the Organisation: To celebrate and channel the collective power of women for
individual and societal transformation, thus creating a climate in which social justice is realized.

Key programme areas of the Organisation: Women in Agriculture, Women and leadership,
Trade, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender based violence prevention and
intervention, The Girl Child, HIV/AIDS, Environmental Protection, Climate Change and Women
and Entrepreneurship

Members of the Organisation: 50

Overview of past EPA projects: CAFRA has not only undertaken Research on the EPA, but
has also participated in the projects, Women in Caribbean Agriculture – Harnessing the
benefits of the EPA and a Trade Mission to Martinique, for women in agro processing and craft
production.
Sistren Theatre Collective
Sistren Theatre Collective (SISTREN) is an independent women’s organization, established in 1977
that has effectively employed the use of artistic expression as a means of inciting social change. As a
trailblazer in gender relations training, Sistren has creatively responded to the changing needs within
communities across Jamaica and particularly in Kingston in order to empower residents to change
their situations. SISTREN uses the arts as a means of confronting the public on problems facing both
genders, and brings pressure to bear on society to change negative stereotypes. SISTREN was one of
ten organizations worldwide to receive the UNHABITAT “Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in
Urban Safety, Crime Prevention and Youth” in 2008.