Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Camagüey, April 24th. - Farmers and base educators from the region spoke about diversity, equity, and identity as part of a multisectoral effort to reduce gender gaps in Cuban society.
Members of the Cándido González Morales Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS) from the city of Puerto Principe, professors from the Gender Department at the University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, and members of the Network of Popular Educators from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center also addressed social issues such as care for people with disabilities, religious freedom, human rights, and respect for the diversity of people such as race, beliefs, sexual identity, and culture, among others.
Real man does not drink soup
Maribel Almaguer, PhD, chair of the Chair, discussed the need to identify and address stereotypes that have become naturalized in society. These are aspects we must include in our lives, in cooperatives, and in families, because they greatly contribute to social coexistence. It is essential to raise awareness that respecting people's rights as human beings is essential.
Popular educator Yudenia Nieves reflected that "sometimes we see discrimination from a distance, but we have to look closely at how we act when it affects us. We have to think about ourselves above all as human beings, and deconstruct these realities in our family, community, and group environments. What can I do to break with these archetypes that only deepen differences because having a specific skin color or affective erotic orientation does not determine social behavior."
"Almost all of these patterns are learned from the family, so we must learn to sublimate realities," said university professor Pavel Ravelo, urging everyone to respect otherness, and respect people as they are, as a key word.
For her part, Daimí Ruiz, a popular educator, emphasized the urgency of constantly questioning life experiences, "seeking where I can find that path that makes me a qualitatively superior person and breaking the cycle of the culture of domination through personal experience."
Change is a door that opens from within
A woman is leading the CCS, Cándido González Morales; Osmara Fidalgo shared the space because she recognizes the many prejudices that persist in the sector.
"That's why we need to be more persistent and creative to achieve the necessary transformation of mentalities. There is still a lot of discrimination against women, and greater attention is needed for rural families. This is also part of food sovereignty," she said.
Producer Loray Solina, for example, said she was very pleased with the workshop and happy to bring the new knowledge home, something she learned with her husband.
Farmer Alexis García also said he felt very happy after the morning of exchanges; he learned to identify part of human diversity. Now we can also empower those in the fields to rid ourselves of sexist practices and, for example, share household chores. (Text and photos: Diosmel Galano Oliver/Radio Camagüey)
