In a country like Papua New Guinea, a nation with over 800 languages and tribal group, how do we define a Papua New Guinea woman in such a society?
Dame Carol Anne Kidu DBE AO, the first women to enter politics in 1997 and having further served 3 terms in parliament recently defined what a Papua New Guinea woman.
She stated that a modern Papua New Guinea woman operating in a Western World is climbing up the ladder efficiently now.
It may be slow but it’s happening, this woman is also a traditional Papua New Guinea woman.
“We must not expect Papua New Guinea woman to have agency in this cultural context,” said Lady Kidu.
“They can be that Papua New Guinea women we have the image of, representing us regionally, internationally and in corporate sectors too but when they go back to their village, they have to play a different role.”
Lady Kidu added that to isolate a Papua New Guinea woman from their traditional role in their traditional homes is a disservice to them.
To bring all women leaders in the national level together to advocate and empower each other and to unite influential women leaders from across the nation to foster unity, cooperation, and strategic initiatives is very important but also very sensitive.
“Gender relationships based on principles of equity is important for all PNG women and we need to keep developing that.”