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As we come to the end of our Caribbean civilisation journey we look back to the topics and themes being discussed throughout the semester such as understanding the definitions of civilsation and culture and learning the grounds on which slavery had a contribution to the issues of gender and identity, just to name a few. In this portfolio, a reflection on the different topics was used to demonstrate critical thinking on the importance of Caribbean civilisation, its application in social environments and problems with regional current affairs.

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In the video that spoke about the "The Dangers of a single story", the author spoke about how her life as a Nigerian was an example of how society had many single stories about her culture and identity. She outlined that “The single story creates stereotypes. And the problem with stereotypes is not that they aren't true, it's that they are incomplete.”(13:22). In any society today, such as the Caribbean society, if we look around us and truly understand the definition of a "single story", we can easily say we give a  wrong or incomplete perspective of one's society or an individual based on their country or continent. With that being said, the Caribbean society has a “single story” of  Haiti. If you are to ask someone where they are from, and their response is Haiti, the first thing that comes to mind is: poor, hungry and underdeveloped. However, that is the problem behind "single stories" Haiti and Haitians get their incomplete story through the broadcast of media. The lines "....Show a people as one thing, and only one thing, over and over again and that is what they become." (9:35). Ideally, the media often forgets that before natural disaster struck Haiti, their country was as beautiful and developed as any other country. In “The single story” by Mennonite Central Committee Haiti, The author reiterated that Haiti’s own single story is bought about by the more powerful nations such as the U.S. that portrayed them as poor and deprived nation and their image was built on what they have been through in terms of their natural disasters. If we were to analyse what is the cause of "single stories" within a society we can either refer to the topic of Caribbean Identity, Culture and American Imperialism in Caribbean that was discussed in the course. We discussed that the superiority of american nation as being dominant and have the rights to interfere and manipulate the inferior nations. In our case, we use our society's culture to create the incomplete story of Haiti without considering that their was more to Haiti, than it is today and that one day, they would return to life before the disasters

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The mannerism and culture that existed from the 15th to 17th century against women can be seen today as one of the major social and gender related issues within the Caribbean. The enslaved women during the slavery days were led to believe that their only roles were to be sexual partners, child-bearers and care-givers, while the men were left to do the duties of working and providing for the home. In the 21st century, some women, households or cultures believe that women are still viewed as mere sexual objects, child-bearers and care-givers. Consequently, while learning about the women's predicament through Caribbean civilsation, I made a personal reflection to compare the life of a woman in slavery days to the females in today's society. It drew to my attention that although women today may be seen has having more privilege than those in the past, today they can be seen as being the provider of homes just as men and still be able to be care-givers. Even though women have seen positive changes in their roles since then some things became worse as some women are no longer seen as a valued asset to a home or society. Rather, they are being portrayed as prostitutes and being sexually objectified and later on ridiculed for living such lifestyles. In further reflection, an article was discovered about how a young lady, her family and society fell victim to gender discrimination. Sarah Duval's, "Gender Inequality in the Caribbean" spoke of her experience when, President Martelly, made a gender biased statement to a woman who was simply asking about an epidemic in her region. She spoke about how the discrimination against women because they were inferior often lead men to abuse the women and also have them discriminated against leading to problems in becoming gainfully employed. Thankfully, some parts of the Caribbean society, woman are becoming more involved in acts that was once only meant for the male gender, such as becoming Prime Minister, Kamla Persad- Bissessar, and are slowly paving the way for more gender equality in the Caribbean society.

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Typically when I analyze the issue of gender inequality my thoughts are limited to what I have experienced as a woman living in the Western world. Although I am of Haitian descent, my knowledge about the oppressiveness of a patriarchal society doesn't venture far past the shores of North America. I have never asked my Mother or Grandmother what their experience was living as women in Haiti; a country far less liberal and just than the United States is when it comes to the treatment of women.

Being a first generation American meant my parents still raised me with some of the gender roles and double standards that exist in Haitian society, but what I have had to deal with is not even a fraction of what Haitian women and other Caribbean women experience in their home countries.

The issue of gender inequality in the Caribbean became relevant to me after reading an article about a sexist comment made by Haitian president Michel Martelly. Earlier this year at a campaign rally, a woman asked President Martelly what he planned on doing about the lack of electricity in her region. Instead of answering her question appropriately, he responded by telling her to go find a man to have sex with.

President Martelly is known for being filterless and looselipped; however, that doesn't change the fact that his comment was totally unacceptable. The comment he made is reflective of a widespread sexist mindset in the Caribbean. Unlike women in the western world, it has taken much longer for Caribbean women to combat this sexist culture and ascend from their status as second class citizens.

Gender inequality in the Caribbean oftentimes stems from people's manipulation of religious texts, calling for women to be submissive and men to be dominant. Men feel compelled to control their wives and daughters, ruling their households with an iron fist. The result of this is that a great deal of women in the Caribbean end up in low sectors of society in terms of employment, wages, and political representation.

Statistics report that women in the Caribbean face job discrimination that limits them from being promoted in the workforce. This discrimination is able to persist because social and legal institutions do not pledge to stand behind and advocate for their equality in all aspects of life such as employment and earning, as well as social and political participation.

Poor economic conditions have put a massive strain on family life, leading to an increase in domestic violence Caribbean women face. Economic collapse and crisis are often correlated to a rise in domestic abuse. Sexual violence against women is also pervasive in the Caribbean.

Three Caribbean countries are among the top 10 for reported incidence of rape, and all Caribbean countries have higher than the world average for rape. There are laws in the region against domestic violence; however, fewer than half of Caribbean countries have laws that protect women when it comes to marital rape and sexual assault. It is also extremely difficult to document cases of abuse because women often remain silent out of fear.

There is a group of women in the Caribbean, who find difficulty living their truth because their unique identity puts them in danger. Women who identify as lesbian, bisexual or transgender are in a constant state of fear and peril. Despite the presence of intolerance towards them, there is still an abundance of queer women. However, the immense discrimination they face causes them to hide their identities. There are social and criminal ramifications for being queer in the Caribbean.

To be a transgender, lesbian, or bisexual woman in the Caribbean means to not only face public shame but to also face violent brutality. Far too many queer women have been assaulted, ostracized, and forced into pretending that they are cisgender or heterosexual. Queer women living in the Caribbean have to endure the oppression that comes with the intersection of their identities.

There is an urgent need for both social and systemic change in Caribbean countries. The United Nations in collaboration with the governments of many Caribbean countries are actively trying to bring about change. The United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has been working with Caribbean countries to achieve gender equality in the labor force. Partnership for Peace, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, and other organizations are all working to end violence against women in the region.

These initiatives have been effective, however, there is more that needs to be done. There have been crusaders and small organizations trying to better the lives of queer women, but little to no governmental efforts have been made. The intrinsic worth of women as capable, selfdetermining individuals needs to be promoted in Caribbean society. Once this is recognized, Caribbean women can experience liberation and freedom from gender inequality.

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Gender Inequality in the Caribbean - MyBlackMatters

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By: Sarah Duval Typically when I analyze the issue of gender inequality my thoughts are limited to what I have experienced as a woman living in the Western world. Although I am of Haitian descent, my knowledge about the oppressiveness of a patriarchal society doesn't venture far past the shores of North America.

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Immigration between Haiti and Dominican Republic 

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Immigration between Haiti and Dominican Republic 

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There are numerous regional affairs that are of importance to the Caribbean. During the years of 2015 to 2016, The Dominican Republic with the help of the United States created a conflict between the its Haitian residents violating their human rights by deporting them back to Haiti. This conflict created serious tension between the two sides which either left individuals without citizenship, education even employment. Additionally, those that were born in the Dominican Republic had  to reclaim their citizenship as well as have their parents as proof that their parents were born in the Dominican Republic. Consequently some of these individuals were left without documentations which hindered them to becomes jobless, thrown out from school or even killed. The Haitians that resided in The Dominican republic, simply sought employment and a better life for their families but the Dominicans thought differently, they believed that they were the cause of crime and downfall. As we analyse the situation, we look back to the time after the Grenadian Prime minister was murdered and led to the American Imperialism.The american influence the deportation of the Haitian descent Dominicans which we spoke about in our previous analysis, denying their human right as to where they should reside within their own nationality. In the video a young man spoke about   not being able to go university made him feel as a failure and disappointed in himself. The video below further explains the effect of situation has done to the nationals.

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The Dominican Republic has violated the human rights of tens of thousands of people by stripping several generations of citizenship, according to a scathing new report by Amnesty International.

The report details decades of discriminatory practices codified into laws that have turned Haitians and their DR-born children into "ghost citizens". These stateless people lack identity papers for work, healthcare, schooling or the right to live in either nation on the island.

"With the stroke of a pen, authorities in the Dominican Republic have effectively wiped four generations of Dominicans off the map," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty's Americas director.

Since the 1990s, Dominican authorities have created a "legal maze" of bureaucracy to recover their papers, the group said, noting a 2013 court ruling that rendered stateless anyone born in the country to an undocumented foreign parent. The ruling was enforced retroactively to 1929, leaving as many as four generations of Dominicans of Haitian descent stateless and without valid documents.

"The ruling was outrageous," said Chiara Liguori, Amnesty's expert on the Caribbean and the author of the report.

"Most of these people have never claimed Haitian nationality," she said. "Dominicans who've never been to Haiti, have no ties there, are now obliged to prove themselves: to say first, 'Look I'm a foreigner,' and then apply for naturalization over two years. And to apply doesn't mean they'll get it."

The ruling rendered people stateless even outside the country, prompting protests in New York and international denunciations from human rights groups who say the government is depriving people of basic needs.

Dominicans of Haitian descent fear mass deportation as deadline looms

"These people have a very strong sense of belonging to this country," Liguori said. "They want to help and make a contribution. They don't know what to think of themselves any more."

The rights group says these retroactive decisions have created "a continuing cycle of alienation and marginalization down the generations". Although there are no clear estimates for how many people are stateless, Amnesty estimates the law affects several tens of thousands of people.

In 2012, a UN and EU survey found more than 200,000 people in the Dominican Republican had at least one foreign parent and were of Haitian descent.

Children with at least one Dominican parent are entitled to citizenship, though many struggle to receive recognition.

Yolanda Alcino, a 25-year-old Dominican of Haitian descent, told the Guardian she was registered at birth but has been refused an identity card for the past eight years. The second oldest of nine siblings, she said her family illustrates "the complete, complicated reality" of life in the country - some of her brothers and sisters have papers, others do not.

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Yolanda Alcino was denied her identity documents for years. Photograph: Amnesty International

"It's hard to find work, we can't get into school, get my children into school," she said. "We're discriminated against, and without education, without work, life is more difficult in almost every way."

Alcino said that earlier this year the authorities told her that without an identity card she could not register her children or file a domestic violence complaint against their father.

"I can't get my children their identities because of this," she said.

The rights group interviewed dozens of people for its 60-page report, including one woman, speaking anonymously, whose daughter was unable to register.

"My daughter does not exist for the Dominican state. She is dead from a civic point of view," the mother said.

People spoke of prejudice, beatings, work at the bottom of society, and being barred from schools and hospitals. One woman said that because she lacked papers, she had had to become a domestic worker for a wealthy family at the age of 10. The family forced her to work 15-hour days and beat her, she said, declining to use her real name for fear of being fired.

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Attempts to procure identity documents can result in long waits with no guarantee of success. Photograph: Amnesty International

Jessica Profeta, a 14-year-old Dominican-born girl of Haitian descent, said her parents were refused a birth certificate repeatedly, and could not enroll her in school for a lack of papers. When her parents tried to enroll her in a naturalization plan, the line was so long that the office closed before her father reached the doors.

"I would like her to go to the university, to have a better future," he said.

Programs such as a six-month naturalization initiative are insufficient, Guevara-Rosas said, since they was poorly advertised and demanded a list of papers that many could not supply. The naturalization program, for instance, expired in February and asked for testimony from a midwife or seven witnesses to prove a person was born in the country.

As in the US, undocumented workers are largely relegated to difficult work for paltry pay. Women often cannot find work except as cleaners and servants, and men often find themselves enduring brutal conditions on bateyes - sugar cane farms.

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Guanuma, an urban area in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo, is home to a large community of stateless Dominicans of Haitian descent. Photograph: Amnesty International

The Dominican government maintains that most of the people now without citizenship are in fact Haitian, even though Haiti's own laws cast Dominican-born children into limbo. For 25 years Haiti banned dual nationality, and for more than 30 years has held that people who choose or "actively enjoy" another nationality will lose their legal status as Haitian nationals.

Dominican authorities also deny arbitrary deportations of some 40,000 people; an adviser to the president said in August that the people had voluntarily left the country. This summer the Haitian prime minister, Evans Paul, said that 14,000 people, mostly children and young adults, crossed the border in less than a week, threatening a humanitarian crisis.

The US and other countries have urged Dominican authorities to respect the rights of undocumented people, and to let international observers monitor the deportations.

Responding to criticism, the Dominican Republic created "regularization" programs, predicting more than 100,000 people would apply to enter a process of waiting periods, forms and "auditing".

Amnesty and other activist groups have denounced the programs as insufficient, and called for restoring Dominican nationality to people whose births were registered previously, reforms to the naturalization process and an investigation into discrimination by public officials.
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Dominicans of Haitian descent turned into 'ghost citizens', says Amnesty

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The Dominican Republic has violated the human rights of tens of thousands of people by stripping several generations of citizenship, according to a scathing new report by Amnesty International. The report details decades of discriminatory practices codified into laws that have turned Haitians and their DR-born children into "ghost citizens".

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For the Semester of 2017/2018 Caribbean Civilisation, I gleaned that as a Caribbean society there are a lot of issues we are faced with and having the knowledge of using critical thinking from the themes and topics discussed in the course has allowed myself to sit and rethink the things I may have done in the past and know how to approach situations better in the future. One aspect that stood out to me during the course is the topic of Ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism to reiterate is the idea that a person's culture, values and norms are better than someone else's. In the society of Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean this sill taking place. Due to my knowledge of this and knowing how persons may feel as well as my understanding of the reason behind it, allows me to avoid acquiring such a mindset. Secondly,through this course, I gained an understanding that although a society may be displayed or stereotyped a certain way this does not mean that that society's reality is fully based on what is being shown to us in the media. The information given to us in this and and what was practiced in the book report and portfolio taught me that we are to break free from the "single story" of societies and learn the complete story of them. To conclude, I was very grateful for the lessons t
hat were taught as it gave a new perspective on how to view and treat situations within the Caribbean society.

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"The single story of Haiti" by Mennonite Central Committee Haiti
http://www.haitimcc.org/oswaldpost/2014/08/the-single-story.html?rq=single

Caribbean Civilisation, Unit 9
http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/pluginfile.php/355574/mod_resource/content/1/Unit%209.pdf

Caribbean Civilisation, Lecture 7
https://itx-sms-api.bbcollab.com/media/stream?

Caribbean Civilisation, Lecture 4
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZMxsXp7mbDrGeep-B1U3tQ-qX50_UpwKAkkbuezXLVc/edit#slide=id.p4

Carribbean Civilisation,Lecture 11,Caribbean sexuality & gender relations
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J4Mb9KtKRzvV_tlCqfIHRASd-RoxM6Vo_OJlXBGQISM/edit#slide=id.p17

"Gender Inequality in the Caribbean", Sarah Duval
http://myblackmatters.com/gender-inequality-in-the-caribbean/

"The Dominicans of Haitian descent denied a right to nationality"
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/video/2015/jul/01/dominican-republic-haitian-descent-denied-nationality-rights

Haiti, .gif image
https://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/haiti.gif

Wavin' Flag by  K'naan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMo9vNVkPOs

Photos of Haiti before earthquake
https://www.hobotraveler.com/travel-journal/890-haiti-photos-before-earthquake.html