By Kisean Joseph
As Antigua and Barbuda observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, well-known social psychologist and change activist Dr Cleon Athill is calling for a fundamental shift in how society addresses domestic violence and gender equality.
“We have been at this problem for a long, long time,” said Dr Athill. “Every year we come back and we say the very, very same thing because I don’t think we are addressing the problem the way it ought to be addressed.”
According to Dr Athill, the persistence of domestic violence is deeply rooted in societal silence and patriarchal structures. “Domestic violence and gender-based violence normally exist in an atmosphere of a culture of silence,” she explains. “The more we are silent, the more we pretend that we don’t know and understand, it is the more the problem persists and gets worse.”
While acknowledging that men can also be victims of abuse, Dr Athill pointed out that women are disproportionately affected due to existing power dynamics. “In a culture that is steeped in patriarchy, in a culture that is steeped in misogyny, women are the most likely to be victimized,” she said.
One key solution, according to Dr Athill, is to bring men into the conversation. “We want to incorporate and include men more in the discourse on gender equality and gender-based violence. Men are the ones who are most likely to be the ones who are violating. So we have to get men into the discussion about toxic masculinities and how our culture sets men and women apart, almost as enemies.”
Dr Athill also challenged common misconceptions about gender roles, noting that both toxic masculinity and toxic femininity contribute to the problem. “We often talk about toxic masculinity, but just as we have toxic masculinity, we have toxic femininity as well. The kind of consciousness or mindset that says: I’m entitled to, I am supposed to be taken care of.”
Looking ahead to 2025, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Dr Athill urged Antiguans and Barbudans to educate themselves about international agreements on women’s rights and human rights. She emphasized the importance of understanding conventions such as the Rights of Women, the Rights of the Child, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr Athill is unshaken in her stance against violence in all its forms. “There’s no excuse for violence. None. And I don’t care where it is,” she said. “Violence is a demonstration of power differential. It is only those who feel they have power and control will violate against those who they know don’t have power and control.”
With over 45 years of experience in social activism, Dr Athill is committed to addressing these complex issues. “We have to chip away and chip away and chip away,” she says, emphasizing that lasting change requires addressing systemic violence and power structures throughout society.
“We’re moving towards a place in humanity where we understand that humanity is as good as how we treat the least among us,” Dr Athill said. “And we have to move to a place where we elevate all of us.”
