Page 69 - Social Norms Survey

to have more than one woman. This is how one young man from Clarendon described

the view of the majority of men, a view that he did not himself subscribe to: “Mi a gi my
woman bun fi whole a my life; just mek dem gi you one time. You can go gi dem bun, but

mek him go gi it to you ONE time…!”

Absence of Fathers
The absence of fathers in so many families deprives

male children of their primary role model, a deprivation So the whole
traditional
made worse if there are no uncles or much older relationship is

brothers or cousins around. Another primary agent of commodified—it is
socialisation, the school, has few if any males teaching built around a

at the infant or primary levels. That absence of the contract relating to
male in the classroom, as well as in their lives, makes provision of

it very difficult for them to grow with inner security and resources for children
confidence; with the motivation to stay in school and and spouse by the
take the opportunities that may be offered. There was man, and provision of

an illuminating conversation about the background domestic duties and

of “idl” youth who stand on the corner in the young sexual services by
the woman.
men’s FGD in Mt. Salem in the Women and Children’s

Safety and Security study:
• “If you’re suppose to go in Salem now, right,

an pick up all the likkle bwoy yuh see a stan up a di corna an dem place deh, a
rub out dem han miggle, yuh call dem one side an ask dem, how much a dem

have a fadda wah actually talk to dem, an gi dem money, an help dem out
through life, mi a tell yuh seh…”

• “None a dem!”
• “None a dem ago say yow, dem have a fadda.”

Many become violence producers. Patrick Williams, a PMI Supervisor of St. Catherine VIs,
says that when he does case files on PMI Retreats, for eight out of 10 youths there is no

father figure in their life.

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